I have no idea about DIY canisters. For your whisper filter, you can add a thin piece of sponge or another piece of "fliter pad" or replace the carbon in the center with a ceramic bio-media. Anything you can move to a new cartridge instead of tossing out all your filter biology. Or replace the cartridge entirely with sponges and bags of media (if you do this, cut a piece of the white stuff and stick it in with the new media). Or get a second filter and alternate cleaning. In the mean time, don't follow the toss once a month instructions. Rinse only in outgoing water change water unless the filter is losing flow. If the pad is clogged with algae or food, rinse it in cool faucet water. Don't replace until the pad is actually disintegrating.
I don't hate the Whispers, but I put the 30 gallon one on 15 gallon tanks. For 30 gallon tanks I use a Penguin 330 or a H.O.T. Magnum.
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