Experience with Vortex Diatom Filters

[Dan F]

What do people think about the Vortex diatom filters?

I remember my LFS owner going around from tank to tank "polishing" the water. Twenty-some years later, and the thing looks identical. When I was 11, the $80.00 price tag seemed outrageous (impossible). The XL goes for $99.95 online these days, so, are they worth it?

 

[brianp]

Many years ago, the diatom filter was used for sort of the same thing that a uv sterilzer is used today. Most fish stores had them to eliminate free-swimming parasites (eg., ich) and I purchased one myself. I wouldn't invest in one to "polish" the water, but they are useful to eliminate free-swimming parasites when you want to avoid adding medication to the tank or to reduce/eliminate trhe transmission of disease during an outbreak. For example, since ich involves a free-swimming stage, you can use a diatom filter to avoid adding meds. Presumably, you could use one to eliminate transient cloudiness or algal blooms. I have a vague recollection that they will filter down to less than 1 micron. They are a bit messy to use.