Replacement for Magnum 250

[wallace]

There is no way this is going to work unless I order a dozen of the little foam gaskets that go on the bottom. I haven't used the filter yet and I lost track of the thing 5 times.... now its gone.

[Mugwump]

There is no way this is going to work unless I order a dozen of the little foam gaskets that go on the bottom. I haven't used the filter yet and I lost track of the thing 5 times.... now its gone.

..little foam gaskets ?.....

[wallace]

I took a picture of it. Wow, I'm not usually that much of a klutz, but every time I lift a cartridge out it is stuck to the bottom and falls off somewhere. 

I can always cut a replacement out of something if I lose it for good.

[Mugwump]

...you can order a bag of 'em too(Big Al's)....LOL...Lowes/Menards, etc carry em....same as used in the water filters in the blue tubes...match it up

[Mugwump]

...anyone else notice that these units cause the filters to load up quicker than the old units....  

[wallace]

You've reminded me that I need to order some diatom powder. What procedure do you use to charge it with diatom?

I only used it the one time. There is nothing going on in my tanks right now, the male rams are all deadbeats, the angels are just sitting there. I'm waiting for wilds season for discus.

[wsantia1]

...anyone else notice that these units cause the filters to load up quicker than the old units....

I did not notice the filter loading more up quickly but I did notice that the filter media is harder to clean. It takes me 2 cleanings with bleach to get it as clean as the media in my mag 250s. Could it be it's catching more dirt? The dirt appears more embedded in the media.

Even though changing the filter media is much easier on this filter, I prefer the old Mags when it comes to swapping filters between my tanks.

[Mugwump]

...anyone else notice that these units cause the filters to load up quicker than the old units....

I did not notice the filter loading more up quickly but I did notice that the filter media is harder to clean. It takes me 2 cleanings with bleach to get it as clean as the media in my mag 250s. Could it be it's catching more dirt? The dirt appears more embedded in the media.

Even though changing the filter media is much easier on this filter, I prefer the old Mags when it comes to swapping filters between my tanks.

They do allow dirt to embed much deeper in the cartridge...I'm having to clean em twice too...agree the older ones are easier to move....LOL...those dang little suction cups are a bitch to just pop off....

[Mugwump]

You've reminded me that I need to order some diatom powder. What procedure do you use to charge it with diatom?

I haven't tried the Diatom powder yet.....good question...

[wsantia1]

I'm going to set this up as a regular bottom filter for a while. It is a PITA to use it like I use my regular Hot Mags and the cartridges clog way too quickly and deeply for my liking. I moved it to a juvie growout tank as a bottom filter to see how effective it can be in there.

[Mugwump]

I'm going to set this up as a regular bottom filter for a while. It is a PITA to use it like I use my regular Hot Mags and the cartridges clog way too quickly and deeply for my liking. I moved it to a juvie growout tank as a bottom filter to see how effective it can be in there.

good idea.... ...I may try that too...

[LizStreithorst]

I think that I will like them when I get them.  I don't move mine from tank to tank much at all.  If the cartridge gets plugged up more quickly.  It will mean that they are doing a better job of removing particles. 

[wsantia1]

I set it up as a regular in tank filter. I put some Purigen in the tube and I'll check it in a couple of weeks unless the flow stops or slows down considerably.

[Mugwump]

I set it up as a regular in tank filter. I put some Purigen in the tube and I'll check it in a couple of weeks unless the flow stops or slows down considerably.

I wonder if it'll pack the powder by running so efficiently? 

[wsantia1]

I set it up as a regular in tank filter. I put some Purigen in the tube and I'll check it in a couple of weeks unless the flow stops or slows down considerably.

I wonder if it'll pack the powder by running so efficiently?

If you mean the Purigen, I don't think so since it's not a powder. I also only put the purigen in on chamber of the 2 chamber tube. It's also in a media bag so it is contained. We'll see what happens over the next few days.