Magnum 350 or Vortex Diatom filter

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AQUA_OBSESSION

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Dec 12, 2005
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I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on these two filters. I already have a Emperor 400 BioWheel filter system in place so this will not be my main filtration system for my tank. I have a 92 gallon corner tank and I love it. I have some live plants and I added some substrate gold in the liquid form and I have had a major algae bloom and my water is green. I know that many people have stated that you should cover your tank so it does not get any light for several days and will try that if that is the best option.

My main question is this. I have seen some different things on the Vortex filter that look very impressive. They have a tank that is greener than mine and show it crystal clear after an hour. The pictures are pretty amazing. Here is the link so you can see it for yourself...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7719139209&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

For the same price I would pay for this Vortex filter I could get a Magnum 350 system with another biowheel with it. Would the Magnum 350 do the same thing the Vortex filter would do if I used the polishing/micron filter?

If the Magnum 350 would accomplish the same thing the Vortex would than I would think it would be a better value because I could use it as a second full time filter.

Thanks for your help, I really do appreciate it. This is so cool that newbies can come here and get advice from experts.
 
Killing the light will reduce the algae but it does not go after the cause of the bloom it just treats the symptoms and your water will green up again soon after you return things to normal. Try doing a 20% water change every day and reduce feeding at the same time. This will remove some of the phosphates among other nutrients that feed the algae bloom. Change your photoperiod (lights on) to 8 hours maximum and you should see the green water go away within a week or two. If this is not the case, test your water for phosphates. Stop adding fertililzer to your water as you are only feeding the algae at this point. When things return to normal, you can resume normal feeding but only as much as the fish will eat in 2 minutes without food sinking to the bottom.
 
i would say yes get the magnum ive always use them on all my tanks and they work great
 
I have used a diatom filter for years, and it will do exactly as advertised. They are a little messy to work with, but will really do the job. I use mine, if I do a major prune and replant, after the water change.
BUT...as others have cautioned, green water, or any algae problem for that matter, will come right back if contributing conditions are not corrected.

I do not know what substrate gold is, but if you only have a few plants, and are adding a nutrient mix to your tank that is probably excaberating the algae bloom.

A three day blackout, NO light, fish will be fine, will kill it off. Some research in the archives, reading the stickies on algae, etc. will also help you.

Jay
 
Aquaobsession....wow, I was going to ask this same question!! Great timing.
I am not having any water quality problems, but my AC 200 just isn't great at getting the water clear after I do my weekly maintenance. As soon as I disturb anything in the tank I get stuff floating everywhere. I would love to know more about these different filters and which one would be the best buy. I have a 33 gal heavily planted tank that I add ferts to on a regular basis, and have found that test kits have been so important, especially testing for nitrate and phosphate. As soon as I see a change in anything I get out those two kits and start testing.
Good luck with getting that green water under control !
 
I use the Magnum 350 along with a UV sterilizer and the last algea bloom I had, after tuning on the Sterilizer it was gone in less than 1 day. I use the 350 with the polishing filter and the prefilter only, my main filter is the emperor 400 HOB filter. I like the 350 it is very quite and easy to start just get the quick disconnects for it and its easy to service also.
 
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