I just put 2 penguin 350 into service on a 55. I paid, including shipping, $78 for the pair. Pretty decent price I think, for around 700gph of filtration.
I got these to replace a pair of canisters whose care was really dragging my enjoyment of the tank down.
The penguins were chosen for their easy maintenance and the bio wheel system. I like the way they took the energy from the filtered water, coming out the spillway to drive the wheels, very clever.
All other systems let this available, free energy go to waste.
For media I use scour pads, the same 6X9 pads I used to cut down for use in the canisters, and they do the same excellent job. The ease of maintaining the media, well I am still grinning.
A HOB will never be as quiet as a canister, period, end of story
Noise levels on a (key words coming up) well maintained HOB system can be held to acceptable levels. A HOB can only make noise from two areas, the impeller or the spillway.
Other than a design or manufacturing error the impeller can run with no more than a hum.
It can rattle and bang like a can full of marbles if neglected or contaminated, as well.
The noise from the spillway is tank water level controlled.
Been running them for a couple of weeks now and am quite please with how they are cleaning both water column and sand.
Not saying anything against the AC filters, was just saying the penguin system works for me.
