Are Magnum Canister Filters Decent?

I have one on my 125 gallon to suppliment my fluval 404.

WARNING: The water out-flow is tremendous. I eventually hooked it up to a double bio-wheel deal and it works great. But at first.. OMG...
 
I have one and I like it fine,
 
I have a hot 250 on my 55g that supplements an AC 500. I've never noticed any overly powerful flow coming from the magnum...especially when compared to the AC 500's flow.
 
I never notice the outflow being bad, my fish go by it all the time and never are pushed away
 
I'm sure many people are happy with their HOT Magnums, and they're probably really good for their function. But I can't really see them as being any sort of an essential product. I wouldn't bother with them. But that's just me. Especially for a 55 gallon planted...you could easily use a plain power filter like a Penguin or an Emperor, or a quality canister. The Magnum just seems to me as too much work in maintenance for what little benefit it would provide, if any, over a power filter or proper canister.
 
echoofformless said:
I'm sure many people are happy with their HOT Magnums, and they're probably really good for their function. But I can't really see them as being any sort of an essential product. I wouldn't bother with them. But that's just me. Especially for a 55 gallon planted...you could easily use a plain power filter like a Penguin or an Emperor, or a quality canister. The Magnum just seems to me as too much work in maintenance for what little benefit it would provide, if any, over a power filter or proper canister.
Click to expand...
Penguins and Emperors cause more surface agitation than cannisters and thus deplete the tank of CO2. He has a planted tank and that is why s/he is asking.

Roan
 
Roan Art said:
Penguins and Emperors cause more surface agitation than cannisters and thus deplete the tank of CO2. He has a planted tank and that is why s/he is asking.

Roan
Click to expand...

True, though I would think a HOT Magnum outperforms all of them when it comes to making surface agitation. Not to mention that it would be assumptive to think that just because someone mentions they have a planted tank, that doesn't mean they're worried about surface agitation. I have a planted tank, and I couldn't care any less about it. In fact, if you check out her wattage, supplemental co2 probably doesn't have much use.


From what I read, the jury is still out on whether surface agitation should be of any serious concern to the aquarist. Naturally, it does deplete the co2, but probably not so much that would be all that detrimental to the addition of extra co2.

After all, plants live all over the planet without supplemental co2.
 
Last edited:
I rarely, if ever use the micron cartridge with my HOT 250...I use it mainly as a biofilter. The carbon canister in mine is full of cut-up AC filter foam that I use as a bio-media. Maintenance is not an issue; but even so, this filter is very easy to clean. It's definitely no more difficult to clean than any other canister. It is a very good supplimental filter with the added benefit of micron-filtering the water if the need should arise.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom