Magnum

[cocoa_pleco]

as you know, monday im going shopping in seattle til friday, yada yada yada.

The only thing im aiming for is a good canister filter for my new 20g. I saw a MAGNUM canister that hangs on the back for 49.99 at petsmart. I was gonna get one, but got the new 20g instead. Are MAGNUMS good or should i just buy a FLUVAL canister while im there?

[Chrona]

Everything I've read about Magnum HOT's suggests that they are terrible primary filters. However, many people have one with the micron cartridge and diatom powder for the sole purpose of polishing their water for a few hours each week.

[cocoa_pleco]

no, i need a main filter.

Its either the largest aquaclear filter or a fluval canister then.

[kimmers318]

I personally love my magnum bio series, but I haven't used any of the new fluvals to compare it to.

[Chrona]

I personally love my magnum bio series, but I haven't used any of the new fluvals to compare it to.

Is it the hang on tank model? The normal magnum pro is great, but it's the HOT model that I keep hearing issues about.

[cocoa_pleco]

yeah, it hangs on the tank and has 2 tubes.

I wouldnt mind spending 50$ on the MAGNUM vs. 100$ on a fluval since i could get a fluorescent light for my 10g with the extra cash. Nobody wants to buy the 10g, so im keeping it.

[Fishguy2727]

Print off the price for the Fluvals at petsmart.com and they will match it in store. I would definitely go for the Fluval. The magnums are just obsolete (Marineland just came out with a new canister) and the Fluvals have proven themselves to me again and again for about 9 years now.

[cocoa_pleco]

thanks. fluval it is. Fluval has those new carbon inserts that look cool and all that.
Those magnum boxes looked a bit old.

[kimmers318]

The magnum I have is a canister 350 Pro bio wheel series.....canister filter with 2 bio wheels and the shut off values make it nice to pull it out from under the tank to clean.
This is what I have
http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/con_magnum.asp

It is at the bottom of the list...it does a great job on my 65, almost twice the size for the tank.

[cocoa_pleco]

THATS THE ONE I SAW.

This is a hard decision. Ive got 24 hours before i go to seattle, so thats some time.

I think reptileguy caught me on the fluval. Fluvals very trustworthy

[Fishguy2727]

I would definitely go with Fluval, but I don't use any carbon in any of my tanks anymore and see no difference, as long as you keep up with your water changes. I do the first tray (bottom) with a fine mechanical media like filter floss. The rest of the trays I fill with Biomax.

[cocoa_pleco]

chrona said a eheim. which is best?

[Chrona]

Meh, for the same price, you could get a Fluval 105 or an Eheim Classic 2213. I haven't had any experience with either, but it seems the vast majority of people over at plantedtank go with the Eheim. (For smaller tanks)

[cocoa_pleco]

hmmm, tough decision. Whichever is cheaper i guess if theyre close to equal good

[Chrona]

hmmm, tough decision. Whichever is cheaper i guess if theyre close to equal good

lol nono the price is the same. It's the quality that's still up in the air :)

[cocoa_pleco]

ARGH, which one?

[Chrona]

Here's a good article I came accross about Eheim maintenance btw

http://www.rexgrigg.com/Eheim%20Classic%20Canister%20instructions.htm

[cocoa_pleco]

i'm liking that 3 month maintenance!

[cocoa_pleco]

SCORE. My dad sent me 100$ extra from his oilfield for the canister filter!

I think im gonna get a fluval now.

[Chrona]

SCORE. My dad sent me 100$ extra from his oilfield for the canister filter!

I think im gonna get a fluval now.

wtf? oilfield? lol

And I thought you had your mind set on the Eheim? Price is the same, but Eheim is better quality lol.

[cocoa_pleco]

dam, im tongue twisted. yeah, eheim, not fluval.


MY dad owns a oil company, and sends me money for fish alot. now, im loaded for cash for my filter

[Chrona]

dam, im tongue twisted. yeah, eheim, not fluval.


MY dad owns a oil company, and sends me money for fish alot. now, im loaded for cash for my filter

Wow, that is random lol. Tell him to up his production and stop holding back oil so my gas prices will go down!

[cocoa_pleco]

i just read petsmarts site. Eheims are about 275$, and fluvals 120$. I read the customer reviews for both, and fluvals got great ratings. fluvals cheaper, so i guess im all fluval.

[Chrona]

i just read petsmarts site. Eheims are about 275$, and fluvals 120$. I read the customer reviews for both, and fluvals got great ratings. fluvals cheaper, so i guess im all fluval.

Have you listened to anything I said? lol. The 275 dollar Eheim is the Pro II, which is WAY more than you need

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3603&N=2004+22777
Eheim 2213

vs

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14633&N=2004+22777
Fluval 105


Eheim classic >>> Fluval 105

Nuff said.

[Fishguy2727]

No filter should be left for three months. They should all be maintenanced monthly to remove debris otherwise you can cause really bad nitrate spikes. A Fluval can go as long without maintenance, but the harm will be as bad as an Eheim being left for three months. Actually if a filter can still flow with debris built up in it, that means there is bypass (water going around the media) in which case you might as well just put a powerhead in to keep the water moving because that's all the canister is doing if the water isn't going through the media.