Difference in filters?

[dwayne]

Hey!

I have a 29 gallon with 2 filters running - a Tetra Whisper 30, and a Top Fin 30 or 40 (can't remember). These filters are running fine, but I'm considering getting a new filter, one big one, rather than using 2 smaller ones, and also something w/ a bio wheel.

After some investigating (on bigalsonline.com), I'm leaning towards the Marineland bio-wheels. My question: what's the difference between the Emperor and the Penguin? Since the Emperor is priced more, I'd assume that's the better filter - but is it really? Here's what I found (pricing wise):

Emperor (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22137;category_id=1721;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=)
280 - $29.99
400 - $37.99
Penguin (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22153;category_id=1721;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=)
170 - $23.99
330 - $24.99

Based on the descriptions and pictures, they seem pretty much identical. The only real difference is the Emperor description says it has a spray bar (what's that?) and 2 water pumps (are those the tubes that go into the water to suck water up to the filter?)... Yeah, I'm clueless about the names of the parts of the filters - especially considering I have 2 four year old basic (but effective!) filters and really only know the term impeller because it always seems to stick, hahah!

Basically I'd love someone to tell me what filter to get (out of these 2 or any other bio wheel filter, I don't have the money for fancy canisters!!). Cost is only a minor issue. My tank is only 29 gallons so I'm thinking the Emperor 400 and the Penguin 330 are actually too powerful for my tank, but I'm here for advice...

Thanks in advance!!

~Tara

[bobbi619]

I have been running a Penguin 170 for 2 years in my 29 gal with no problems and now comparing it to the whisper filter running on the 55 gal, its very quiet.

IMO I think you will probaby be happy with either one as I have heard good things about the Emporers.

[dwayne]

Thanks Bobbi, I was kind of figuring I'd only need the smaller gph... that was my other question that I forgot to ask, is if it's quiet - my current filters are loud in any way, and I'd hate to get one that makes a racket!

Any other opinions??

~Tara

[daveedka]

I have experience with both, The Emporer is definately a better filter IMHO, but That doesn't make the penguin a bad filter at all. I use both and like both, but like the emp much better for the following reasons:
1. The bio-wheels never stop turning, and have no bearing to clean, The penguin needs to be cleaned once in a while (every 3-6 months depending on how dirty the tank)
2. the spray bar IMO is a much better set-up, and delivers more control on speed of turning, as well as how much water the bio-wheel gets.
The spray bars on an Emp feed water streams through small holes directly onto the bio-wheel. the angle can be adjusted to slow down or speed up the bio-wheel rotation. On the penguin, the bio-wheel simply lays in the path of the filter output, like an old paddle wheel on a riverboat. it spins a little faster, and makes a little more noise (once again not bad but not as good as the Emp)
Both are similar in maintenance aside from the bio-wheel bearings, the Emp is more cmplex, and therefore actually harder to dissasemble, but not at all a problem. Either way I imagine you would not be dissapointed, but if you have the money I'd reccomend the emporer over the penguin.
dave

[dwayne]

Thanks! I'm looking, but have yet to find, some good detailed pictures of the filters so that I can make heads and tails of the parts, and maybe some measurements of the filter itself, as I think it may have trouble fitting the openings of my hood... the only experience I've had with a biowheel is on my Eclipse 3, so that's the only "layout" I can picture...

OK, call me dense if you want, I'm really a smart girl!

~Tara

[cgrabe]

Here (http://www.marineland.com/products/diagram_ecom/n_emp_280.asp) is the layout of an Emperor 280, and here (http://www.marineland.com/products/diagram_ecom/n_peng_170.asp)'s the layout of a Penguin 170.

[dwayne]

Thanks cg!! That was the next click for me, hahah!

[RollendChang]

First off Iwould like to say they are about the same filter the emperors and the penguins they are both made by Marineland and almost identical. I have had the penguin 170 and the 330 on my 29 gal and I chose the 330 it keeps the tank more clean than the 170 ever did. The 170 will also keep the tank more than clean but it is worth the extra buck to go to the 330. I would go with the penguins because it is the basicly the same thing and cheaper. the 330 is 13 inches long. When the 330 is put on a standard hood it will fit in the opening by a half an inch and if it dosn't fit you can allways cut the hood to fit the 330's massive size. I can post pictures of both the 170 and the 330 on tank if you would like to see how they look on a 29 gal tank.

[dwayne]

Rollend thank you for posting the length... that helps a ton! And yeah, I agree that if I do go for the penguin, I'd probably just get the bigger one, but if I end up with the emperor, I'll most likely get the smaller one only because once you add in shipping costs it will start getting up in the $50 range.

[dwayne]

Question about the spray bar on the emperor (http://www.marineland.com/products/diagram_ecom/n_emp_280.asp)... does it spray out sideways? or does it spray down into the tank?

[RollendChang]

do you live near a petsmart? if so
check out this link this is how I got my 330 the same day for 25 bucks http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36303

or if you are gonna order it off line do it here it is only 21 bucks
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx

[dwayne]

thanks for the tip Rollend! And that other link, that fish place.com had exact measurements of the 330!(14 1/2" long, 5" wide, 7 1/2" tall)!!!

[RollendChang]

No problem let us know what you ended up going with