Problems Magnum 350

[Bluemermaidgirl]

I have a Magnum 350 with biowheel, I am very new to salwater and in in the stages of getting the filter set up. I think I am doing something wrong because It seems like there is not enough water pressure for the hose that connects to the biowheel to actually push out the water. Does anyone else have a Magnum350 or can give advise! I have been tinkering with it for about a week now and am at my wits end.

 

[alextheromanian]

i dont own one but it sounds like its not properly siphoned....

what you want to do is empty it clean it /rinse it

hook it back up insert intake hose and ...either suck or use a siphon starter to suck water in trough the output hose.


this will start a siphon ...fill your filter and once you plug it in it should work.

if not i dont know.

most people use magnums for cleanning up water...not overall filtration...

if youre new to the hobby i suggest getting a sump...fish stores will sell you anything telling you its good but its not true.

canister filters become problematic after a while and the best thing you can do for yourself is install a sump.


hope you figure it out.

 

[Bluemermaidgirl]

Thanks I'm gonna try to siphon it. I have a sump as well, along with a protein skimmer.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Hi Blue Mermaid
[welcome]

Can I talk you out of the biowheel?

They are fine in a FW tank but not for a SW. We use what is know as the "Natural Filtration Method" for maintaining SW tanks and the key to that is having live rock. That is rock that provides the needed bacteria to maintain water quality without producing large amounts of nitrate. If you plan on only keeping fish then nitrate is not all that bad but if you desire corals and other invertebrates then natural filtration is far better. Here is some reading material on the subject.
Natural Filtration I
Natural Filtration II
Natural Filtration III

 

[tspors]

I have a 350, I used it in my Freshwater. Your question and answer is correct there is not enough pressure to run them both. One if you are going to use this for your SW setup drop the bio wheel. You will have enough however, it will not circulate the water at all. However, go with what Alex said, get a sump and a pump. I use my 350 now to circulate water in my RO/Di storage tub.

 

[Bluemermaidgirl]

Ok so here is my plan. I am gonna take out the biowheel... maybe I can use the canister ( which I would have came to this site before I bought my stuff). I have a megaflow sump but need a return pump which I can use one of the hoses from the Magnum 350 ( as her the suggested at my LFS). Any other tips for me?

 

[WaterKeeper]

By all means, keep the canister as it can be used to run carbon or other chemical media, like phosphate removal products. You'll want a return pump that can pump about 1000 gph if that is your sole means of tank recirculation. Here are a ton of Links to help you on your new adventure.

 

[alextheromanian]

i would keep it like others said. magnums can also be used to clean water very well...i find this to be a REALLY useful thing whenever you rescape your tank or if you ever deal with moving or adding sand they are great to use to clear up the water of all the dust and debris but other than that like water keeper said maybe only to run media...personally i have my sump a remora skimmer the sump includes a refugium and i have two reactors one with carbon alternative and the other with chemipure....this takes pretty much care of filtration.

THE BEST filters...for water chemestry will be the rocks...and water movment...no filter will clean as much as a well circulated tank will.


youre new to the hobby as am i...and even after a year and a half im learning new things as i am sure experienced hobbyists do aswell...

its what fun about the hobby you always learn new things about the hobby no matter how long youve been a fan of it.

be weary however of LFSs....they tend to sell you anything to make a dollar. its best to ask on here first like you did...it would have saved me a ton of money if i had been so wise as you have been.

i only joined RC after failing miserably

 

[firebirdcrzy]

I have been using magnum 350 sence i was a kid (mostly for FW), I use mine just to "polish" the water or as Waterkeeper stated to run media from time to time. They are notorius for loosing pressure in no time as the filters get dirty quickly. I only run mine for about a day or so till it loses pressure, with media about 3 days. You shouldn't have to start a siphon with it as Alex mentiond but fill it about half way full of water (there is a indented line around the canaster) the water level should remain around this point, as the filters clog up the water level will rise in the canaster, when it reaches near the top it is time to clean. Hope this helps and it is only from my experience using them.