Question about penguin bio-wheel media..

babysteps

babysteps

AC Members
Feb 15, 2009
100
0
0
Canada
Ok, so I am EXTREMELY tired of constantly having to replace the carbon inserts in my bio-wheel filters. I have 4 of these filters (3 - 100's and 1 - 350) and it seems like they get clogged up super fast and slow (or completely prevent) my bio-wheels from spinning. It's getting expensive to have to replace them bi-weekly (rinsing them out only helps for a day then it gets clogged again). And I have heard (many times) that carbon is not needed unless trying to remove medications.

Since I have only ever used the carbon inserts in all my HOB's, i'm not sure what else I can put in them. This is where I need your guys help. I know that I can use filter floss, but is that enough on it's own? If so, how much do I use?
Or is there something else that is better?
 
I think filter floss will be fine--you can put in your filter just about whatever will fit. I had a similar problem when my sponges were getting clogged in my AC 70. I took them out and filled the filter basket just with loose bio-balls, the little ceramic beads and rings that go in some filters. It works fine.

Most filter manufacturers say that filters provide "mechanical, chemical, and biological" filtration, meaning there's sponge or floss to catch small particles, carbon to remove impurities, and a place for good bacteria to live. In my opinion (and I'm still kind of a newbie here), the only part that's really important is the biological filtration.

Mechanical filtration may catch particles from the tank, but it doesn't remove them from your system--they just sit in your filter and clog it. And carbon, as you know, is only really necessary for removing medications. It's the biological filtration that actually keeps the water free of ammonia and nitrite. So, if you put floss in place of your carbon insert, it will perform some mechanical filtration, plus give your bacteria a new surface to live on.
 
Thanks LeahK.
I will probably just use the filter floss then since it is very cheap.
 
I got rid of those cartridges on my 350. I run a course sponge and filter floss in mine and it works great.
 
I stripped a couple of old cartridges down to the bare plastic frame and use pieces of filter felt tucked under when I slide the cartridge into place on the Penguin on my 40. If the cartridges are clogging that quickly you may have other issues such as overcrowding or overfeeding.
 
i bought a roll of filter material on ebay cheap. just cut it to fit the hob filters and then stuff floss behind it
 
I stripped down the filter frame on a 100 and tied pantyhose over it.
Cheap, easy to wash (they can be rinsed), easy to replace when it's worn out.
 
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