View Full Version : Over-filtering
crenwelge
12-14-2002, 4:26 PM
To make this quick I came home my filter had burned out, I rushed out got a new one, started looking at the old one and relized there was nothing wrong(?) So now I have 2 penquin 125's (one with a bio wheel) on a 20 gal tall. Is this a problem or not?
Other than an abundant water circulation, I don't see how it would cause you a problem. Some plants and some fish don't like a lot of circulation.
Len
NJ Devils Fan
12-14-2002, 9:31 PM
No, there is nothing to worry about. Personally, I would want 2 Penguin 125s on a 20g tank. I have 1 125 on my 10g tank and it is great, so 2 on a 20g tank would be great too.
I fully agree with the above replies.
The only [purely personal] thing I may add is that I would like to see no Penguins in any of my tanks. I just don't like them at all. :)
NJ Devils Fan
12-14-2002, 11:07 PM
Why don't you like them?
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 11:33 PM
Maybe because of the name Penguin:D
NJ Devils Fan
12-14-2002, 11:38 PM
Why, is the name Penguin bad or something?
I don't like them only because none of the Penguins 125 I ever tried worked well for any extended period of time. All of them developed the same problem with Biowheel rotation. It just wouldn't rotate. And nothing would restore a reliable rotation.
A major design flaw, I suppose.
At the same time, Marineland produces very good Emperors. I guess the spray bar is what makes the difference.
Although giving generic filter suggestions is not good, I'd just go with something like AquaClear 200 for your tank. Simple, reliable, and inexpensive. Easy to maintain too. Two sponges inside, one sponge-over the intake.
125gJoe
12-15-2002, 1:18 AM
Originally posted by MP
I don't like them only because..... problem with Biowheel rotation. It just wouldn't rotate. And nothing would restore a reliable rotation.
A major design flow, I suppose.
At the same time, Marineland produces very good Emperors.
AquaClear HOB are good products. I did hear about the same problem as the above statement....
i think that used to be tnc's old rant about bio-wheels.... she got the penguins instead of the emperors... :confused: :rolleyes: :D
personally my only bio-wheels are of the emperor type, and not having owned a penguin i would assume they are much better designed because of the spraybar. i know i have had well-cultured biowheels load up with gunk and get heavy on one side and want to stop rolling, and in a situation where the spraybar doesn't exist that could be a serious problem from what i have experienced.
as far as the original question, i would use them both personally.
NJ Devils Fan
12-15-2002, 8:08 AM
Yea, your right about the wheel. My friend's 125 hardly has any flow, so the wheel doesn't even move. I've taken it apart and cleaned everything for him, and got the same result. Mine on the other hand has great flow, the wheel goes around very fast and almost no water comes out of the intake area. A ton of water used to come out of the intake area like last month. I cleaned everything, and it still happened. But then one day a few weeks ago, I looked at it, and it was doing great. Hope it continues to be doing fine.
I am expieriencing that same problem with my penguin 125 on my 16 gallon tank. Nothing I do will ever make that wheel turn again for more then a couple of seconds at a time.
NJ Devils Fan
12-15-2002, 11:03 AM
Goozy, is there any water comming out of the intake area.
TnCgal
12-15-2002, 11:22 AM
I had the same experience as MP. I haven't been vocal about this for quite some time now, but it is no secret that I really don't like Bio-Wheel filters. Now I realize this is just "my" experience and not everyone has had the same one, but I have now completely converted all of my Bio-Wheels to AquaClears for the very reason mentioned above.
Every single one of the Bio-Wheels I've ever had has slowed to the point of completely stopping and I have even called the company to complain about the problem and to see what could be done to prevent it from happening in the future. I was told by the company representative that it is quite common for algae and debris to clog the frame of the wheel itself to the point of interfering with its spinning capabilities, and to "simply take the wheel out of its housing and clean it every couple of weeks". Sheesh, why would I want to do all that, when my AquaClears are just clicking away with no problems at all ?
All I needed was for the rep to acknowledge that it was a design flaw and that was enough to convince me to go straight AquaClears, and I have done just that, and have never been sorry for one second. I am thrilled with the AquaClear product.
NJ Devils Fan
12-15-2002, 2:52 PM
I guess I'm one of th only lucky ones who's bio-wheel filter actually works.
JamisonBWolsh
12-15-2002, 3:37 PM
I had mine for a year, works great. Just take in fact that the emperors have a LOT better Bio filtration then any AC on the market.
Just to avoid a possible confusion, I want to repeat that I'm not against BioWheels. Emperors are great BioWheel filters. It's just that the design of a particular model, Penguin, is poor, IMO.
JamisonBWolsh
12-15-2002, 4:34 PM
Mp,
I heard the same for penguins. Not a good product. Try the emperor, a great Powerfilter!
Thank you. I run half a dozen of them. :)
JacksontoKobe
12-15-2002, 5:32 PM
Yeah I have heard the same bout the penguins the only difference between them and the emperors is sthe spray bar which makes a tremendouss difference I own a emperor 280 and have done little to no maintenance on it for over 7 months great filter.
JamisonBWolsh
12-15-2002, 5:34 PM
Dont forget the emperors are made alot better then the penguins! Dont you clean the inside of the spraybar?
JacksontoKobe
12-15-2002, 5:51 PM
Havent yet I will fool with it when I have a problem you know.
Swordfish
12-15-2002, 6:27 PM
I could never find the right place to set my spray bar on my emperor. Setting it as high as possible to still hit the wheel made it slow (which i believe is necessary) but created a lot of drip noise. Settiing it anywhere below the highest point made it spin at a crazy high rpm shooting water all over which resulted in a lot of water noise.
So i was not satisfied.
NJ Devils Fan
12-15-2002, 6:59 PM
LOL at MP.
crenwelge
12-16-2002, 1:44 AM
OH MY I didn't expect this many replies or the post to head in this direction. Oh well anyway the old penquin that i thought was broke is so old that I don't remember when we bought it, it is also covered in lime and calisum deposites that i gave up trying to get off because of hard well water where i used to live. I have never understood about bio wheels anyway so I will have to wait and see what I think of it. THANKS!
What's a spray bar and why does it make a difference? I have a Penguin 170 biowheel.
NJ Devils Fan
02-08-2003, 8:35 AM
Wow, this topic is pretty old.
A spray bar is a tube on the filter placed by the top of the biowheel. It has water shoofing out of it to make the bio wheel spin. You can turn the spray bar to make the wheel spin faster or slower.
125gJoe
02-08-2003, 9:04 AM
Originally posted by MP
I....The only [purely personal] thing I may add is that I would like to see no Penguins in any of my tanks. I just don't like them at all. :) Not to mention you may have to buy one of these!
Chillers (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4941)
I have had a penguin 125, a penguin mini and an emperor 400. the only one I had problems with was the 125. not all penguins are bad just that one.
Forum221
02-09-2003, 9:01 PM
I have 2 Pengiun Bio Wheel Minis, Penguin 125 and a penguin 170 and i have had no problem with any of them. One time my wheel stopped spinning in the 125 but i just cleaned the impeller and rinsed off the filter carterage and it worked great. As long as the wheel is spinning at all, its working.
Sensei_the_dojo
02-10-2003, 1:38 PM
If you're running Linux, go with the Penguin.
If you're running the Bill Gates' O/S, go with the Emporer. :D
NJ Devils Fan
02-10-2003, 3:08 PM
:rolleyes:
GobyGuy5
02-10-2003, 3:41 PM
You're not alone NJ Devils Fan!
My penguin 125 works just fine, althought high media costs are tempting me to replace it, the penguin hasn't failed me yet!
Not to mention the biowheel is a wonderful biofilter...........