Actual cost of simple sump for 20gal?

[Moloch]

I'm just trying to understand what you've got going on, it doesn't make sense to me.

The filter pads in the Penguin are just OK debris traps. Not like the single digit micron pores in the HOT 250`s cartridge.
They let enough organics through to gunk up the wheels.
A blast of hot water takes care of that.
I would rather not count on my BB being concentrated on something that I might pull out and replace tomorrow.
If I want to toss/replace the Penguin, I can do it without a bit of worry over how it will affect my water quality.

Gotcha, between this & jcardona's last post I get it now. I haven't used biowheels myself & wasn't aware they clog up & slow down like that. I do HAVE an emperor 400b that I tried to set up, but the impeller is busted and I haven't bothered to replace it yet. So I read a bit about them & got a general idea of their recommended use....didn't know that little detail though.

Hmm...so you're running a hot250, did you say you only use the polishing setup that it came with? I'm using the carbon setup right now but I'm thinking about taking the carbon out (its old now anyways) and replacing it with ceramic rings or something.

 

[Deesul]

does anyone know what size pvc pipe i should use to make an overflow for my thirty gallon i have a rio1100 pump also how long do i make all the pieces

 

[KaiserSousay]

Hmm...so you're running a hot250, did you say you only use the polishing setup that it came with?

I think the micron cartridge is this little filter’s only strong point.
Yes, I only run the cartridge. I have a spare that is always cleaned, ready to be swapped with the one in use.

I haven't used biowheels myself

The Penguin was my first time with bio wheels.
Pretty cool idea, but not without it`s flaws.
Without some regular cleaning they tend get erratic.
They will slow, sometimes stop turning.
The spillway under the wheel can get a pretty decent gunk build up and the only way to get rid of it is to pull the filter for cleaning.

 

[ar0wan]

...Guess you never had a Magnum style filter, but don`t let that get in the way of throwing out a post on something you know nothing about.

I have two up and running rite naow actually
My 300 is on it's second impeller and has been running non-stop since 1996
I use the micron cartriges to polish, and bleach them when I'm done
About once every three years

We use the filters for completely opposite purposes, so there's no reason to get into an arguement about maintanance
I run Matrix in my HOB, and run it into a Bio-wheel that has not clogged up or even been rinsed in tank water for around 14 months
I clean the prefilter once every few months when flow slows
Not sure why or how yours would ever get dirty if you run the micron 24/7

I view my tanks as small balanced eco-systems and try to keep maintance needs low
Biological filtration is the primary key to this success

 

[KaiserSousay]

Not sure why or how yours would ever get dirty if you run the micron 24/7
You can`t use your tank as the bench mark.
My 55g is heavily stocked with Africans that crap like cows and eat like 2 year olds.
Messy is too small a word.
But that`s cool. I don`t mind the half hour a week needed to keep the tank clean.
I change the 250`s cartridge and service the Penguin while the tank is draining for a WC.

I view my tanks as small balanced eco-systems

Not just a view, it is what they are.