Determined

Quick question for those of you with more experience than I. I currently have a "hang on the back" penguin filter. Because the filter cartridge acts as the mechanical and biological filter, I was thinking of adding another kind of bio filter to the tank so that I don't have a mini-cycle every time I have to change the filter cartridge.

I don't particularly like the sponges that stick out like a sore thumb in the tank, so I was thinking of adding some loose biofilter media (like the clay cylinders) to the inside of my filter. Has anyone done this? Had success with it? Will it cause porblems that I am not foreseeing?

Chief_waterchanger

Anything you do to increase the surface area the bacteria can grow on is a help to increase the bioload the tank can handle. As long as you do not hinder the impeller's movement you should be fine. Perhaps add 2 or 3 small cylinders by where the impeller and intake tube come together, that little extra space there. (Make sure you have the intake tube lined up properly as to minimize water current inside the filter, that should be the only thing you would have to watch closely that I can think of) Good luck.

jsalemi

If you have a penguin filter, then you should also have a bio-wheel on it. If it's missing, you can get a replacement; if there's no place for the bio-wheel, it's not a penguin.

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