What makes the Magnum filters good?

[mott]

The Magnums are not creature comfort filters that is for sure, unless of course like RodInCali your just popping in polishing filters. (Incidentally Rod I like that idea of the bio blanket over the polisher, does it keep it from clogging?) Anyway as I was saying, the magnum is the stick shift of canisters and a mini version of a commercial filter and complaints if not driven right. If it doesn't work for you I wouldn't care for it either as we are here just debating some specific aspects of 2 popular filter types that's all. The bigger more important issue at least in my book and probubly Rod's is value and cost, like a craiglist aquarium steal-deal if you can get your hands on a good name brand filter with a long respected reputation for parts and service for quarters on the dollar, in my book that is something to brag about and way more important because the filter is essentially free. A filter like the Magnum 350 or the Fluval 404 (same as 405) in good condition on ebay for $35 can be used taken care of and resold for the same amount you paid for it 2-5 years down the road, essentially 0 cost! In that respect all these good reputation filters are on equal footing in my book.

I understand they are cheap and you get what you pay for but you still did NOT answer my question

 

[SMinNC]

Also, I don't remember how the magnum was set up, but with the fluval the water is filtered before the pump.

Water goes through the filter with no bypass, unless we humans screw up putting it together real bad. Then to the pump, back to the tank.

For whoever wants cleaning info...

The whole cleaning process is pretty simple really.

I have the shut off / quick disconnect valves that came with it.
So I close all four valves. Disconect the two hoses.

Lift the (#18) housing off of the motor assy. (#19)
Maybe go ahead and take the upper hoses with me once a month or so, to clean those.
Head to the back yard, turn on the garden hose.

*** going by the basic set-up of carbon. But wouldn't be much different with bio-whatever in #24 and even less effort with the micron filter ***

Remove #5 and 6
Watch for which way the #7 gasket goes. Sometimes it sticks to #5 and sometimes it stays with #24. No biggie, just know where it is.
Give a quick rinse.

Remove Mech filter #25. Discard or rinse.

Remove #10, 11, 24 as one peice(this should/can always stay as one peice). Take the top off (hovering above 24 in pic, with no number) and dump carbon in trash.
Rinse #24, fill with carbon, replace top, rinse carbon.
Replace #25. Set aside.

Lift #7, 12, 16 out by #12.(#12 and 16 should/can always stay as one peice).
Rinse and run the cleaning brush(supplied) through it, rinse. Set aside.

Remove #15's (Impeller) Rinse off.
Use supplied brush to clean #18, where impeller was.
Rinse out #18.
Replce Impeller
Replace #7, 12, 16.
Replace #24/25
Fill canister to Line. This is that tricky part, where I believe most of our(human error) problems start. I'm sure anywhere close to the Line is fine. But like I've done myself. I think people just plain fill it, and cause their own problems.
Replace #5 and 6.

Place on top of motor assy, still under the tank.
Hook up the quick disconnect hoses.
Open valves on hoses.
Canister begins to auto fill.
Start it.
All done.

 

[SMinNC]

Nice try but a "hanger" hardly qualifys the 350 as a portable device You still have to deal with hoses and that silly clamp that keeps the inlet and outlet together on your tank.
I also would hate to see that thing hanging on a tank LOL I would think most would hang it off to the side as we generally try to keep the back of the tank closer to the wall, not to mention if you happened to walk by and accidentally rub against the can you could twist the motor and have it fall right off hehe.

This "hangar" was very well made. And if I remember right(was probably 15 yrs ago now) it was attached to the bottom of the motor with 3 or 4 screws. There would have been no twisting, falling off etc. If you "bumped" into it hard enough to do anything resembleing anything that would cause twisiting. You might want to be running for the wet vac, because you most likely just dumed the whole tank on the floor.

It had nice strong "Clamps" for the hoses too. They weren't going anywhere, easily either. And if I'm remembering those right. They were the biggest pain, because they held the hoses so tight. You'd think you were about to break something, before they came out.

Now sense the thing was screwed to the motor. But you could still do all the maintenance to it, just as my previous post. Plus carry it around by the Magnums, handle. I'd say thats "Portable".
Just because you might not be able to fit it "on the back" of a tank, does not make it, Not "Portable".

For around 6 months, I carried this "Portable" 350 Magnum to my car. Drove across town. Set it on the front of a 55g tank. Plugged it in, turnt it on, then cleaned the tank with a vac hooked up to it. Then let it run for an hour, before taking it back across town to my house.
This is why I liked using the 350 for this. I had a valve on the out put, so I could keep the flow down a little while vac'ing. Then run it wide open just for plain water polishing.

Maybe we have two different definitions for "Portable" but mine says, thats "portable".

...I also demand complete silence from my tanks!

Like I said before. Thats the only "better" thing I've read about them. And yes, I've read alot of "filter" subjects here n there. So, until I have the need to stick my head under my tank and hear nothing. There's no need for me to pay 3-4x more for something that my Magnum can do just as good(clean), if not better.

... I guess since noise does not bother you and you like to drive 80 mph with the windows open and the AC on that makes you a wild and kooky kinda guy huh? I'd love to hang with you it must be a hoot!

Thats the general concensus. lol
Aint no typical ride to the store with me. Cuz ya aint having fun, if ya aint havin' fun!

 

[mott]

This "hangar" was very well made. And if I remember right(was probably 15 yrs ago now) it was attached to the bottom of the motor with 3 or 4 screws. There would have been no twisting, falling off etc. If you "bumped" into it hard enough to do anything resembleing anything that would cause twisiting. You might want to be running for the wet vac, because you most likely just dumed the whole tank on the floor.

It had nice strong "Clamps" for the hoses too. They weren't going anywhere, easily either. And if I'm remembering those right. They were the biggest pain, because they held the hoses so tight. You'd think you were about to break something, before they came out.

Now sense the thing was screwed to the motor. But you could still do all the maintenance to it, just as my previous post. Plus carry it around by the Magnums, handle. I'd say thats "Portable".
Just because you might not be able to fit it "on the back" of a tank, does not make it, Not "Portable".

For around 6 months, I carried this "Portable" 350 Magnum to my car. Drove across town. Set it on the front of a 55g tank. Plugged it in, turnt it on, then cleaned the tank with a vac hooked up to it. Then let it run for an hour, before taking it back across town to my house.
This is why I liked using the 350 for this. I had a valve on the out put, so I could keep the flow down a little while vac'ing. Then run it wide open just for plain water polishing.

Point taken, Looking at it that way I guess you could call most canisters portable then!

 

[SMinNC]

Dear Mr. OP aka D_K,

I know we've de-railed your awesome lil HOB "canister" question with a bunch of Full Blown Canister jabber.

But?...

So, lets discuss what I am missing!

Have you managed to find that, in all of this?

 

[SMinNC]

Point taken, Looking at it that way I guess you could call most canisters portable then!

I wouldn't go that far, either.

I would consider my 350 on my 55g, maybe something like... "movearoundable". But "portable", Nope, not even close.

To me "portable" in, aquairum related terms. Needs to be something like... Unplug it, pick it up and go. Kind of like a python.

 

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

that hanger that used to be made for the mag 350's is as hard to find as jimmy hoffa, i have only ever seen it one time. looked very neat and i dont know why they stopped making them, i would have bought one. the one i seen was made like a hot magnum on top and was indeed as portable as a hot magnum.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Too bad no one has a detailed drawing or picture so it can be replicated using a vise and make the necessary bends some stainless steel wire or spring steel. But unless your a vendor or take your tanks on the road show, there probubly is not much need as mush as novelty or easier on the back bone. Personally I wish they had made the Hot magnum a wider moon arch for twice the volume but not bigger round, called the Mag 350 express LOL.

 

[Riiz]

Wow, I dont how I missed this awesome thread about the Magnums.

I'll own 3 Hot Magnums and did own a Magnum 350, but it was retired. I'm currently an Eheim Junkie, but still use the HOTs, due to their water polishing prowess. In a planted tank they are a bit much, but I employ their use after stirring up the mulm that builds up.

They might be cheap, but they last, I have one that is 11 years old, that I bought from Walmart, when they were sold under the Regent(sp) brand. If I ever start my fish farm, like the wife expects, I'll buy another dozen, lol.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I understand they are cheap and you get what you pay for but you still did NOT answer my question

In that case I do apologize because there is no way I want to go through the agony of explaining hydraulics 101. No disrespect intended but hydraulics is allot more like basic electricity then most people realized (excluding tech's) so its not something that is fun to learn or explain. So I pass unless I meet you in person so I can talk 10 times faster then I write LOL.

Having said that if you want me to say that your right and I'm wrong for the sake of your need to know and my unwillingness to explain it. OK I'm wrong 8^D. I was going to use the hug icon but editing doesn't allow it, but moving on the margin of difference between both filter types doesn't trump one's personal likes and dislikes, that's why for the foreseeable future (I hope), we still like in a free society with choices. So chose and enjoy.