Dozey

Hi every one and thanks for accepting me in your forum.

Fast Faqs…

Complete newbie
Water: fresh
Tank: 35 gallons (Used)

• Brought this tank home and set it up. Went to fish store to replace filter for “AquaClear 200”
• Fish guy laughed and suggested I try an antique store.
• Came home lighter in the wallet and with a BIO-Wheel Power Filter Penguin 200 (200 GPH, for tanks up to 50 gallon

Questions…

• Is this a decent filter for a newbie?
• The box brags about an “Adjustable Mid-Level Intake”… Is this good?
• Why is it adjustable? (The manual doesn’t mention anything about it).

What I did...
* Of course I opened the adjustable mid-level intake. It was there.
* How much did I open it? A bit of the way.
* Why just a bit of the way? Well because it’s adjustable, if it was meant to be open or closed they wouldn’t have made it adjustable.

Any insight on why and how much this “Adjustable Mid-Level Intake” should be open would certainly help this newbie out.

Thanks every one!

soldieroffortune1974

It's made adjustable for different reasons.Mainly to control the flow volume. Different fish like slower or faster flowing water volumes.Fry (babies) could get sucked up into the input with too high a flow. If you were using it on a smaller aquarium,say 5 or 10 gallons,you wouldn't want it at the same flow rates as for a 50 gallon (that's the theory anyway)but for the 35 gallon you are using it in,I would say open it up all the way,to increase flow,gas exchange.

200gph isn't really enough for a 50 gallon,300 gph is better even for a 35 gallon.With extra aeration (air stones) to increase water flow,and gas exchange,it might work,depending on what type of fish you eventually put in it.

My opinion,1 filter (HOB) is pretty much the same as another.I don't like them (it's just me,I don't like things like that cluttering up my displays)

The best advice I can give you,where the manufacturer says to replace the media once a month or whatever it says,DON'T.You can reuse and reuse,and reuse the same filter over and over and over until it literally falls apart.

Dozey

Thank you soldieroffortune1974

Your input seems very knowledgeable about variable control filter systems. Unfortunately I failed to mention that this is not the only intake on this filter system. So I’m not sure that your advice is correctly based on my previous post.

The main intake is at a depth of about 18” and is quite large. The so much talked about “Adjustable Mid-Level Intake” is considerably smaller then the main intake and rest at about 8”.

The product is here http://www.marineland.com/sites/Mari...=2006&mid=3226

Sorry about the omission of information, I’ll try harder in the future. But does your advice still stand true?

soldieroffortune1974

Well,thank you;I attempt to be as knowledgeable as possible in everything I do. I build aquariums as a hobby,and quite a few filters too.

There's no such thing as too much filtration,as far as I am concerned. You wouldn't want white water rapids in your aquarium.Depending on the other filter running,the 200 gph should work satisfactorily.The mid level intake is for collecting suspended matter,and control water flow volumes. If you were using an undergravel filter unit,I would suggest sticking the intake tube down into the tube rise,to use as a power head/filter.

As far as not changing the media,definitely.When you change the media,you take out beneficial bacteria. I would still say use the same filter until it falls apart.

The same advice still stands,whether it has the 2 intakes,or more. Regardless of the number of intakes,thay all perform the same function.

Matt

SOldier is a very good person to go to for info.


From Matt

Dozey

Thanks soldieroffortune1974 for the advice. I'm sure it won't be a last time as I hope to eventually get into live plants and breeding.

And a thanks to Matt for your input as well.

Smiles

I almost forgot to mention a bit about this product. The "bio-wheel" is designed for the growth of the "good" bacteria and the manufacture sugges that the wheel should never be replaced unless it is damaged. The filter has two media cartridges allowing for changing just one at a time.

The fish guy at the fish store seemed to think this was the filter I should have although he most likely works on commission so it may very well be that this was the most expensive filter he figured he could convince me to buy. But that half the fun of a new hobby... throwing money away on things until you get it right.