I have one of these filters as well... I was not really impressed with
it's 'water polishing'. The so-called micron filter will only work
once or twice and the replacements are expensive.

It did NOT really polish the water all that much either... clogs up
fast as well. However, the FIRST use was fine. It's just replacing
that micron filter that costs soo much. I do NOT know if you can also
use diatomaceous earth with the filter. Filter powder is NOT mentioned
in the manual for this system at all. If you could, it might last a
lot longer, it just seemed that this filter was not really all it was
cracked up to be. Claims all you need to do is rinse the filter paper
out and use it again but that did not seem to work for me.

Claims to be a great mechanical filter, which iit is not, it only has
a single, 1/4 inch thick foam sleave to perform mechanical filtering
with, which means it clogs quickly. The carbon canister is small, and
not easily cleaned. Since I prefer to NOT use carbon it means that
the system really does not offer much in the way of mechanical
filtration unless you switch to the diatom filter. That only runs
about 2-3 hours before it clogs so bad that water flow basically
stops. And NO, this tank is NOT that dirty, just that the filter is
only a single layer diatom paper and clogs fairly easily.

According to instructions with the filter, it is supposed to be
re-usable, but every attempt to clear clogs and re-use the diatom did
not really work that well. I guess I will try to use diatom powder
with the filter next, it's just that I don't trust the filter to not
back-flush the diatom powder into the aquarium.

Also note: The box claims that the filter is sufficient for a 55-70
gallon aquarium... well, don't believe it. I think it can only really
handle about 30-35 gallons, maybe up to 40 but no more. Even with the
Biowheel attachment.

However, the biowheel section works fine, I have just moved the filter
onto a 29gal tall tank and it seems to handle that size tank well
without undo maintenance... I am planning on not using the carbon in
the filter anymore and just fill that chanber with some sort of floss,
probably one of those 25 or 50 micron floss padds that you can trim to
size.. at least that way it will help with the mechanical filtration.

As for a good diatom filter, I much MUCH prefer the 'System 1' from
Aquarium Pharm. That filter will clean a 55 gal tank in less than an
hour, turn it off, move it to another and clean again... can be used
on up to 4 75 gallon tanks before you have to change the powder out!
On 27 Dec 2003 04:25:22 GMT, (EGMono) wrote:

I was at my local pet store and I was poking about when I noticed that the
H.O.T. Magnum by Hagen had written on the box that it was a "dual mode" filter,
either as a continuous use filter, or as a micron filter "water polisher". Does
anyone own this filter, how well does it polish and can someone elaborate on
what water polishing is and why I would want it?

tia,