Has anyone else noticed this?

[Punkymom]

I bought some filter refills at Wal-mart today. The brand of HOB filter that I have is Top Fin and the filters I bought are Whisper. However, upon inspection of the filter refills themselves, they are exactly the same. Therefore, I've concluded that Whisper and Top Fin are made by the same company, Tetra. Am I wrong? The filter refills are identical like I said and both say Tetra on the corner of the filter frame. I wonder if one is cheaper than the other...

 

[ferret]

You are not wrong, to my knowledge. Several companies, even the 'great' Marineland, make multiple brand names that are essentially the same, but some are sold cheaper (You could infer that there might be cheaper construction in the lower cost models, but its not necessarily true..)

 

[myriam]

I think this is standard practice for a lot of large companies. Same product, different packaging, with the higher-end brand usually more expensive. I have noticed that with The Gap and Old Navy.

 

[fish_doc]

When you get to the chain stores they have such buying power that they literally threaten the manufactures. At that point the manufacturer can either cave in and sell it to them at what price the chain store wants or lose the sales altogether. So many manufacturers will develop a off brand so it will not directly compete with their name brand that is already established for more money.

 

[Sati]

Which is why Walmart = The Devil

I hate that store

Check this out:
http://fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

 

[tkos]

Want to save some money? I have a Whisper filter on one of my smaller tanks and I just bought some filter sponge from the petstore, cut it to fit and put that in the filter. Bacteria grows just fine on it and I have used the same piece of foam for 9 months now with a bi weekly washing in old tank water. You really don't want to keep replacing the filter media because each time you do you loose all of that good bacteria and can end up with a mini cycle, especially if your tank is overstocked.

 

[Punkymom]

I change one side a month or so. I rinse them both weekly in tank water and basically use them until they fall apart. I might just have to try that big old sponge thing. I didn't think about that...