Equipment Review and Discussion :: advice: marineland magnus 350 cannister filter

[scriabin]

Anyone know anything about the brand? I'm a newbie to all this, and someone has offered to sell me one that was being used in a Koi Pond for $15 - at that price I don't see how I can go wrong - but I'm confused about being able to attach something called a "bio-wheel" - does that mean the filter itself isn't biological? - is anybody familiar with all this? Will this filter meet my basic biological/mechanical/chemical filtration needs for a RES?

Any advice is helpful! thanks!

Jonathan

[Fuzzy Hamster]

Jonathan, I am guessing that you mean the Magnum (not magnus) which is intended to be a part of a filtration system rather than a stand alone complete (biological/mechanical/chemical) filtration solution. The 350 alone is an older design that was intended mostly to be used for mechanical filtration and potentially for chemical, but not biological. That is why it is ideal for a pond.

For a complete solution you also needed to add the Penguin Bio-Wheel Pro to provide biological filtration, although it was actually a separate filter. The Penguin Bio-Wheel Pro was designed to hang off the side or back of your tank. It also required some type of device to move water through it. They were usually sold with a Penguin Power Head that would essentially propel water through the bio wheel to make it work. The bio wheel did not come with its own internal power source/pump.

The three items are separate but worked simultaneously to provide a complete solution. Note that as far as I know, the magnum & bio wheel have both been discontinued, so even though you are getting it cheap, you may not be able to readily get replacement filter media. I believe that there are newer Penguin filters, but in the long run, a currently available canister filter would probably be a better alternative.

[scriabin]

Thanks, that's really helpful!

[octpusgirl8]

They still make the magnum 350, i actually got one recently. I would have loved another xp3 like i have on my other tank, but i just couldn't afford it. The magnum isn't as nice, but it certainly gets the job done. It has room for a lot of carbon, and has great mechanical filtration, but no dedicated bio media. The tank still cycled fine though. I'm planning on getting the bio wheel attatchment for the outflow soon.

[cheech&chong]

I have the magnum 350 and it's probably the main reason i'm trying to re-home my turts... the thing is a power hog... it wastes an insane amount of electricity...

[mikee]

I have three 350 magnum filters and they do fine. They do filter mechanically and biologically as well. They are not as quiet as the fluval 405, but they do put out a lot of water (350gph) I have had one for over 15 years and it is still doing fine. Since it is an older model I still have to oil the bearing once and a while. Make sure you get some valves so you can clean and change the filter media. M.

[jawsspeedymrt]

I've spent over $80 in repairs for mine. the impeller begins to weather away if the smallest piece of carbon leaks from the carbon container. I've bought three replacement impellers and a new plastic canister due to the last impeller wearing a hole in it. I have three of these things & their a pain in the behind. Not only due they break easily, it's impossible to get the air bubble out of the canister.

[mikee]

Jaw-speed -- The carbon should not get into the impeller if you put the outer foam on and clean out the plastic canister before you water it up. You have to make sure the canister is completely full and when the air get in it you can cut if off a couple of times and restart and each time the water level will come up. It is an old style and takes a little where with all to get them going but I can do my three blindfolded. They have come out with a new 360 but I know nothing about them. Good Luck!! m.