Magnum 350 cannister question

[MrKlaw]

I just picked up a used setup. A 90 gallon tank and stand, and the filter included was a used Magnum 350 (i'm adding a seperate Emperor 400 that I just ordered to up the filtration since 350 gal/hr isn't enough IMO).

It came with a very dirty foam sleeve and a carbon media container. I know there is also a micron filter you can get which I'm assuming will go in place of the carbon media container. I ordered some new sleeves and the micron filter (and some diatom powder).

My question is would it be advisable to use the "carbon" container and maybe put some sort of other bio-media in there like the little ceramic things? I know people say carbon isn't necessary unless you are cleaning meds out of the tank so I'm not going to bother with that. Should I just use the micron filter and the filter sleeve and be done with it?

[bussardnr]

i have 2 on my tank, 1 bio 1 carbon. my advice is to find another filter. they are really cheap pieces of crap. they dont like to seal right and the parts tend to break. i would try to sell it and put the money towards a real cannister filter

[Holly9937]

wow, I usually here good things about those filters :confused: I would add the ceramic anyway, it doesn't hurt to have the extra media, plus you don't have to replace it, so why not :D

[got_nailed]

I have a bunch of magnum 350’s and they work just fine as long as you lube the seal. Most of mine are filled of lava rock.

[JSchmidt]

Compared to the biofiltration capacity of the Emp 400, the Mag canister filled with biomedia won't add much... I'd use it for mechanical filtration. That's what the Mags are best for, anyway.

Good luck,
Jim