Re: I need advice for stuff to buy!
I use a magnum 350 on one of my tanks and I used to have similar problems. But, what I did was I bought a few valves from Pet Warehouse. I added valves to the tubing going from the tank to the filter and the filter to the tank. I added the valves very close to the filter itself. When I want to clean the filter I shut the valve for the tubing that intakes water into the filter. (This is really the only place I need a valve. The outflow from the filter isn’t important) By closing the valve the siphon is maintained as long as the other end is eaither under water or sealed off by means of yet another valve. I can then take the filter apart and clean it and just fill the canister with water and connect everything back, turn on the filter and open the valves and it starts right back up with no priming needed. Also, to make water changes easier, on the tubing flowing out of the filter and into the tank, I added a Tee with valves so I can divert flow out of the tank easily. thanks, Jason — greentrees