Let's talk mechanical vs bio filtration...

From what MP was saying about the H.O.T. Magnum being good for mechanical filtration is true. There is a Bio filtration attachment for it too. You can hook up the Bio-Pro 30 to the H.O.T. Magnum and there is your complete filtration. That's what I am going to do in my tank. Good Luck! :)
 
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Why not get a Fluidized bed filter? Better Bio filtration then a canistor AND there is NO Maintence involved! :) :D
 
I have a 55 gal with a 300 gph HOB filter and a Magnum HOT. My HOB is for mechanical, and my HOT is filled with ceramic noodles with the mesh screen around the media chamber. It doesn't have a prefilter on it. The mesh does accumulate detritus over time, but not as much as my HOB. I clean my HOB every week and my HOT about once a month. My water looks pretty clear IMO. I also never get over 20 ppm nitrates in a week, and do 50% water changes.

To keep the noise down on my cheap Top Fin 300 gph HOB, I fill the water up about a quarter or a bit more above the trim of the tank when I do water changes. In a week it gets back down to the trim and then I'm doing another water change. I think it is more visually appealing not to see the waterline and it also stops the water-trickling noise of the HOB. Try it! With the two systems, I'm also cycling about 450 gph in my tank, so it's great for a 55 gal.
 
yeah, i don't get that entirely myself..... i never notice a slight trickle of water noise *unless* the water level in the tank is dropping.......

just a thought.....
 
Thanks for all of the input, everyone.

I think I'll continue to use my canister as a bio-filter with the pre-filter sponge over the intake.

For mechanical filtration, I'm leaning towards two different options:

1) Get an AC500 and fill it with sponges and floss ($29.99/filter, $3.49/sponge at bigal's)

2) Get a HOT Magnum ($39.99) and foam sleeves ($4.99) and possibly some kind of carbon media for inside the sleeve (can anyone with a HOT explain the layout a little better, especially as it relates to media types for mechanical filtration)

--

In researching the Magnim, I did notice that the output pipe can be extended to be under the water, which reduces my noise concerns over hang-on types of filters.

Any thoughts with these directions?
 
The layout of a HOT is a simple design with a rough cylinder in which is a hard mesh container that can hold a variety of media (I use ceramic noodles) I think it is fairly large and would hold more than enough carbon. around this hard mesh container is a foam sleeve. This sleeve is the mechanical filter, which does a decent job. I personally would go with the AC500 in your case and get the sponge inserts. They are even easier to clean than the HOT and move more water. The sponge is very adequate at removing particles from the water.
 
Yes, ACs are easier to clean than HOT Magnums, but...

ACs make more splashing noise, and they don't fit over the rims of some larger tanks. IMO, they (vs. Magnums) are somewhat less capable of mechanical filtration.

HOT Magnums come with micron cartridges that can be used for water polishing (or run 24/7. Just buy a spare cartridge). Alternatively, you can run Magnum as a regular filter (with the above mentioned sleeve and container). And the container (although it's small) can be filled with floss or anything else you want.

I like and use both of these filters. IMO, ACs are very decent for a simple combined filtration (bio and mech). HOTs are, primarily, good as mechanical filters (their biocapacity is very limited for their high flow rate. True, you can add Biowheels there, but then you'll get the splashing noise).

Also, I'd like to comment of the fluidized bed filter suggestion. No maintenance? I wish! I used the famous Lifeguard FB 300 for a few months, got rid of it and would never come back. A maintenance nightmare! You have to maintain pre-filtering, deal with surges in flow (due to the changes in pre-filter clogging), you loose sand, you risk getting the sand packed and become anaerobic if you skip on a timely cleaning, it wouldn't re-start smoothly, etc., etc. Oh, I hated it so much! Never again! :)
 
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So how does the HOT 250 compare to the Magnum 350? Obiviously, the 350 is larger physically and pushes more water. But the price at bigal's is only about $30 more for the 350.
 
We were talking about H.O.T. Magnum. It's a bit different from those you mention.
And when it comes with the BioWheels and gravel cleaner, they call it H.O.T. Magnum Pro.
 
Sorry, my mistake. My brain called the HOT Magnum a 250 because I was looking at the 350 at the time (and the HOT is rated at 250gph).

So, putting aside the bio-wheel and gravel sucker stuff, comparing a HOT Magnum to a Magnum 350 in terms for mechanical capability as well as ease of use etc, which might be a better approach as a mechanical to supplement the bio in my XP3?

I'm willing to spend a little more to get it right.
 
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