Penguin 330 Bio-Wheel

[1clicc]

Can i get some opinion about the Penguin 330 bio-wheel? Does it make a lot of loud noise? Hope anyone can help me! Thanks A lot.


Lee

 

[wuvmybetta]

I don't know about 330's but I have several 170's and I hate them ...
*duck under the table to hide from the penguin lovers*

the wheels forever stop spinning with even the tiniest bit of gunk on them/or in the intake and the filtration is really not that great, I've watched debris just breeze past the intake with out even swaying in the direction of up ,and they barely even trickle, I still use mine but not as my primary source of filtration

 

[smb]

Actually, I have just the opposite opinion of wuvmybetta.

Of course I hope you know this isn't meant to discount what she has experienced as what she has stated is her experience and can't be disputed by anyone.

I love the Penguin/Emperor series of filters myself. I think they are not only quiet but the greatest filters available. IMO, I wouldn't use any other.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I knew smb would be along to defend them shortly

nyuk,nyuk,nyuk

When I first bought mine they were superb,that's how I ended up with more but it seems over time that they just started going kapoot, but that also could be from my lack of maintaining them the way they should be,which is often and thoroughly (sp? wow that word looked weird) but it even states in the manual to disassemble the intake and propeller and clean with every water change and I don't like to do that THAT often

 

[aquamanis]

I,ve read they are one of the best for growing bacteria and many people swear by them, but if you plan on a planted tank don,t use them. As WMB says they can clog with plant matter and the other thing is that they are bad for letting CO2 escape.

 

[smb]

I knew smb would be along to defend them shortly

I'm sorry wuvmybetta.

You know how I am with bio-filters. My post was never meant to contradict your opinion and make it less meaningful. I hope in the future that if I happen to post first you'll be right behind me letting your thoughts be known also.

IMO, there's just nothig better than a BIO-wheel but I would never argue with anyone who thought different.

 

[FanOFish]

I have to go with SMB on this one. I have an Emperor 280 and it has never stopped and I have it set at it's lowest setting. As far as noise, it is pretty quiet, we have ours in the living room and when you are watching TV or something like that you don't even hear it.

Best filter system I've ever had

 

[wuvmybetta]

I knew smb would be along to defend them shortly

I'm sorry wuvmybetta.

You know how I am with bio-filters. My post was never meant to contradict your opinion and make it less meaningful. I hope in the future that if I happen to post first you'll be right behind me letting your thoughts be known also.

IMO, there's just nothig better than a BIO-wheel but I would never argue with anyone who thought different.

lol smb, I know you love your bio-wheels, thats why I ducked,lmao

please don't be sorry ,he asked for opinions and everybodies giving theirs
and I think aquamanis is right on the money about plant matter,that's what always clogs mine up

 

[smb]

lol smb, I know you love your bio-wheels, thats why I ducked,lmao

 

[1clicc]

So ... as far as quiet goes ... ! It should be quiet right? the reason i ask is because i went in my LPS today and ask them about bio-active sand if it really work on speeding my cyclying process. He ask me how long my tank was up on the cycling process, so i told him that it's was almost 2 week. I also mention to him that is it normally for ammonia and nitrite to spike really high during the cycling process, but he didn't answer me. He started mentioning about filteration and what do i have for filteration. I say just the one that come with my tank when i bought it. You guys know those Regent filter? Yeah just those. So he said that i need to have some more filteration on my tank, so I wasn't sure and told him i'll think about it and come back for the filter if i really need it. That's why i need all your guys and gurls help and opinion.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I also have a Regent that came with my 29 gallon, and IMO it's equal to a penguin 170 minus the bio-wheel. Extra filtration is not going to speed up your cycling though , try some bio-spira,or cycle or nitromax. Also "Prime" helps your cycle go quicker. It helps break down ammonia and nitrite so it's easier for your biological filter to break down. I don't know how it does it,but it does

 

[Bol]

I've got a Penguin 170 (which is basically 'half' of a 330 -- the 330 has two bio-wheels, and I assume two filter cartridges).

It's very quiet. Almost silent from more than a few feet away ... provided you keep the tank full of water. If you let the water level drop below the 'lip', you create a small waterfall, and then you hear the ... umm... water falling.

Out of curiosity, for those who say their Penguins get clogged up in planted tanks, what do you mean by 'clogged up'? That is, what part gets clogged? The intake tube, the filter media, or the bio-wheel?

 

[Cate]

Bol - I have that filter in a planted tank and have had no problems with any clogging or any problem with the wheel. I'm quite happy with it!

 

[wuvmybetta]

Out of curiosity, for those who say their Penguins get clogged up in planted tanks, what do you mean by 'clogged up'? That is, what part gets clogged? The intake tube, the filter media, or the bio-wheel?

I'm assuming you mean me & it's usually a gunky propeller and intake tube,then if crud builds around the arm that holds the wheel it will prevent it from spinning

 

[guppymonkey]

I just got a Penguin 170 and it seems a lot better than the Whisper power filter I had. From what I have read (thats a lot in part to info from smb ) the good bacteria builds up on the biowheel and that gives it a big bonus over other power filters. The only problem I had was putting mine in the tank. Its a lot wider than the previous filter I had so I had to make more room in the back of the hood for it. Now I have a big hole in the back that fish can try to jump out of so I had to take a piece of plastic and shove it over the hole.