In the process of setting up the 120,I'm looking for some sweeet filtration,but preferably internal. The Vortex Diatom really caught my eye, anybody have one? How is it?
Vortex Diatom XL
- Thread starter wuvmybetta
- Start date
A
AquaNut
Guest
Hey wuvvy! 
I have a Vortex Diatom. LOVE it
However, I wouldn't want to rely on it as my primary filtration method. It's more of a good cleaner upper/ polisher. Here are a few pluses/minuses in my own personal experience/opinion.
Pluses - NOTHING makes your water sparkle like a diatom. NOTHING. Your water will shimmer and you'll be amazed that water can actually look that clean.
- it filters out EVERYTHING, particularly ich and other parasites. I've successfully ridden a tank of ich by using the diatom and nothing else (not entirely true, I suppose, as I use salt in my tanks as well).
- if you ever need a quick clean up... ie. Jenica wanted to help feed the fishies and dumped a mega size can of flake into the tank... the diatom will suck it all out within minutes (maybe an hour on a 120)
- it's a high quality product; well made, works like a charm, does exactly what it says it will do
- it creates a ton of current and water agitation (could be a minus, depending on your fishies)
Minuses - where I live, diatom powder is more precious than diamonds!!! You shouldn't have that problem, living so close to Florida, where vortex is located. Ordering online is a nasty option for me in this case... the weight of the powder would make the cost of getting it across the continent a little bit extreme.
- if you're running it non stop, you have to recharge (replace the powder) CONSTANTLY. Like... two days after a fresh charge of powder, it's time to recharge. Recharging and priming is a bit of a messy, drawn out procedure (coming from somebody who just shoves a bunch of filter floss in all her filters)
- it's pretty loud (again, if I think one of my filters is too noisy, I replace it... I'm not fond of loud filters)
I totally recommend the Diatom, but not as your sole or primary filtration method. I use mine if I, say, stir up the substrate really well in a tank. I'll stick in the Diatom and let it clean up the mess I've made. Or if my fishies seem a little unhappy... I'll do a good w/c and run the diatom to sparkle things up a bit.
Hope that helps!!
I have a Vortex Diatom. LOVE it
However, I wouldn't want to rely on it as my primary filtration method. It's more of a good cleaner upper/ polisher. Here are a few pluses/minuses in my own personal experience/opinion. Pluses - NOTHING makes your water sparkle like a diatom. NOTHING. Your water will shimmer and you'll be amazed that water can actually look that clean.
- it filters out EVERYTHING, particularly ich and other parasites. I've successfully ridden a tank of ich by using the diatom and nothing else (not entirely true, I suppose, as I use salt in my tanks as well).
- if you ever need a quick clean up... ie. Jenica wanted to help feed the fishies and dumped a mega size can of flake into the tank... the diatom will suck it all out within minutes (maybe an hour on a 120
)- it's a high quality product; well made, works like a charm, does exactly what it says it will do
- it creates a ton of current and water agitation (could be a minus, depending on your fishies)
Minuses - where I live, diatom powder is more precious than diamonds!!! You shouldn't have that problem, living so close to Florida, where vortex is located. Ordering online is a nasty option for me in this case... the weight of the powder would make the cost of getting it across the continent a little bit extreme.
- if you're running it non stop, you have to recharge (replace the powder) CONSTANTLY. Like... two days after a fresh charge of powder, it's time to recharge. Recharging and priming is a bit of a messy, drawn out procedure (coming from somebody who just shoves a bunch of filter floss in all her filters)
- it's pretty loud (again, if I think one of my filters is too noisy, I replace it... I'm not fond of loud filters)
I totally recommend the Diatom, but not as your sole or primary filtration method. I use mine if I, say, stir up the substrate really well in a tank. I'll stick in the Diatom and let it clean up the mess I've made. Or if my fishies seem a little unhappy... I'll do a good w/c and run the diatom to sparkle things up a bit.
Hope that helps!!
OP
OP
Thanks AquaNutAquaNut said:
I was sold all the way up until the line that I quoted
,every TWO days huh? 
,I'm pretty fond of filter floss myself I was just about to go pick up Tuesday from school and go check them out at Petsmart....I think I still will...but I'll keep my eyes peeled for something else too
Thanks for your help!
A
AquaNut
Guest
They're just SO efficient that they suck crud outta your substrate and off your plants and everything else, so it doesn't take long for the filter bag to get pretty covered in yuckies. The more yuckies, the less it performs. You can let it go for a couple of weeks at a time, even if you're running it non stop, but it's only performing at a fraction of its capacity. However, IF you run another half decent filter along with the Diatom, you can really extend the powder's life. That's why I said I wouldn't recommend it as the only method of filtration.
OP
OP
Darn my PetSmart for not stocking them! But they said they'd order one as soon as I gave the word THEN,I was checking out the Fluval 404,it looked pretty sweet. The whole reason I don't just go ahead and get a hob canister is because I don't want the tank sticking out 6" from the wall, I'd like to get it as close to the wall as possible.....because of my wire lovin' bunny 
,the tanks been in the house for less than a week and he's under the impression that it's a new playground. Maybe a combo of the fluval and the vortex 
THEN,I was checking out the Fluval 404,it looked pretty sweet. The whole reason I don't just go ahead and get a hob canister is because I don't want the tank sticking out 6" from the wall, I'd like to get it as close to the wall as possible.....because of my wire lovin' bunny ,the tanks been in the house for less than a week and he's under the impression that it's a new playground. Maybe a combo of the fluval and the vortex Similar threads
Most reactions
-
468 -
288 -
278 -
243 -
243 -
184 -
170 -
162 -
146 -
121 -
111 -
74 -
72
-
72 -
66