Bio wheel sucks!

I have had good results with my penguin 330. Bought it used about 8 months ago and haven't had a problem.

Also had good results with aquaclears. Have used a mini, 200 and 300. Very solid and reliable, not the best at restarting but not really a big issue for me.
 
I suspect the reason for the loyalty of a biowheel is because once your filter etc is setup your tank should not end up with what are referred to as mini cycles due to tank maintance or changing of filter media etc. Because your biowheel has all of the bacteria culture stored upon the wheel :) I still don't know how people could be having problems with them. They were cost prohibitive when I started in the hobby but I have them now and really like them and may buy the biowheels to hook to my canister when I set my 55 gallon tank up.
 
I was using the penguins before they started making the bio-wheels, and am still using those today.

In any case, I run all my 330s without the bio-wheels, and in some cases without any filter cartridges in them at all. I got two heaters sitting in one of them.
 
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I prefer Penguins and Emperors for reasons already cited, but I have a couple Aquaclears and I don't hate them (unlike Whispers, but that's another story). As filters get more expensive, they are quieter and more reliable. Still, it's pretty amazing that a $25 filter, be it AC or Penguin, can run 365/24/7 and do so with so little maintenance and perform such an important function.

Jim
 
Originally posted by JSchmidt Still, it's pretty amazing that a $25 filter, be it AC or Penguin, can run 365/24/7 and do so with so little maintenance and perform such an important function.

Jim
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That is totally true... I don't think anyone can argue that. Even those who might not like these filters cannot dispute the fact that for being so cheaply priced, these filters carry out an imperative task. :)
 
maybe I'm just deaf but I think all these complaints of noisy filters are either B/S or you've got something stuck in there
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Just an fyi for folks reading this. I've done a little testing, and quite simply water level is everything in this vein of thought. I have always been neurotic about making sure my aquarium is clear full of water. I can't hear any of my filters run. As the water level drop (were talking 1/2" not a mile) the noise level increases, and the flow de-creases. The more it drops obviously the greater the effect. I know many people who do not fill their tanks all of the way and have their reasons for this. Those individuals will find hob's especially emp and penguins to be noisy and not flow well.

BTW: I am an emporer fan, I use emps penguins and AC's all three. Before Big AL came into my life, an Emporer 400 was a $70.00 filter and an AC 500 was a $50.00 filter. they are both $40.00 filters now. source makes a big difference.
 
if you like the biowheel, use the emperors instead of the penguins
 
Twisted wheel

Take a look at the wheel, the pleats need to be straight across, if it is twisted the water escapes without turning the wheel. If it is twisted, gently twist the other way to straighten it out. Also, be sure the wheel is facing the right way, if it is backwards, the wheel might contact the lid and not turn.
 
The only power filter that I have found that I actually hate is AquaTech (mostly because one came with my 55 instead of a Whisper) which have jack $*** for bio filtration even if you never replace the cartrages. As far as biowheels are concerned I plan on buying the biowheel outflow kit for my Magnum 350. I think they are a very clever idea.

NEVER clean a pure bio-filter such as a biowheel or the dry portion of a wet/dry filter as you're just killing your biofilter.
 
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