Water Gardening: media for filter , 1 by FrillyLily

FrillyLily wrote:
I have a pond, 6 ft round. I used a milk crate, put the pump in it, and covered it with a blue furnace filter pad thingie. It works great. Keeps the pond clean. rinses out nicely.
Now for the problem. It seems after a couple months in the water, whatever is holding the 'fibers' together (glue?) is not working, and the little blue 'strands' are coming apart.
So wondering if anyone has suggestions for a covering to wrap the box in, that will be fish safe, and not come apart?
Not to mention, cheap lol. I don't want to go broke doing this. Someone mentioned barley pads? But I couldn't find those locally.