Magnum 350 for gravel vac/water change?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

jmotion

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 4, 2008
176
0
16
Bay Area / Sac
I've been looking at options to gravel vac sand substrate without changing water and also speedy water changes. I have a 50' python and it works great for my other tanks (125, 80, 30, 10), but with the location of my 260 it's not exactly the quickest. I also want to avoid having to leave my faucet running for 15 mins + for water change just for that tank. I've looked at submersible pumps like the quiet one 4000hh to expedite the water change procedure, but that still doesn't solve the vaccing w/o dumping water.

Here's a little more info on my 260g, it's an 8ft tank filtered by an Fx5 and an AC 110. Water is crystal clear. Substrate is play sand (very fine particulates). I have a colony of mobas so powerheads are a no go to move the crap towards the filter inlet. What I've considered is using a Magnum 350 with a gravel attachment for quick surface vaccing, and using an extended tube to dump water out the window to yard or to tub. While this is probably slower than the 4000HH pump, it still gets the job done without wasting water. They are said to be self priming and the motor is located after the filter material so I wouldn't have to worry about the sand killing the motor.

If anyone has any more ideas or input/experience with the Magnum 350 let me know. Thanks.
 
If your using it just for vacuum the 350 should perform great. Just slap a Micro filter on it, vacuum, let it run for a few hours until all the particles are out and that's it.

Far as sand getting in it not sure how that will happen, unless the intake is sitting close to the bottom of the tank, which it should not be for the 350.

I have a 350 that's been in the family for years for the very thing your trying to do - vacuum and water polishing. The 350 is a solid unit.
:D
 
Hi,
I have came up with this system that works great for faster water/vac.
1 garden hose ( get a good one the cheep ones kink)
1 utilty pump with garden hose fittings on the input and out put
1 gravel vac ( I added a longer hose to it)
1 fitting and hose clamp (fits the pump and a nipple on the other end to fit into the hose and use the clamp here)

hook up the gravel vac to the input of the pump the garden hose to the output I discharge the water into a bucket that is in the bathtub. This way most of the sludge is in the bucket and can be dumped out side or down the toilet and the tub will only need a rinse. trun the pump on and start sucking water. When you are done pull the gravel vac out of the water with the pump is running ( 20 to 30 seconds) this will drain the water out of the hose.

I also got fittings to adapt the hose to my shower head and a shut off for the other end for filling the tanks.

The pump at home depot was about $80 and the hose $10
The fittings for drain and fill another $10 to $20

I know it is not real cheap but there is no wasted water and much faster.
I have several tanks and do all the water changes at the same time so time wise it is worth it to me.

hope this help

frankj
 
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