Do you remember, when......

Dr. Dendrostein · Mar 8, 2020

Pick this up at SoCal Reef Corals in Cypress California. It's brand new never been used and it's all metal on the housing the motor, everything except the glass jar

Webslinger · Mar 8, 2020

Best piece of equipment I own. Run it for a day , a few times a year.

VR28man · Mar 8, 2020

I almost got one, but for the price, quality, I decided the marineland magnum polishing pump is better. Especially since IMO 90% of my use for it does not need DE.

That being said, @Paul B is a big fan too.....

Copingwithpods · Mar 8, 2020

What are they for, asking for a friend

Webslinger said:
Best piece of equipment I own. Run it for a day , a few times a year.

OlderManSea · Mar 9, 2020

The best piece of equipment ever. I have 2 one is more than 30 years old. Run on each tank once every few months.

JumboShrimp · Mar 9, 2020

Wow, wow, and double-wow. Looks like something that came over on the Mayflower

Dr. Dendrostein · Mar 9, 2020

JumboShrimp said:
Wow, wow, and double-wow. Looks like something that came over on the Mayflower

Reminds me one time I was working in an area and there was a garage sale and there was an Atari console complete in the box and the original receipt, handwritten receipt in it. It was sold at a Sears. Got it, all complete and original very little damage to box none to the equipment. So that for a pretty penny, when I sold

Dr. Dendrostein · Mar 9, 2020

Then I was again working in another area and I bought these three glass bottles and it was like a dollar each so $3 when I was walking toward my truck I noticed one bottle was not open it was full of wine, bottle from 1923 and sold that for a few thousand. The wine from the bottle was from Vineyard in Los Angeles at the time.

Webslinger · Mar 9, 2020

VR28man said:
I almost got one, but for the price, quality, I decided the marineland magnum polishing pump is better. Especially since IMO 90% of my use for it does not need DE.

That being said, @Paul B is a big fan too.....
[/QUOT

VR28man said:
I almost got one, but for the price, quality, I decided the marineland magnum polishing pump is better. Especially since IMO 90% of my use for it does not need DE.

That being said, @Paul B is a big fan too.....

No the Marineland isn't even close they might get down to 100 microns. They are just like using a filter sock. You need to use DE to get down to 5 microns

Webslinger · Mar 9, 2020

Copingwithpods said:
What are they for, asking for a friend

Will filter water down to 5 micron

Miller535 · Mar 9, 2020

Webslinger said:
No the Marineland isn't even close they might get down to 100 microns. They are just like using a filter sock. You need to use DE to get down to 5 microns

I too have always wondered what these are for. If it is just the small micron filter for occasional use, why not just use one of these:

Or am I missing something?

VR28man · Mar 9, 2020

Webslinger said:
No the Marineland isn't even close they might get down to 100 microns. They are just like using a filter sock. You need to use DE to get down to 5 microns

This is true, but the instructions include a DE option. Again, I did it once last year, I've yet to feel a need to do it a second time. Yet. This year.

Magnum Polishing Internal Filter Manual

(note that the DE instructions are upsidedown in the PDF)

The Marineland is $40-something shipped from Amazon, $38 from Chewy. Compared to $200+ retail I was looking at the Vortex for. And the Marineland is smaller, requiring less water and nuisance to prime. (nice for those of us who have small tanks)

I'm fine paying more, but looking at the quality and technology of the Vortex I'm not convinced that I'm getting good value for my money. Especially since I see folks online offering allegedly superior motors, etc - I'm willing to pay for a good motor, but that again begs the question why pay $200+ for it in the first place. I sort of get the impression that someone invented it in the 80s (I remember the original ads in TFH) and then just kept the same production process, and whoever inherited the very small family business has chosen not to expand or invest in it.

ETA: the D1 is $122 from their website. I think that LFS was selling a different model, which I can't find on the website anymore. But still I think the LFS was a rip-off..........

OK, then. I have the Marineland and can use it for DE when needed. Convice me me as to why I should get the D1.....

I'm more than open to buying stuff from a company that hasn't even changed its boxes since when I was a kid.

Miller535 said:
I too have always wondered what these are for. If it is just the small micron filter for occasional use, why not just use one of these:

Or am I missing something?

Not everyone has a sump.

Even if you did, you did not use the DE option, and wanted to spray up all your detritus, it provides a secondary outlet to catch stuff besides the sump/filter sock.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 9, 2020

Ahh, the good old days !! A little diatom powder and let this run for about 3 hours and Crystal Clear water !!!

Silent · Mar 9, 2020

I just gave 2 of those away to a guy with a small pond. 1 new, 1 used. Didn't think anybody in saltwater really wanted those. I got them in a tank bundle I bought and pieced out.

Webslinger · Mar 9, 2020

VR28man said:
This is true, but the instructions include a DE option. Again, I did it once last year, I've yet to feel a need to do it a second time. Yet. This year.

Magnum Polishing Internal Filter Manual

(note that the DE instructions are upsidedown in the PDF)

The Marineland is $40-something shipped from Amazon, $38 from Chewy. Compared to $200+ retail I was looking at the Vortex for. And the Marineland is smaller, requiring less water and nuisance to prime. (nice for those of us who have small tanks)

I'm fine paying more, but looking at the quality and technology of the Vortex I'm not convinced that I'm getting good value for my money. Especially since I see folks online offering allegedly superior motors, etc - I'm willing to pay for a good motor, but that again begs the question why pay $200+ for it in the first place. I sort of get the impression that someone invented it in the 80s (I remember the original ads in TFH) and then just kept the same production process, and whoever inherited the very small family business has chosen not to expand or invest in it.

ETA: the D1 is $122 from their website. I think that LFS was selling a different model, which I can't find on the website anymore. But still I think the LFS was a rip-off..........

OK, then. I have the Marineland and can use it for DE when needed. Convice me me as to why I should get the D1..... I'm more than open to buying stuff from a company that hasn't even changed its boxes since when I was a kid.

Not everyone has a sump. Even if you did, you did not use the DE option, and wanted to spray up all your detritus, it provides a secondary outlet to catch stuff besides the sump/filter sock.

Not telling anyone to get one. It's just the best piece of equipment I have. I think I paid $45 for it 15-20 years ago. Use it a couple times a year. I looked at the marineland...Junk! But everything made today is junk! I would not buy another at that price either as there are better options out there. I think the motor will outlast me so I should be fine.

reefwiser · Mar 9, 2020

DE is wonderful for use in any Aqurium. Sadly younger people have never seen what it can do to a tanks water quality.

Pickwun · Mar 9, 2020

Not exactly, but when I was a kid we had a swimming pool with a big DE filter. It was a massive pain in the butt to clean.

Webslinger · Mar 9, 2020

Pickwun said:
Not exactly, but when I was a kid we had a swimming pool with a big DE filter. It was a massive pain in the butt to clean.

Yeah, sand filters are much easier.

Dr. Dendrostein · Mar 9, 2020

All I know I'm hot rodding mine, glass jar will have activated carbon, as much that will fit, then the discharge of Vortex will go thru a pre-filter cartridge(4.5" x 10"), cartridge will hold DE powder. The instructions say, for continuous use. We'll see how long seal last. If need be viton seal coming. My children of the sea very picky of their water.

Webslinger · Mar 9, 2020

Dr. Dendrostein said:
All I know I'm hot rodding mine, glass jar will have activated carbon, as much that will fit, then the discharge of Vortex will go thru a pre-filter cartridge(4.5" x 10"), cartridge will hold DE powder. The instructions say, for continuous use. We'll see how long seal last. If need be viton seal coming. My children of the sea very picky of their water.

NICE!....Just don't touch the motor they get hot and keep it oiled.