MAG 250 best media configuration finally discovered!

nc0gnet0 said:
But seriously, the only way to keep the same level of filtration as that which is achieved with the micron filter is to increase surface area while maintaining the pore size of the filter substrate. IE: a longer or wider micron cartridge.........

Your filtration will only be as good as the size of the largest particles that are allowed to pass through unfiltered. This changes a bit as the filter is in service, because as the filter catches more and more debris, the pore size decreases and you have better filtration, albeit at the cost of reduced flow rate.

Also, all the gunk you find in your filter canister is not only from what has been filtered out of the water, but bacteria and all that grew there as organic material became trapped in the filter medium and fed of this material.

Now, and interesting project would be to daisy chain two hot 250's together, with the first stage utilizing your concept gunner, and the second stage using the micron filter. If your idea is providing the same level of filtration of that of the micron cartridge, it ( the micron cartridge) should almost never become clogged.

I think what you have achieved is the best balance of filtration to service time that works for your situation. I am skeptical that it is doing so while maintaining filtration at the same level in regards to particle size.
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No your right no doubt the micron filter cleans supremely, but this project wasn't about the highest water quality otherwise a RO filter would be in order at a flow of a few drops per minute.

What this project is about is the finding the apex of optimum performance between "high filtration, endurance, and capture quantity" using "one" Magnum 250 filter. The micron is fine, I just don't like having to change and bleach them every few days. Longevity is what im after with high performance, and the ability to capture 5X the amount of accumulated dirt far after the micron has clogged to a stop with just a little dirt, got It.

Its important that you duplicate how I have done this though, only because I cannot say if other configuration such as using batten which is much more tightly woven will duplicate my results. Im just very very pleasantly surprise with the results after having tried so many different combination with this filter on my 244 mbuna tank. The filter is maintaining high flow, high efficiency (ability to capture allot of crap) with high filtration (polishing fairly well).

Remember start out with the bonded sleeve over the large hole strainer, followed by tuffed lightly packed Poly wool inside the media canister completely packed but not compressed, followed by the outer stock blue sponge provided. After you have tried that then try other similar configurations, but so far only using the ladder configuration can I claim these results, so please use it first to confirm my findings. After that daisy chain away.
 
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It's not too much of a bother to me, I change the micron filter when I do my water changes, having spare micron filters to rotate makes the process much less a PITA ;)

I look at it this way, the more crap I catch in the hot 250, the longer my xp4 can go between servicing............Same goes with my 350 and fx5
 
Gunner, been out'a touch for a while but had a couple of things that I thought you might find useful. Check out,

http://www.jehmco.com/html/hydro-sponge_filters.html

They cater to folks with a bad fish habit. I've found all sorts of stuff their that is sometimes difficult to source just the way you want it (bulkhead fittings, valves, kink proof tubing, etc.).

Two items in particular are the 1" & 2" dia. screen tube material. It's essentially the same stuff that makes up the inner liner of the HOT Magnum media basket. They are both sized to fit over the outside dia. of corresponding sched. 40 PVC so it's great for fabricating filter components and prefilters with out having to resort to drilling a gazillion holes in solid PVC for example. Might come in handy with your 404 project.

Anyway, great shipping, fair prices and a good selection of sometimes hard to find fish room goodies. Just a PITA ordering process since ya have to do it over the phone, but the people are real nice.

Also found an article on plunging water jet studies and the effects on aeration that kind of relates to another one of your HOT mods (sorry I can't recall which one - think it had to do with your Magnum discharge being directed straight down...) but I'll post as soon as I can find the link again.
 
Thanks! Great site especially for those sponge filters, something I keep thinking about for emergency 02/filtration using a centralized pump or compressed air tank. I was even thinking of modifying my SCUBA tanks with regulators for long term emergency air.

Yeah all my Mag 250's have the defuser removed so I can adjust the outflow above the waterline strait down pushing air into that water and forceing the surface water layer below like a conveyor. It has yielded me the highest measured 02 levels (8%) then any other method.


foolishfish said:
Gunner, been out'a touch for a while but had a couple of things that I thought you might find useful. Check out,

http://www.jehmco.com/html/hydro-sponge_filters.html

They cater to folks with a bad fish habit. I've found all sorts of stuff their that is sometimes difficult to source just the way you want it (bulkhead fittings, valves, kink proof tubing, etc.).

Two items in particular are the 1" & 2" dia. screen tube material. It's essentially the same stuff that makes up the inner liner of the HOT Magnum media basket. They are both sized to fit over the outside dia. of corresponding sched. 40 PVC so it's great for fabricating filter components and prefilters with out having to resort to drilling a gazillion holes in solid PVC for example. Might come in handy with your 404 project.

Anyway, great shipping, fair prices and a good selection of sometimes hard to find fish room goodies. Just a PITA ordering process since ya have to do it over the phone, but the people are real nice.

Also found an article on plunging water jet studies and the effects on aeration that kind of relates to another one of your HOT mods (sorry I can't recall which one - think it had to do with your Magnum discharge being directed straight down...) but I'll post as soon as I can find the link again.
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