Filter
- Thread starter sirsears
- Start date
I have a Penguin 350 with biowheel on my 29-gallon. Some would say I'm overdoing it, but it provides excellent filtration for my tank and can handle a greater bioload. It is not loud at all as long as I don't let the water level get too low. In fact, I can't even hear it. The only thing I hear on my tank is the air pump.
I have not used the aquaclear and so cannot speak on it, but the Penguin is a great filter! I would definitely recommend it.
I have not used the aquaclear and so cannot speak on it, but the Penguin is a great filter! I would definitely recommend it.
The AC can have 3 stages too - but I skip carbon - useless unless you medicated imo.
I dont like cartidges because it is another thing to buy every so often, when it clogs. The AC uses reusable filters, so I just rinse them out and stick em back in.
The Penguins/Emperor ARE good filters. I dont use them myself but I know others that do and PREFER the cartidge of the sponge. Just a preference is all.
The biowheel does house probably more bacteria - not sure - but you get rid of some when you throw away the cartridge. So it is a wash (no pun intended).
You can go wrong with AC or Marinelands filters - all are good and will do exactly what you want - filter and keep clean your water.
Aries
I dont like cartidges because it is another thing to buy every so often, when it clogs. The AC uses reusable filters, so I just rinse them out and stick em back in.
The Penguins/Emperor ARE good filters. I dont use them myself but I know others that do and PREFER the cartidge of the sponge. Just a preference is all.
The biowheel does house probably more bacteria - not sure - but you get rid of some when you throw away the cartridge. So it is a wash (no pun intended).
You can go wrong with AC or Marinelands filters - all are good and will do exactly what you want - filter and keep clean your water.
Aries
I Have both AC and penguin bio wheel.
to be honest..I prefer the AC over the penguin
the ac's are easier to maintain, I use 2 sponges in each and the biomedia(weird they call it that cause the sponges hold bacteria too)
the cartridges on the penguins IME clog up fast and will affect the flow to the biowheel(also snail get caught in the biowheels keeping them from spinning..you need to check the penguins more frequently.
the ac, I rinse the bottom sponge once every two weeks and then rotate the sponges..with the sponge a squeeze or two in old tank water and you are back in buisiness.
that said...they are both good filters..the bio wheels have more surface area ..the bacteria only need to reamin wet and fed to survive..the rotaing(slowly) wheel does this efficiently..with all the pleats you have a bunch of surface area.
the ac's use a basket with media water flows from the pump to the media basket up thru the media and out to the tank. the big plus on these is their ease of maintenance and the ability to change media. you can run sponge, carbonh, biomedia or any numberof other media(phosphate removers etc)
so take your pick.
to be honest..I prefer the AC over the penguin
the ac's are easier to maintain, I use 2 sponges in each and the biomedia(weird they call it that cause the sponges hold bacteria too)
the cartridges on the penguins IME clog up fast and will affect the flow to the biowheel(also snail get caught in the biowheels keeping them from spinning..you need to check the penguins more frequently.
the ac, I rinse the bottom sponge once every two weeks and then rotate the sponges..with the sponge a squeeze or two in old tank water and you are back in buisiness.
that said...they are both good filters..the bio wheels have more surface area ..the bacteria only need to reamin wet and fed to survive..the rotaing(slowly) wheel does this efficiently..with all the pleats you have a bunch of surface area.
the ac's use a basket with media water flows from the pump to the media basket up thru the media and out to the tank. the big plus on these is their ease of maintenance and the ability to change media. you can run sponge, carbonh, biomedia or any numberof other media(phosphate removers etc)
so take your pick.
I have used all of these filters over the years with my tanks and my preferance with the HOB filters are the aquaclears. They are efficient, quiet, and reliable. The penguins tend to be a bit noisey and the emperors are noisey over time and if they stop are a real pain to start back up. So far to date I have not had these problems with my aquaclear filters.
Marinemom
Marinemom
Used Aqua Clear, Penguins, Cascade and Top Fin. My advise is to stay clear from Top Fin (VERY noisy) AC and P work fine. I must have an older AC because the C size cartridges from Marineland fit in both filters. Also, both AC and P are very quiet. I would take into consideration what brand the LFS carries: e.g. it was hard for me to find replacement cartridges for a cascade filter, so I eventually swapped it for a penguin...
L.
L.
Thank you everyone for your responses. It sounds like the aquaclear is the way to go! Just curious though.. I was in the store yesterday looking at the ac filter, it says you can rinse them off and re-use them but it also says you need to change them once a month anyway? Is this correct?
There is no need to replace the media with the aquaclear filters unless for some reason they are falling apart literrally or have been contaminated in some way that would render them useless. I just rinse the sponge and the bio-media during a water change in used tank water and put it back in the filter. then you are ready to go. If you did replace these media I think you would be trowing away all the beneficial bacteria that has been cultured necessary for a healthy aquarium. This of course could send your tank into a mini cycle which we all know is kind of a pain since it adds stress to all of the fish in the tank until everything stabilizes again. Just rinse in used tank water during a water change and you are good to go.
As far as good online shopping you can try Drs.foster and Smith. Many times they run sales on thier filters and a good deal can be had.
Marinemom
As far as good online shopping you can try Drs.foster and Smith. Many times they run sales on thier filters and a good deal can be had.
Marinemom
