Diatom Filter or H.O.T. Magnum

I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

Squid wrote:

I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

I've been using a HOT Magnum for years for just polishing.The micron
cartridge generally does a good job but on rare occasions I charge it
with diatom powder. I doubt if Marineland recommends this or if it
would void your warranty but it seemed to work fine. Haven't touched
either of my vortex filters since I've started using the HOT Magnum.
To charge the filter you'll need two input tubes, one for the input
and the other for the output. Place the filter in the tank and
submerge a small plastic pitcher and bring it up with the input and
exhaust tubes in it. I then slowly dump a cup of diatom powder in it.

"Squid" wrote in message
...
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?



I have both.
The Magnum can't hold a candle to the job the Vortex does in removing fine
particulate matter- no way not even close.
Of course the Magnum is 100 times easier to use and clean, but if water
polishing is your priority then Vortex is the way to go.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm

"Squid" wrote in message
...
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

I use the H.O.T. magnum on my planted 55 with the micron cartridge 100% of
the time. It keeps the water crystal clear and provides good circulation. I
have several cartridges which I rotate weekly. Rinse the filter with a
sprayer, soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse and then soak overnight in
bleach, 10:1. Rinse again and then dry. I don't use any chemical
filtration. I also have a 404 with just ceramic tubes and a couple bags of
peat that gets changed every few months if I remember. Since getting this
setup I have not touched my system 1 diatomaceous filter.
Jeff

"Squid" wrote in message
...
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?


I was wrestling with the same decision recently. Just this past Friday I
ordered the H.O.T. Magnum Pro setup from Big Al's. Hasn't arrived yet, so I
have no experience with usage to offer, but for what its worth I'll tell you
why I went with it.

I was looking to replace an old whisper 20. I wanted
biological/chemical/mechanical filtration, and something to help with gravel
cleaning, and water polishing would be nice a nice plus. I started out
looking at the Emperor 280. Then considering that plus a Vortex. Finally the
HOT Magnum.
Extensive NG and web research showed all three having pretty positive
reveiws and comments, so I felt good about any of the three.
Since I was replacing my main filter and needed bio/chem/mech filtration, I
thought the Magnum was more cost effective for me. I have only one tank. I
have read that the micron filter does a decent job (not as good as Vortex)
but also read in several places about charging it with diatom powder (thanks
for the specifics Randy) and thought I could try that if I wan't satisfied
with the polishing by the cartidge alone.
I liked the Magnum's price, flexibility, the separate chemical media
cartridge (which is one reason I passed on the Emperor), and the Pro kit
added the Bio-Wheel ( and Big Als currently adding a free 3 pack of filter
sleeves).

If water polishing was my primary requirement, and I had a chem/bio filter
system I was happy with, or if I had multiple tanks, I might have gone for
the Vortex. But for one tank and looking to upgrade all my filtration the
Magnum won out.

"Squid" wrote in message
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

I use the H.O.T. magnum on my planted 55 with the micron cartridge
100% of the time. It keeps the water crystal clear and provides good
circulation. I have several cartridges which I rotate weekly. Rinse
the filter with a sprayer, soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse and then
soak overnight in bleach, 10:1. Rinse again and then dry. I don't
use any chemical filtration. I also have a 404 with just ceramic
tubes and a couple bags of peat that gets changed every few months if
I remember. Since getting this setup I have not touched my system 1
diatomaceous filter.
Jeff

Isn't that a bit overboard? Not to be a cynic, but I don't even worry about
using tap water and flopping it right back in, no sense in using bleach...
but oxyclean?? That's just creating more work for a hobby that is supposed
to reduce stress, not create MORE because OF the hobby...

Then again, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure it won't work for
everyone... just as yours wouldn't work for me....

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??

"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
"Squid" wrote in message
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

I use the H.O.T. magnum on my planted 55 with the micron cartridge
100% of the time. It keeps the water crystal clear and provides good
circulation. I have several cartridges which I rotate weekly. Rinse
the filter with a sprayer, soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse and then
soak overnight in bleach, 10:1. Rinse again and then dry. I don't
use any chemical filtration. I also have a 404 with just ceramic
tubes and a couple bags of peat that gets changed every few months if
I remember. Since getting this setup I have not touched my system 1
diatomaceous filter.
Jeff

Isn't that a bit overboard? Not to be a cynic, but I don't even worry
about
using tap water and flopping it right back in, no sense in using bleach...
but oxyclean?? That's just creating more work for a hobby that is
supposed
to reduce stress, not create MORE because OF the hobby...

Then again, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure it won't work for
everyone... just as yours wouldn't work for me....

--


i wouldn't bother with the oxyclean but I do bleach my micro filter.

Rick

"Rick" wrote in message
...

"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
"Squid" wrote in message
I was thinking about getting a Diatom Filter and got a little
sidetracked by the H.O.T. Magnum which I guess comes with a Micron
Cartridge that polishes the water. Considering the H.O.T. is priced
rather low I was wondering what you guys thought of that as an
alternative to a Diatom Filter right?

I use the H.O.T. magnum on my planted 55 with the micron cartridge
100% of the time. It keeps the water crystal clear and provides good
circulation. I have several cartridges which I rotate weekly. Rinse
the filter with a sprayer, soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse and then
soak overnight in bleach, 10:1. Rinse again and then dry. I don't
use any chemical filtration. I also have a 404 with just ceramic
tubes and a couple bags of peat that gets changed every few months if
I remember. Since getting this setup I have not touched my system 1
diatomaceous filter.
Jeff
Isn't that a bit overboard? Not to be a cynic, but I don't even worry
about
using tap water and flopping it right back in, no sense in using
bleach...
but oxyclean?? That's just creating more work for a hobby that is
supposed to reduce stress, not create MORE because OF the hobby...

Then again, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure it won't work for
everyone... just as yours wouldn't work for me....
i wouldn't bother with the oxyclean but I do bleach my micro filter.

I was in a hurry one day and did not want to wait for the chlorine to clear
so I tried oxy instead. It is amazing the tarry brown goo that bubbles off
the filter. Probably don't need to do it, but as far as work goes, it's just
a couple of buckets out in the laundry room. Fill them with either bleach or
oxy, takes at most two minutes, then walk away.
Jeff

"Jeff Lowe" wrote in message
...

I was in a hurry one day and did not want to wait for the chlorine to
clear
so I tried oxy instead. It is amazing the tarry brown goo that bubbles off
the filter. Probably don't need to do it, but as far as work goes, it's
just
a couple of buckets out in the laundry room. Fill them with either bleach
or
oxy, takes at most two minutes, then walk away.
Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Is that just the regular powdered Oxi Clean, any particular strength?
Just curious, as I have ordered a HOT Magnum coming in this week, and I'm
just trying to keep notes about the various tips for making use of it.
Thanks!

"TR" wrote in message
link.net...
"Jeff Lowe" wrote in message
...

I was in a hurry one day and did not want to wait for the chlorine to
clear
so I tried oxy instead. It is amazing the tarry brown goo that bubbles
off
the filter. Probably don't need to do it, but as far as work goes, it's
just
a couple of buckets out in the laundry room. Fill them with either
bleach
or
oxy, takes at most two minutes, then walk away.
Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Is that just the regular powdered Oxi Clean, any particular strength?
Just curious, as I have ordered a HOT Magnum coming in this week, and I'm
just trying to keep notes about the various tips for making use of it.
Thanks!

Regular Oxyclean, or it's generic equivalents. One scoop to half a gallon
hot water. Use something heavy to hold the filter down. A friend left half a
six pack of Budweiser long necks behind and I find them ideal for this task.
;-)
None of this really gets the filter back to white, but I don't think it
matters. I tried this because I'd read that oxy is fairly benign and I could
never seem to rinse all the Clorox out. I've since learned no moisture, no
chlorine so let the filter dry out completely.
Jeff