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Re: "Magnum H.O.T" filter
> > Is this filter too much for a 20 gallon planted fish tank? 200 gph or
> > 250gph [snip]
>
> The standard rule of thumb is 5-7 "volumes" per hour. A 100 gph filter is
5
> volumes. When you subtract for the gravel, plants, and all the other
> goodies,
> you're probably right at 6.5 or 7 volumes. Why do you need more? If it
isn't
> doing the job, it is possible something needs to be reconsidered, but
> doubling
> the filter power is not likely to be the correct answer.
>
The filter sort of does the job, but it clogs up (dead leaves, algae, fish
poop) *very* quickly and I have to clean in every couple of days. The
manufacturer rates it for 5 to 15 gallons. It's exactly the same size as a
penguin "Mini". I rinse and reuse the floss/carbon cartridges (I couldn't
care less about carbon) quite a few times before I replace them, and I have
AP's "bio chem stars" that I never rinse in the filter chamber to keep the
biological filtration going.
I've experimented with wadding up a handful of polyester floss in the filter
chamber, but it floats up and the water bypasses it. I may try finding a
coarse natural sponge that I can trim to fit tightly in the filter box and see
what that does as filter media.
I guess what I'm trying to get to is a more filter surface area rather than
more gph. I'm having trouble doing that with my tiny power filter.
Thanks for the reply.
bob