What makes the Magnum filters good?

SMinNC said:
Ok.
Whats in the canister right now?
Click to expand...

Right now the 250 is using some Seachem's Renew and some peat pellets. There is a long story behind the peat but all that matters is that it is going away. My main problem is bio-filtration. Currently there is a sponge filter in the corner of the tank running off of an air pump. I want to get rid of the air pump entirely and get rid of that sponge to make room for plants. However, I need something to pick up the slack. I don't want a biowheel. I would rather have something like Seachem Matrix. Thus comes the quandary of how to pack both Renew and Matrix into a 250, while keeping them seperate, while ensuring that the water gets fully exposed to both.
 
IMO the 250 basket is really too small to handle fine granulated media without clogging, and of course if you don't pack it all the way with carbon and leave an open space what is the point. I have tried every configuration and have made headway into sustained long term GPH using the following:

(1) The large hole impeller strainer cut to fit (micron filter strainer) same length as original with slits.
(2) A cut to fit Rite size bio blanket sock sewn with dental floss and needle (last forever) pulled over the hole impeller strainer.
(3) the basket filled with either loosely filled poly wool (no packing) or chopped up cubed size or smaller irregular shaped sponge filter (your old internal sponge).
(4) The outer canister with its normal blue sponge.

This has worked great for me both Bio and especially mechanically no longer losing GPH flow due to clogging in weeks rather then months. Before this mod I really didn't care for the filter all that much. I think once I need more carbon and order course grain ( bean size) Ill be using carbon in the 250 again.
 
Sense your going with plants.
I'd just use Matrix in the media container, wrapped with the filter sleeve. And call it a day(year/decade/somethin').

The Renew is just a fancy carbon, that most around here quit using. Or at least quit on tanks with plants. Your plants and water changes will do whatever you want the Renew to do.

I do weekly water changes. So while doing that. I'd take the 250 apart, rinse the container w/Matrix still in it, in tank water. And blast the sleeve with the garden hose. And call it another week.

This won't take but a couple of minutes, once you've done it a few times.
 
The one thing I have not seen mentioned here is that the Magnums were NEVER advertised as a BIOLOGICAL filter . They are manufactured for chemical and mechanical. I always used them for that purpose only up until just about a year or so ago. They do work fine (350) for bio but the media does get more debri than a traditional bio filter. My 125 (PLANTED) has been running with 2x 350's for over a year without any problem (0) ammonia . The plants are doing most of the filtering anyway. I just added a FX5 for the fun of it and moved the bio material into it.
My magnums do eat impellers and magnets and do get noisy probably due to my sand. I have several on a couple different tanks and still stick with them .
I have these on my shop tank and they are essentially like a hang on the way I have them set up. Water polishing only.Also to address the bio wheel concern, the biowheel is probably one of the best methods for biofiltration as long as you don't use co2.
This is the 72 bow at work.

IMG_0014.JPG IMG_0012.JPG IMG_0006.JPG
 
I don't have one,but you guys have me thinking about buying one now.If I get one,I think I would get a 250,and take it from tank to tank for water polishing.I see them on Ebay,and could get one with shipping for less than $70.It that worth it?

Sorry for this being :topic:
 
you can get them for alot less then 70.00 just keep your eyes open and check ebay often i have never paid more then 25.00 for the ones i buy, i have 10 at last count. and you need at least 2 polishing carts you can reuse them for a very long time just let them soak in a light bleach water solution when they get dirty over night and they look like new - rinse well. and your good 2 go :) anyone know of a cheap source for the micron water polishing carts?
 
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