NetMax wrote:

otherwise I'd go with a bio-wheel (Penguin 125?, I don't know
what their Mini is like)

I bought one of the minis for use in my ten gallon divided betta tank.
It turned out to not be a good choice, but for reasons relating to the
tank, not the filter. I was keeping the water level an inch or two low,
so the filter splashing was rather loud. I also found that it was a bit
much current for a betta tank.

I've still got the Mini, but it's waiting for some other tank
opportunity. For now, I've got a Duetto in the tank, which works pretty
well, and is very quiet, and has adjustable flow rate and direction, so
I don't tucker the poor little fish guys out.

and live with purchasing new inserts occasionally.

A blast with a garden hose is good for cleaning out the mechanical
filtration pads, I've found.


--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com