New Canister Filter

[Bderick67]

I will point out one major issue I have with the Penguins, and that is the "annoying" amount of maintenance and re-assembly I have after each water-change. Breaking down and cleaning the assembly and impeller. They are serviceable and I intend on using them till they completely cease up, but long term, it's not the best medium.

I am not opposed to running two 2213 canisters and fully replacing the HOBs. I just want the most reliable and efficient system that will continue to provide the best most optimum conditions.

Wow you do this on a weekly basis? I probably service my penguins(350b) maybe only once every 2 or 3 months.

Two 2213s would definetly be efficeint and reliable. you could probably get away with cleaning them once every two months. As a precaution you could clean one a month while alternating between the two.

 

[sutherland]

Wow you do this on a weekly basis? I probably service my penguins(350b) maybe only once every 2 or 3 months.

Two 2213s would definetly be efficeint and reliable. you could probably get away with cleaning them once every two months. As a precaution you could clean one a month while alternating between the two.

Well, I can assure you...I have no desire to shell out extra cash, but if it means additional reliability and improved filtration, might as well get it right the next time around.

The issue with the penguins may have to do with the fact that I did not use a prefilter (sponge) on the intakes. I'm using aragonite as the substrate base, so I'm sure it has impacted the longevity of the pump.

My best approach now is to clean the impeller and essentially flush the pump cavity to remove any debris that may have been caught. Every start-up brings up a new noise for me to diagnose and treat. (They are great filters, no knock against Marineland...had it been ACs, I'm sure it would be the same issue).

I think I will add one Ehiem for the time being, while I go through the existing media on my Penguins (I have months worth...). In regards to the biological media, I stopped using the wheels because well....wheels stopped running (I do biological sponges in place of that and can cut to size and transfer to the Eheim as well).

Live and learn, but purchasing a simple sponge could have saved some extra dough.

I will say this, like vacuum cleaners, filters have the same inherent design flaws. The debris is in close contact with the mechanism that controls the suction.

 

[sutherland]

Two 2213s it is, well one for now and the other for when I fully run out of media on the Penguins.

Has anyone had experience using the Eheim Prefilter Intake accessory? Is it better to just to use a small, cheap sponge or are both overkill since the canister debris settles at the bottom and not near the pump mech?

 

[Jgray152]

You have a 37 gallon tank. You don't need any more filtration than what you already have. You can buy a canister if you would like but I would run ONLY the canister. Less electricity, less maintenance and less noise.

If your tank parameters are fine now, you don't need a filter strickly for biological filtration.

I don't like the Eheim Classic filtes. Needing to remove the loose bio media just to get at the mechanical pads is rediculous. Talk about a pita to clean.

 

[tcarswell]

I see threads involving problems with FX5 filters, so that may be out of the question. The Marineland Penguins already demand enough attention to maintenance and upkeep.

The Eheim Classic filter line and Rena (not too familiar with) seem to perk my interest. In terms of flow rate, currently the Penguins each have 200gph, perhaps that is where I am miffed.

I would like to either shorten the intakes on the Penguins and let them pull the upper half of the tank and allow the canister to pull from the lower half (where most debris settles).

eheim 2215 is bullet proof in my experience. Comes packed with substrate pro 120 shipped

Wait wait this is for a 37 ??? Why I hate to jump on the band wagon but your parameters are fine. If it aint broke...

 

[sutherland]

You have a 37 gallon tank. You don't need any more filtration than what you already have. You can buy a canister if you would like but I would run ONLY the canister. Less electricity, less maintenance and less noise.

If your tank parameters are fine now, you don't need a filter strickly for biological filtration.

I don't like the Eheim Classic filtes. Needing to remove the loose bio media just to get at the mechanical pads is rediculous. Talk about a pita to clean.

Reading further down, I am concerned about the longevity of the Penguin filters. Mainly because of the weekly maintenance on the pump and impeller (this is partially due to the fact that the substrate is being pulled in by the intake).

My full intention is to remove the HOBs and save them as backups and utilize a more improved method of filtration. Canisters seem to send any media to the bottom and filter up which is far more efficient than using a pair of HOB filters that pull media in and filter out.

 

[sutherland]

eheim 2215 is bullet proof in my experience. Comes packed with substrate pro 120 shipped

Wait wait this is for a 37 ??? Why I hate to jump on the band wagon but your parameters are fine. If it aint broke...

Not broke, just improving and removing!

 

[tcarswell]

Not broke, just improving and removing!

But you are fine with your bio load..... Unless you plan on adding a bunch of fish I would not recommend removing or improving any thing.

 

[tcarswell]

Reading further down, I am concerned about the longevity of the Penguin filters. Mainly because of the weekly maintenance on the pump and impeller (this is partially due to the fact that the substrate is being pulled in by the intake).

My full intention is to remove the HOBs and save them as backups and utilize a more improved method of filtration. Canisters seem to send any media to the bottom and filter up which is far more efficient than using a pair of HOB filters that pull media in and filter out.

Put a sponge on the intake or shorten the intake. problem solved.

 

[bmthomps84]

Sounds like your mind's made up on the canister so here's my two cents. I've got a 2217 on my 55g and I am very happy with it. Come service time I just disconnect and reverse flush it. I try to do this once every 2 weeks but it usually takes me about 3 weeks and I'm convinced I could let it go for a month and be fine. I did a lot of research before buying my first canister, I settled on the this one and I am very happy.