Re: [GSAS-Member] New 20 gal: looking for foreground plants; also, cannister filter brand tips?

[Shamus Young <machismo@eskimo.com>]

I have to put in a plug for the Magnum Hang on Tank cannister.

Back in the 80s, I ran fluval & ehiem cannister filters on 55 gal
tanks.  I found that the hassle of disconnecting the filter and getting it
primed correctly, etc, was enough inertia that I wasn't changing/cleaning
the mechanical filtration media as much as I should have been.  So I was
using a spare hang on as well.

In 1994, I got a Magnum HOT with a second hand set up and really love it.
It's been running for 14 years.  I replaced the rubber seals in 2000 just
in case.  I was using a biowheel on the outflow for biological filtration,
but smashed it, and just started running the outflow into an undergravel
filter, which also came with the tank, to get reverse flow action there.

The magnum HOT is really easy to disconnect and clean.  Easy enough that I
actually do it when I change the water.  I also like the flexibility of
it.  I've pulled it off the main tank to polish the water when setting up
a new tank, and used the gravel vacuum attachment to give the substrate on
that tank a thorough cleaning.  There's a carbon basket, so you can switch
it to chemical filtration if you need to use it.  I've loaned the HOT to
people who have had to medicate tanks, to clean that up.

The tank that I'm not using right now, but want to set up again, has a lid
that won't allow back of tank filters without modificaiton, so I'll
probably get a Magnum filter for that.  But for your 20 gallon, I'd
recommend the HOT.

Shamus

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008, Trish wrote:

> The Magnum canister fliters work well too.But they are harder to disconnect 
> than the Fluval canisters...I have this along with the internal fluval on my 
> 55....
>
> A canister is always better for most tanks if it will work. It will keep it 
> much cleaner. You really can not over filter...
>
> Trish
>
>
> --- On Wed, 4/30/08, Matt Staroscik <matt@wrongcrowd.com> wrote:
>
> > From: Matt Staroscik <matt@wrongcrowd.com>
> > Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] New 20 gal: looking for foreground plants; also, 
> > cannister filter brand tips?
> > To: "Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat" <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> > Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 4:18 PM
> > I am not necessarily opposed to something like potting soil
> > underneath--as
> > long as it's cheap and easy I'll try it. :)
> >
> > Bioload will probably be high, which is why I want to go
> > cannister. Trish,
> > those in-tank filters look good, but I will have a pair of
> > meat-eating
> > ropefish in the tank and I want an excess of filter
> > capacity. Also, a
> > cannister should be easier to clean at work--I can unhook
> > it and take it to
> > the restroom sink.
> >
> > If I could get a riccia carpet, I would be a happy man!
> >
> > Thanks everyone.
> >
> > - MS
> >
> > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 4:08 PM, Betty Goetz
> > <haika@drizzle.com> wrote:
> >
> > > A 20 long is low enough to function like my tanks, I
> > figure. I get great
> > > growth from rotala, riccia, java moss and ferns and
> > some crypts. I usually
> > > just have 2 strip lights over the tanks or position
> > them so they get some
> > > natural light. However, I don't mess with anything
> > other than a sponge
> > > filter, have low bioloads, and usually have potting
> > soil under a gravel
> > > overlayer, so it's quite a different set up than
> > you are talking about.
> > > I'm very much the low-tech person (wink). And I
> > probably have snails and
> > > either utricularia (which I consider a pest) or hair
> > algae (low volumes
> > > controlled by red cherry shrimp) so you may not be
> > interested in plants
> > > from my tanks although I'm happy to share (smile).
> > >
> > > Betty Goetz
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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