Opinions on the Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter 330

[RedForeman ©®]

Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....

TIA....

[Donald Kerns]

RedForeman ©® wrote:

> Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
>
> TIA....

Pro
Works well, been reliable. I like the two extra media pockets. Currently
full of filter batting for extra biobug room. (Goldies doncha know...)

Con
Doesn't use the same size bio-wheel as the 170. (I had a cycled 170
wheel that I wanted to seed the new tank with... caused much
swearing...)

-Donald
--
"When you've lost your ability to laugh, you've lost your ability to
think straight." -To Inherit the Wind

[Toni]

"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
> Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
>


I have two and will be getting another soon- I like them very much in
applications where you want a lot of surface agitation. The biowheels
provide a really good workhorse of a biological filter. I do not use the
cartridge refills but fashion my own out of cheap filter floss bought in
bulk attached to a dismantled cartridge backing. I change this stuff very
frequently- at least twice a week. Because the biobugs are on the wheels you
can rinse the floss in tapwater or just toss it. The media baskets are
useful for a piece of sponge, coral bits to help raise KH, peat, charcoal
when needed- anything.

I have both of them in my bedroom- some folks find the splashing of the
biowheels irritating during sleep but I find it restful. The fuller you fill
the tank the less noise they make.

Something like $25 at Big Al's- such a deal.
I'm giving two thumbs up.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[>]

I agree!!!!!

You must keep the tank FULL or the trickling will drive you crazy. Mine
have worked flawlessly for 6 months and we can watch TV without turning the
volume up full blast.

Close the intakes almost completely while feeding flakes or other light
food, they will plug the screens on the pickup tubes in seconds. Then when
feeding is done click them OFF so the flakes wash away, then back on full.

JOhn :-)

"Toni" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
> "RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
> >
>
>
> I have two and will be getting another soon- I like them very much in
> applications where you want a lot of surface agitation. The biowheels
> provide a really good workhorse of a biological filter. I do not use the
> cartridge refills but fashion my own out of cheap filter floss bought in
> bulk attached to a dismantled cartridge backing. I change this stuff very
> frequently- at least twice a week. Because the biobugs are on the wheels
you
> can rinse the floss in tapwater or just toss it. The media baskets are
> useful for a piece of sponge, coral bits to help raise KH, peat, charcoal
> when needed- anything.
>
> I have both of them in my bedroom- some folks find the splashing of the
> biowheels irritating during sleep but I find it restful. The fuller you
fill
> the tank the less noise they make.
>
> Something like $25 at Big Al's- such a deal.
> I'm giving two thumbs up.
>
> --
> Toni
> http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm
>
>

[jessejoe]

In article >,
"RedForeman ©®" > wrote:

> Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
>
> TIA....

Pros:

Moves lots of water, so you get agitation, assuming you want that. Also,
very effective at clearing up the water when I kick up a lot of dirt
cleaning.

It's double-chambered, meaning that if one of the filter pads starts to
get clogged, you still have the other one working. That means that at
least one bio-wheel is still moving (even if the other one is drying out
because you left for the weekend and didn't think to check the fish
first). Also means that not 100% of the flow is by-passing, so you still
get some mechanical filtering capacity.

As previously mentioned, has extra chambers to put whatever you may need
in the filter. Putting in about a kilo of hi-density carbon is no issue.
Don't ask. Ok, ask. I have retarded (literally) siblings. One of them
thought it'd be fun to dump 2 ounces of ick medicine in the water.
Obviously, a massive water change helped, but dumping a big jar of
carbon in is what probably saved the fish. This mostly just illustrates
that, in less extreme cases, doing the carbon thing is not a problem.

Comes with a very long extension tube (1 foot i think) so you can use it
with a deep tank.

It is the same filter as what Wal-mart sells as the Regent 40-60, just
that the wally world one lacks biowheels. This means that, if you're in
the part of the world that Wal Mart thinks it owns, you can pick up
cartridges for it much more cheaply than at pet stores. Hell, I work at
a pet store, and even with a discount the marineland branded ones are
more expensive than the bulk-packed walmart filters.

Cons:

Moves a lot of water. If you have peace-loving gouramies, or delicate
plants, this filter will annoy them. Uproot them, even, in the case of
the plants.

Something about the impeller design makes it really easy to clog with
plant debris. Of course, I've already admitted that it stinks as a
filter for a planted tank, cuz it stirs them up so much. Also, general
mulm from the tank seems to clog this filter faster than other brand
power filters, or even other Penguins.

Unlike its big bro the Emporer, it has no separate spray-bar or whatever
to move the bio-wheels. That means that if the blue filter carts start
to clog, and the water begins to by-pass them instead of going down the
bio-wheel spillways, the wheels stop turning. Then you have a dried-out
wheel, and a tank that needs to be cycled again once you fix the clog.

End brain dump. HTH.

--jesse joe

[Bob Alston]

Remember that you will be using those expensive, non-reusable cartridges
UNLESS you are smart and put reusable foam inside the aux filter baskets or
attach such foam to such. I recently learned about doing so, after YEARS of
buying the cartridges.

--
Bob Alston

bobalston9 AT aol DOT com

"jessejoe" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "RedForeman ©®" > wrote:
>
> > Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
> >
> > TIA....
>
> Pros:
>
> Moves lots of water, so you get agitation, assuming you want that. Also,
> very effective at clearing up the water when I kick up a lot of dirt
> cleaning.
>
> It's double-chambered, meaning that if one of the filter pads starts to
> get clogged, you still have the other one working. That means that at
> least one bio-wheel is still moving (even if the other one is drying out
> because you left for the weekend and didn't think to check the fish
> first). Also means that not 100% of the flow is by-passing, so you still
> get some mechanical filtering capacity.
>
> As previously mentioned, has extra chambers to put whatever you may need
> in the filter. Putting in about a kilo of hi-density carbon is no issue.
> Don't ask. Ok, ask. I have retarded (literally) siblings. One of them
> thought it'd be fun to dump 2 ounces of ick medicine in the water.
> Obviously, a massive water change helped, but dumping a big jar of
> carbon in is what probably saved the fish. This mostly just illustrates
> that, in less extreme cases, doing the carbon thing is not a problem.
>
> Comes with a very long extension tube (1 foot i think) so you can use it
> with a deep tank.
>
> It is the same filter as what Wal-mart sells as the Regent 40-60, just
> that the wally world one lacks biowheels. This means that, if you're in
> the part of the world that Wal Mart thinks it owns, you can pick up
> cartridges for it much more cheaply than at pet stores. Hell, I work at
> a pet store, and even with a discount the marineland branded ones are
> more expensive than the bulk-packed walmart filters.
>
> Cons:
>
> Moves a lot of water. If you have peace-loving gouramies, or delicate
> plants, this filter will annoy them. Uproot them, even, in the case of
> the plants.
>
> Something about the impeller design makes it really easy to clog with
> plant debris. Of course, I've already admitted that it stinks as a
> filter for a planted tank, cuz it stirs them up so much. Also, general
> mulm from the tank seems to clog this filter faster than other brand
> power filters, or even other Penguins.
>
> Unlike its big bro the Emporer, it has no separate spray-bar or whatever
> to move the bio-wheels. That means that if the blue filter carts start
> to clog, and the water begins to by-pass them instead of going down the
> bio-wheel spillways, the wheels stop turning. Then you have a dried-out
> wheel, and a tank that needs to be cycled again once you fix the clog.
>
> End brain dump. HTH.
>
> --jesse joe

[Rich]

1. Cartridges do not need to be expensive - but eh refillable 'cage'
you can cut your own fibre fill and choose to add carbon or zeo lite, peat
or any other item to the fileter
2. If the filter ever got to be so clogged as to stop and require the 2nd
side to do the job...the cleaning job has gone on far too long.
3. The added baskets are great..for adding anything you would
like....carbon, medication, those pads to remove phosphates, copper etc. A
bonus as there is seldom room in filters to have this option.
4. The water flow is adjustable...there are notches on the intake tube to
help guide you. Simply lift the tube a 'click' at a time to achieve a
desired slower flow. (oh yeah...that what those are for!!!!)
5. Never had my impeller clog. The strainer on the intake tube is
relatively fine. I periodically place ont e of those mesh bags over it and
lift the tube out to take the big stuff out. Another way to control the
flow is not to clean the pipes.

Hell have fun with it....it's a hobby after all.

Rich

"Bob Alston" > wrote in message
news:gepib.68334$Ms2.37383@fed1read03...
> Remember that you will be using those expensive, non-reusable cartridges
> UNLESS you are smart and put reusable foam inside the aux filter baskets
or
> attach such foam to such. I recently learned about doing so, after YEARS
of
> buying the cartridges.
>
> --
> Bob Alston
>
> bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
>
> "jessejoe" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >,
> > "RedForeman ©®" > wrote:
> >
> > > Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
> > >
> > > TIA....
> >
> > Pros:
> >
> > Moves lots of water, so you get agitation, assuming you want that. Also,
> > very effective at clearing up the water when I kick up a lot of dirt
> > cleaning.

> >
> > It's double-chambered, meaning that if one of the filter pads starts to
> > get clogged, you still have the other one working. That means that at
> > least one bio-wheel is still moving (even if the other one is drying out
> > because you left for the weekend and didn't think to check the fish
> > first). Also means that not 100% of the flow is by-passing, so you still
> > get some mechanical filtering capacity.
> >
> > As previously mentioned, has extra chambers to put whatever you may need
> > in the filter. Putting in about a kilo of hi-density carbon is no issue.
> > Don't ask. Ok, ask. I have retarded (literally) siblings. One of them
> > thought it'd be fun to dump 2 ounces of ick medicine in the water.
> > Obviously, a massive water change helped, but dumping a big jar of
> > carbon in is what probably saved the fish. This mostly just illustrates
> > that, in less extreme cases, doing the carbon thing is not a problem.
> >
> > Comes with a very long extension tube (1 foot i think) so you can use it
> > with a deep tank.
> >
> > It is the same filter as what Wal-mart sells as the Regent 40-60, just
> > that the wally world one lacks biowheels. This means that, if you're in
> > the part of the world that Wal Mart thinks it owns, you can pick up
> > cartridges for it much more cheaply than at pet stores. Hell, I work at
> > a pet store, and even with a discount the marineland branded ones are
> > more expensive than the bulk-packed walmart filters.
> >
> > Cons:
> >
> > Moves a lot of water. If you have peace-loving gouramies, or delicate
> > plants, this filter will annoy them. Uproot them, even, in the case of
> > the plants.
> >
> > Something about the impeller design makes it really easy to clog with
> > plant debris. Of course, I've already admitted that it stinks as a
> > filter for a planted tank, cuz it stirs them up so much. Also, general
> > mulm from the tank seems to clog this filter faster than other brand
> > power filters, or even other Penguins.
> >
> > Unlike its big bro the Emporer, it has no separate spray-bar or whatever
> > to move the bio-wheels. That means that if the blue filter carts start
> > to clog, and the water begins to by-pass them instead of going down the
> > bio-wheel spillways, the wheels stop turning. Then you have a dried-out
> > wheel, and a tank that needs to be cycled again once you fix the clog.
> >
> > End brain dump. HTH.
> >
> > --jesse joe
>
>

[RedForeman ©®]

just picked up one on ebay, 30.00 versus $42 here in my home town....


"Rich" > wrote in message
.. .
> 1. Cartridges do not need to be expensive - but eh refillable 'cage'
> you can cut your own fibre fill and choose to add carbon or zeo lite, peat
> or any other item to the fileter
> 2. If the filter ever got to be so clogged as to stop and require the
2nd
> side to do the job...the cleaning job has gone on far too long.
> 3. The added baskets are great..for adding anything you would
> like....carbon, medication, those pads to remove phosphates, copper etc.
A
> bonus as there is seldom room in filters to have this option.
> 4. The water flow is adjustable...there are notches on the intake tube
to
> help guide you. Simply lift the tube a 'click' at a time to achieve a
> desired slower flow. (oh yeah...that what those are for!!!!)
> 5. Never had my impeller clog. The strainer on the intake tube is
> relatively fine. I periodically place ont e of those mesh bags over it
and
> lift the tube out to take the big stuff out. Another way to control the
> flow is not to clean the pipes.
>
> Hell have fun with it....it's a hobby after all.
>
> Rich
>
> "Bob Alston" > wrote in message
> news:gepib.68334$Ms2.37383@fed1read03...
> > Remember that you will be using those expensive, non-reusable cartridges
> > UNLESS you are smart and put reusable foam inside the aux filter baskets
> or
> > attach such foam to such. I recently learned about doing so, after
YEARS
> of
> > buying the cartridges.
> >
> > --
> > Bob Alston
> >
> > bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
> >
> > "jessejoe" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > In article >,
> > > "RedForeman ©®" > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Anyone with a pro or con, ring in....
> > > >
> > > > TIA....
> > >
> > > Pros:
> > >
> > > Moves lots of water, so you get agitation, assuming you want that.
Also,
> > > very effective at clearing up the water when I kick up a lot of dirt
> > > cleaning.
>
> > >
> > > It's double-chambered, meaning that if one of the filter pads starts
to
> > > get clogged, you still have the other one working. That means that at
> > > least one bio-wheel is still moving (even if the other one is drying
out
> > > because you left for the weekend and didn't think to check the fish
> > > first). Also means that not 100% of the flow is by-passing, so you
still
> > > get some mechanical filtering capacity.
> > >
> > > As previously mentioned, has extra chambers to put whatever you may
need
> > > in the filter. Putting in about a kilo of hi-density carbon is no
issue.
> > > Don't ask. Ok, ask. I have retarded (literally) siblings. One of them
> > > thought it'd be fun to dump 2 ounces of ick medicine in the water.
> > > Obviously, a massive water change helped, but dumping a big jar of
> > > carbon in is what probably saved the fish. This mostly just
illustrates
> > > that, in less extreme cases, doing the carbon thing is not a problem.
> > >
> > > Comes with a very long extension tube (1 foot i think) so you can use
it
> > > with a deep tank.
> > >
> > > It is the same filter as what Wal-mart sells as the Regent 40-60, just
> > > that the wally world one lacks biowheels. This means that, if you're
in
> > > the part of the world that Wal Mart thinks it owns, you can pick up
> > > cartridges for it much more cheaply than at pet stores. Hell, I work
at
> > > a pet store, and even with a discount the marineland branded ones are
> > > more expensive than the bulk-packed walmart filters.
> > >
> > > Cons:
> > >
> > > Moves a lot of water. If you have peace-loving gouramies, or delicate
> > > plants, this filter will annoy them. Uproot them, even, in the case of
> > > the plants.
> > >
> > > Something about the impeller design makes it really easy to clog with
> > > plant debris. Of course, I've already admitted that it stinks as a
> > > filter for a planted tank, cuz it stirs them up so much. Also, general
> > > mulm from the tank seems to clog this filter faster than other brand
> > > power filters, or even other Penguins.
> > >
> > > Unlike its big bro the Emporer, it has no separate spray-bar or
whatever
> > > to move the bio-wheels. That means that if the blue filter carts start
> > > to clog, and the water begins to by-pass them instead of going down
the
> > > bio-wheel spillways, the wheels stop turning. Then you have a
dried-out
> > > wheel, and a tank that needs to be cycled again once you fix the clog.
> > >
> > > End brain dump. HTH.
> > >
> > > --jesse joe
> >
> >
>
>