I'm curious if anyone has had trouble with their Penguin 170 or 330 Bio-wheel HOB filters? More specifically, has your bio-wheel ever stopped moving? I'm very curious as to the long-term functioning of these filters. They seem very cheap in construction (and cost as well) and I'm concerned about their reliability over the long term. I want to choose the most reliable filters now when I'm starting my tank, so I won't have to change later and possibly loose my biological bed.
Attn: Penguin 170 or 330 Owners......
- Thread starter Siouxish
- Start date
This is something I posted a few weeks ago....
I have a Penguin 125 bio-wheel that has never ran as smoothly as when it was new, until now.
The bio-wheel would slow down and eventually stop. I would do the maintenance that manufacturer suggests (clean the intake tube ,impeller and its housing, clean or replace the filter cartridge and lightly rinse the wheel its self) and after all of that work the wheel would slow and stop.
I was thinking of getting rid of it all together until I noticed that the bearing were actually touching the wheel and making a very faint rubbing/grinding noise. I took the wheel and bearing of the bracket and filed down the ends of the bearings (approximately 1/32nd on each) put the wheel and bearings on the bracket and placed them back on the filter housing.
Since doing so it has never stopped and only slows down when the water flow is impeded (clogged cartridge, intake tube, impeller or its housing ) it runs now like it did when I first got it.
For those of you with stopped or slowing down Penguin wheels I hope this helps, it might even work with the Emperor.
The bearings are the blue caps.
The construction is very cheep, And their energizers and impellers have a very short life span.
If you want to stick with an hob I would go with a Whisper or Cascade.
Caniters are very costly and high maintanace.
I have a Penguin 125 bio-wheel that has never ran as smoothly as when it was new, until now.
The bio-wheel would slow down and eventually stop. I would do the maintenance that manufacturer suggests (clean the intake tube ,impeller and its housing, clean or replace the filter cartridge and lightly rinse the wheel its self) and after all of that work the wheel would slow and stop.
I was thinking of getting rid of it all together until I noticed that the bearing were actually touching the wheel and making a very faint rubbing/grinding noise. I took the wheel and bearing of the bracket and filed down the ends of the bearings (approximately 1/32nd on each) put the wheel and bearings on the bracket and placed them back on the filter housing.
Since doing so it has never stopped and only slows down when the water flow is impeded (clogged cartridge, intake tube, impeller or its housing ) it runs now like it did when I first got it.
For those of you with stopped or slowing down Penguin wheels I hope this helps, it might even work with the Emperor.
The bearings are the blue caps.
The construction is very cheep, And their energizers and impellers have a very short life span.
If you want to stick with an hob I would go with a Whisper or Cascade.
Caniters are very costly and high maintanace.
Penguins are a good dependable filter as a rule. The wheels do require a bit more maintenance than the wheels on the Emporers, but as mentioned above it isn't a big deal. I have never filed any of mine, but do have to clean them every 5-6 months or so. The emporer doesn't have the bearings, and never has a problem. The emporer is superior IMO, but the penguin will give you good service for years to come.
Dave
Dave
I have several (each) 170s and 330s and they are great, durable filters. No problems with biowheels stopping. I don't use Marineland media, though, I use Aquaclear sponges in the media wells of the Penguins.
No problems at all, after 5+ years with some of them.
Jim
No problems at all, after 5+ years with some of them.
Jim
My 330 works great, never stops and is pretty maintance free. They got them cheap at www.thatpetplace.com. $20 bucks you cant beat that.
My 330's are almost 2 years old. Not one problem so far.
My only complaint is that are only so so for mechanical filtration.
My only complaint is that are only so so for mechanical filtration.