Magnum HOT Kills Pregnant Oto. Sniff.

[Roan Art]

We had a Magnum HOT 250 lying around, so I decided to use its water polishing capability on my 36g. The outflow on that thing is HORRENDOUS! I put it in the tank and everything was fine for about 10 mins and while I was taking some pictures of my fish, I saw my preg female oto get thrown by the outflown from one end of the tank to the other. She smashed against the glass. Needless to say, she died :rant:

I took this about 2 mins before she was killed:

Poor thing. I'm assuming she was pregnant. She sure LOOKS pregnant. That's an oto-sized basketball.

I took a pair of scissors to an old nylon stocking, washed the piece I cut thoroughly in vinegar, rinsed it and fastened it to the end of the outflow. I left an area at the end that's about the size of a small tomato. It's acting as a diffuser and works really well. Pointing the flow downwards results in no surface agitation. My plants aren't getting swept away and my neons have now come out from hiding.

Has anyone tried anything like this and if so, have there been any detrimental effects on the filter? It's a pressurized system, so I'm not sure if it will burn the motor out or what. It's not leaking at all, and I'm sure after 2 hours it would have.

Comments?

Also, what happens when a female that is carrying eggs and there is either no male or no spawning takes place. Does she absorb them?

Roan

 

[Mr Fish]

I bought a HOT myself and I have to concure - the outflow on these things is ridiculous. I have a 125 gallon tank and I wanted the HOT to suppliment the Fluval 404 which it already had (but wasn't enough, IMO).

The first thing that happened was one of my danios was eviscerated by the water flow... I was shocked and horrified... it's eyes, it's fins, it's tail... all blasted off... just terrible.

I then hooked it up to the spray bar being used by the Fluval. That worked ok. Eventually I got a double action bio-wheel and it's hooked there - which seems to work fine (and I get some extra bio filtration)

Hope that helps...

 

[anonapersona]

I took the nozzle off, just left the elbow open, and turned it down and toward the back wall just a bit.

 

[echoofformless]

The first thing that happened was one of my danios was eviscerated by the water flow... I was shocked and horrified... it's eyes, it's fins, it's tail... all blasted off... just terrible.

Wow, all just from the force of some water?? I'm truly mortified.

 

[Ghost_knife]

like I said before I have never had a problem with mine, I think it has a variable control on it maybe :look:

 

[Roan Art]

like I said before I have never had a problem with mine, I think it has a variable control on it maybe :look:

Was cleaning the Magnum out tonight and took a look at the nozzle, then the manual. The Magnum has a "split flow diffuser" that is adjustable to a Hi-Lo circulation. Mine was fully open -- same way it came from the factory. So the water was being pushed out a small opening, thus causing a LOT of force.

I closed it and now there's hardly any force at all. I'm betting that those of you who have had no problems either adjusted the diffuser yourself or were lucky enough to have it come with it closed.

Roan

 

[Ghost_knife]

I dont think mine came with one....alas I got my setup from Goodwill and cleaned it up and put it together but my filter is missing several parts that I need to get again...