Are these filters any good? http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+14448&pcatid=14448
Marineland Emperor BIO-Wheel?
- Thread starter cjohll
- Start date
I have 2 on my 125 Gal. IMO they are a good filter. i found out you need to clean the impellor area to get the best water movement
yes they are a good filter. i have both of these emperor's and many AC's. I like the emperor's alot better IMO.
some people like them, I honestlly hate them. My reasoning for that is they use those stupid inserts for filter media. They plug like crazy and can only be replaced as a whole and not piece by piece. If you want to use a HOB I only, only, only buy Aqua Clear. I swear by the 70 and the 110. I can pack all the media I want and can wash some while leaving some in their. This way my biological filter is always in good shape. I will argue againts anyone when I say that two AC 110's will out filter any canister filter. My two cents
I do not use the filter inserts. I take and put a peice of filter pad in between the gray baskets. You can buy the pad in bulk from ebay or other online places as well as a good lfs. And the inserts that come with the emperor will last for years. All you have to do is wash them out when they get dirty. ------------I think one plus that the AC filter can not compete with is the wet/dry action of the bio-wheel. It is like asking which type of filter is better a wet/dry or a wet only. It is sort of the same as why no-body builds wet sumps anymore. wet/dry's are better or so most of the population of fish keepers think it is.----------My main liking of the emperor's is all the things you can do with the media. Your options are limit less. And with the ac you have to remove all media just to clean a filter spong. With the emperor you just remove what you want to clean out not everthing.
I have been using Emps for over 10 years and never had any problems. Great filters as long as u maintain them.
as with everything there are pros and cons to this filter.
pros-honestly I can't thing of any HOB that can beat the emp-penguin for biological filtration. not having the bio area submerged allows the bacteria to have an endlees supply of oxygen.
cons-the mechanical filtration of the filter.Marineland has fallen into the quick and easy cartridge replacement scam. yes you can wash it out a couple of times and reuse it but I have found the Emp catridges to fall apart much quicker than the smaller Penguins. it's the same material but I guess since it's streched further than the Penguins it comes apart quicker.
now if they had a solid block of foam like the Aquaclear line than this filter would be unbeatable in the HOB class.
pros-honestly I can't thing of any HOB that can beat the emp-penguin for biological filtration. not having the bio area submerged allows the bacteria to have an endlees supply of oxygen.
cons-the mechanical filtration of the filter.Marineland has fallen into the quick and easy cartridge replacement scam. yes you can wash it out a couple of times and reuse it but I have found the Emp catridges to fall apart much quicker than the smaller Penguins. it's the same material but I guess since it's streched further than the Penguins it comes apart quicker.
now if they had a solid block of foam like the Aquaclear line than this filter would be unbeatable in the HOB class.