Which Pengiun bio-filter?

[shell196]

Hi everyone,
I'm going to be setting up a 10 gallon freshwater tank and was wondering if the penguin biofilter 170 would work or would it create too much of a current? I'm not sure exactly what kind of fish we are going to go w/ yet...the candidates are:dwarf puffer fish or a pair of dwarf cichlids or maybe just a community tank. Either way I want to make sure I have enough filtration but does too much filtration equal too much water current for the fish to be comfortable?
I will be doing weekly water changes just like I do now w/ my other tanks so maybe 125 gph would be sufficient...what do you all think? Thanks!

Michelle

[OrionGirl]

Can you adjust the flow level with penguins? I know you can with AC's, but you can still end up with really high flows. My puffers do fairly well in moderate flows, but I wouldn't bet on them being happy in a strong current.

Other options--see if the filter can be modified with a spray bar--this would spread the water out over a wider area, reducing the overall water speed.

[Anaxus]

The penguin mini and 330 are the only ones with adjustable flow rates. You could get the mini its rated for aquariums up to 20 gallons. But you probalby would be ok with the 170. I have a 330 in a 29 gallon tank and it doesn't seem to much current,

[Xeider]

I have a penguin 170 in my 20 tall. As long as you have the water level high enough it doesn't produce alot of current, but it does produce some. Only time I really notice it is at feeding time, it helps to take some of the flake food that my danios miss and send it towards the bottom where my corys can get at it.

One thing I noticed when I went to buy my penguin is that even with shipping, I could buy it cheaper on line then at my lfs or even at one of the large chain pet stores.

I had been warned that the mini and the 125 are known to have the bio wheel get stuck. That more then anything sold me on the 175, that and it was only $2 more thent the 125 when I bought it.

[JSchmidt]

I run Penguin 170s on several 10 gallon tanks and they don't produce too much current. I don't even bother with the 125s.

Jim

[shell196]

I'm going to go w/ the 170. If it seems like too much current for the fish (which it doesn't sound like it would be judging from the replies) I'll just use it on one of my other tanks and get the 125.
Thanks again for the help:)

Michelle

[ewok]

think emperor. ;)

spraybar driven bio-wheels.......

[JSchmidt]

Even the smaller Emp, the 280, will produce WAY too much current in a 10 gallon tank... unless one is keeping riverine species of fish.

Jim

[ROLLIN]

The 170 should be ok. I have heard of 330s being used on 15 gallon tanks with neons.