Equipment Review and Discussion :: Canister filter Magnum 350

[VeipaCray]

Tucker Allen > you made a smart choice.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

I wish I could buy a fluval or XP3/4 It's just their expensive! I know you save money in the long run but I'm not planning on buying a bigger tank after my 40 gallon and going straight to outdoor pond. My Marineland H.O.T magnum cansiter works very well keeps the water clean. My Aquaclear 200 works well too circulation for it kinda sucks but it does its job on the biological part.

[VeipaCray]

Ranger> what you're doing is smart. The Magnum isn't very good at biological filtration, but you've supplemented it with a filter that is much better at biological filtration. Well played.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Thanks I like the waterfall sound too, another thing that made me want the aquaclear.

[beforemyway]

It seams every single time I go to clean the fluval, it just takes FOREVER. Even now I don't think I have it working right, because the filter is really loud and labored. I can't figure out what i'm doing wrong this time though.

[steve]

I'm going to steal VeipaCray's post in another topic. Let me know if it addresses your problem.

When you clean your filters, you don't need to re-prime.

Follow these directions in this exact order when you're doing your filter maintenance... print them and store the paper by your filter.

- don't let the water level drop below the filter intake. letting air in the intake path breaks the siphon -

1. Close the aquastop valve while the filter is running
2. Unplug the filter
NEVER NEVER pull up on the primer/plunger - doing so breaks the siphon in the hoses and lets them drain back into the tank
3. Lift the release lever and disconnect hoses from canister filter
4. Do your maintenance
5. Fill the canister with as much water as you can before you seal the top half back on
6. attach the hoses - NEVER NEVER pull up on the primer / plunger
7. lock the hose connector in place and open the aqua stop valve all the way
8. walk away for a minute - your canister is filling all the way because you left the hose primed and the siphon just restarted
9. turn the canister on... it will start

[Ironchefsakai]

I have a 30-gallon tank, half-full, with one RES. I started with a Fluval U2 internal filter and have had terrible results--the sponges gum up with waste a day or two after each cleaning. I'm interested in buying a canister filter and had looked at the 350 Pro, but after reading this, I'll stay away. Do any of you have suggestions for an optimal filter for my tank, canister or otherwise?

[VeipaCray]

The three most popular filters on this forum for RES are the Fluval FX5, Rena XP4 (now named XL) and the Rena XP3 (now named large). Your turtle will quickly outgrow the 30 gallon tank you currently have, so it may seem overkill and more expensive but buying one of these large canisters now and dialing back the flow rate will be the smarter investment for the long term as your turtle grows. (Buy one large filter now and let your turtle grow into it) Of the three, the FX5 is the best.

[Ironchefsakai]

Are there settings on the filters that enable adjustment of the flow rate?

[VeipaCray]

Yes. There are valves on the output side of the canister. Additionally any canister can be fitted with an inline valve in the return plumbing to control flow rate.

[PridgNYC]

Yes. There are valves on the output side of the canister. Additionally any canister can be fitted with an inline valve in the return plumbing to control flow rate.

Assuming you don't install your flow valve in a place where the back pressure causes one of your fittings to blow.

Safer to get a filter that has a built in flow control valve at the canister fitting (like the FX5). The ones that have it at the spraybar end are useless. And if you self install one without knowing where the pressure will build and taking proper precautions, you could be watering your floor.

[VeipaCray]

Details details. What fun is life without an indoor water sprinkler on your floor?

Actually the spraybar itself is a great way to diffuse water flow over a larger area of the tank.

[MEandYouPhoto]

The entire Fluval "06" line has an adjustable flow control right at the canister level, I use the Fluval 406 on my 55 Gallon tank. it does a really good job but if I could have bought the FX5 I would have.

[VeipaCray]

Most every canister has flow valves including most of the generic ones.

[HRC]

I thought I'd throw in my two cents on the Magnum 350. I have 2 Magnum 350's and they work very good for me. One is on a 75 gallon tank 2/3 full with a 6" Common Snapping Turtle. The water stays crystal clear and always tests perfect. I rinse the filter sleeve every 2-3 weeks and change carbon every 4-6 weeks. I know the Magnum 350 has a bad rap with all the newer bio-media filters on the market now but IMHO it's a great filter. Very simple filter, easy to maintain and works well for me.