filter problem.

P

paytonclimer

AC Members
Apr 12, 2007
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hello,

I have a big problem with my Penguin 350.
you can see it in this picture of my tank.
l_1f08a08a541476a1d28d9164a649c9f2.jpg


I am hoping that someone has encountered this before.
After about 4 weeks you could hear a faint grinding about every 12 seconds.
Then it woke me up this morning to this loud whine. I un-pluged it then
plugged it back in and the whine was still there.

This is the 2nd 350 penguin that this has happened on, The first one I thought it was just a defect. Is their a problem with sand and penguins, the box, or manual didn't say anything about not working with sand.

any input would help.

I want to get a new filter, which is a good reliable one, good filtration. That doesn't break in 4 weeks. I have Malawi cichlid (mbuna's)

thanks

payton
 
Sounds like sand is getting stuck somewhere where something rotates. Check there first.
 
Have you tried taking the filter apart, taking out the impeller and cleaning everything? That might take care of it. If that works, put a sponge or nylon stocking over the intake, and will help with the sand getting in there.

That said, I personally am not a big fan of Penguins, and I haven't found them to be as reliable as either the Emperor or Aquaclear filters. A canister filter is even better, if you can afford one.
 
I had a problem like that with an aquaclear 500. Sand got in the impeller and scored it, so now it's always noisy even though I've cleaned it out thoroughly.
 
the big problem is that i have cleaned out the whole thing.

im just sick of these filters, i have had two of them in 2 months and they both did this crap.

just like what nolapete said, I think the sand shot the motor, or something.

I am very unsatisfied with them, and will be getting a better filtration system soon.
 
First, the 350 is a good filter, very rarely ever have problems, and since you've gone through 2 now, it must be sand or something...does the sand get churned up while vac'ing, i don't use sand at the moment so iam just guessing...there are a few inexpensive canisters out there for under a 100 dollars, maybe a HOT Magnum..IMO a single Penguin 350 on your 55 is not enough.....:)
 
If you want to stick with the same filters, you can buy sponge prefilters that fit over the intake, which prevent sand getting sucked in to muck up the filter. I think sand will mess up the impeller of pretty much any HOB (or any filter where it can reach the impeller without filter media stopping it).
 
Yea definitely what weeser said. I have 2 penguins myself and they are outstanding filters, both still working fine after months of having them. The only reason they are doing this is because you have sand. I suggest a canister filter.
 
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