Penguin 350 extra filtration ideas?

[Gruntking]

Just bought an aquaclear 110 today and set it up alongside my penguin 350 on my 46 gallon. The aquaclear comes with a very fine filter pad for mechanical filtration and is excellent. The penguin 350 releases tons of particles into my water, even after changing the filter cartridge today. The problem i see with the 350's cartridges is that they miss tons of fine particles, and it throws them right back in the water....

I would like to know an alternative to getting better mechanical filtration on this filter. I was thinking of maybe buying some AC filter pads and putting them in front or behind the 350 pad.

If theres a cheaper alternative, let me know! I am tired of seeing all these particles that it throws out..

Below are pictures that show the difference.

First is the AC 110 side of the tank, second is the penguin 350

 

[Angler]

Buy a polyester quilt batting roll and cut it to size.

 

[fishmamma]

I recently started using a AC110, and then later I bought an AC70.. they are awesome!! I could tell the difference too, when on the same tank with another brand HOB.. Sorry no suggestions.. but I have stuffed another filter pad in just to see if it would make a difference (minus carbon, to fit).. not sure that it did..

 

[Gruntking]

The filter pad it brings is the "biggest one i've ever had", lol. Its pretty massive. I currently have it with 1 pad, carbon and the bio media it brings. I will take out the carbon tomorrow to make space for some bioballs, i might cut a bit of the filter pad as well.

 

[fishmamma]

The filter pad it brings is the "biggest one i've ever had", lol. Its pretty massive. I currently have it with 1 pad, carbon and the bio media it brings. I will take out the carbon tomorrow to make space for some bioballs, i might cut a bit of the filter pad as well.

I know I freaked out with it too, I actually needed a little assistance with it.. MFK assistance that is...

I do mine like this from top to bottom:
bio rings
sponge pad - I bought this one, it has smaller holes more dense
sponge pad

 

[Kanta]

I Put scrubbies in all off my penguin filters behind the filter pads. Works good.

 

[muffywrx]

you can cut your own filter squares out of filter pad sheets. I prefer this. No carbon to throw away, cheaper, and you can control the size.

 

[KaiserSousay]

You are stuck.
The design of the filter will make it impossible to get the tiniest of particles out, without getting a whole bunch of bypass, defeating the purpose of adding ultra fine sieve sized media. .
The Penguin, Emperor, and all other "Tub" style HOB have this problem.
If the “floating in air” look is what you are after, these are not the filter for you.
Don`t get me wrong, these are excellent filters for what they were designed to do.

 

[suds1421]

I run scotch brite pads and quilt batting in my emperor 400's and I think that I have crystal clear water.

Try adding quilt batting after your filter pads, even if you have to rubberband it on

 

[soul_assassin]

You are stuck.
The design of the filter will make it impossible to get the tiniest of particles out, without getting a whole bunch of bypass, defeating the purpose of adding ultra fine sieve sized media. .
The Penguin, Emperor, and all other "Tub" style HOB have this problem.
If the “floating in air” look is what you are after, these are not the filter for you.
Don`t get me wrong, these are excellent filters for what they were designed to do.

Not true. I dont have the 350 but do have the emperor so the cartridges should be the same. This is what I did: cut out the blue floss out of a used cartridge, then cut out most of the ribs from the black frame you have left (only leaving a cross section to support new filter pad), then go buy a 50 or 25 micron filter pad from big als in salt section (they are not cheap but you get like 3'x3' piece and it last forever), then cut out a square that is ~1" bigger then the black cartridge frame on all sides, fold the piece over the frame and slip it in place. there yuou go 25 or 50 micron polisher that will hands down beat what you havein your 110. only negative is that it will clog fast especially when first used, I rinse my under tap water every 2-3 days.