Penguin bio wheel filters

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
On the little 30g tank I have I have a whisper 40. It sucks and is loud but keeps the tank crystal clear for not being very powerful. But what I've found out is when I change out the filter I put the new filter in place and take the dirty old filter and keep it behind the new one for a couple days. I feel that this eliminates that cloudy water period. I think it allows the beneficial bacteria that accumulated on the old filter to migrate to the new filter, thus making the new filter more effective faster. I could be crazy, and it could all be in my head haha.


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I just really hate this filter. It doesnt suck up half the stuff that floats on by and changing or washing out filter pads causes my tank to be super cloudy for the next few days. Plus I dont want to have to keep buying the pads. They cost too much. Like 14$ for a three pack of mediums.
And by knarly I mean will it suck my fish up? My rummynose "faint" when I turn on the light in the morning (lose all their color, stop moving, just kinda float around for a minute), and sometimes they get close to the filter stick. Since the filter is bad at its job, the fish just float right by it, but I can see this being a problem with a stronger filter.
I forgot to mention that the filter is like 8 years old. But with regular maintenance.
And caleb, I dont want to blow my WHOLE paycheck on fish stuff. I still need to drive places. And get a new car. And move out. Stuff like that.


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Well then why are you going to buy a 40 gal?


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Sunday, if this lady doesnt flake.
Also I might need your help getting it.
Wow thanks for all the replies, I obviously have a bunch more filter research to do.


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Sunday, if this lady doesnt flake.
Also I might need your help getting it.
Wow thanks for all the replies, I obviously have a bunch more filter research to do.


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Dude just get the cascade 1200 your water will be crystal clear once its fully cycled only 100$, also it recommends 100 gal so your good if you get it


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When you take the filters pads to clean are you washing it in tank water or water from the tap? I suspect that cloudy period you're experiencing is from washing the filter pads under tap water, this kills some of the beneficial bacteria that is living in the filter pad.

When you're doing a wc (you do those right?) Use the old tank water and just dip the pad in a few times without scrubbing and that's all, plus it really only needs to be done about once a month. Also when you are putting in new pads to replace the old ones (which you should really only do when they are ragged or you're doing it to often) put the old one and the new one next to each other (like someone already suggested) in the filter for about 2 weeks so that all the bacterial can transfer over or else you'll put your tank into a mini cycle = lame! (it wouldn't be a full cycle cause there is still some beneficial bacteria hanging out on your decor)

If you are running a brackish water / marine tank don't use a bio wheel filter (or at least take out the bio wheel) cause it causes salt creep
 
When you take the filters pads to clean are you washing it in tank water or water from the tap? I suspect that cloudy period you're experiencing is from washing the filter pads under tap water, this kills some of the beneficial bacteria that is living in the filter pad.

When you're doing a wc (you do those right?) Use the old tank water and just dip the pad in a few times without scrubbing and that's all, plus it really only needs to be done about once a month. Also when you are putting in new pads to replace the old ones (which you should really only do when they are ragged or you're doing it to often) put the old one and the new one next to each other (like someone already suggested) in the filter for about 2 weeks so that all the bacterial can transfer over or else you'll put your tank into a mini cycle = lame! (it wouldn't be a full cycle cause there is still some beneficial bacteria hanging out on your decor)

If you are running a brackish water / marine tank don't use a bio wheel filter (or at least take out the bio wheel) cause it causes salt creep

Wait how would you call dipping it in the fish water cleaning it? That's not doing anything it's got fish water going through it all the time... I just spray mine with the hose and it works fine... Never had a problem


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When you clean it with the aquarium water it's just getting rid of a little bit of gunk built up so the water can still flow through the filter. When you use tap water it can kill the beneficial bacteria that has colonized on the filter. Unless you have well water. When you kill all of the beneficial bacteria in the filter you're relying on the bacteria in the tank to keep the nitrogen cycle going. This is why there can be a decrease in clarity after cleaning or replacing a filter. When I started keeping the old filter behind the new one I really noticed the difference in water clarity. Glad someone else does this too. I just thought of it one day but have never heard of anyone else doing this.


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I don't have any problems with my two emp 400's or my penguin 280 the two 400's are only a few months old and the 280 is about three years old and still running like a champ


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