hssea

Has anyone put AquaClear Bio Module Filter inserts into a Penguin Bio wheel filter I would like to add them behind the regular blue filter pad in my 20 gallon. Looking at the on the Foster site is appear the cylinders already come in a pouch and are reading to be put in. I have room behind my blue filter pad....I don't think it will slow down the water flow rate (if it does a little thats ok cause my bio wheel is a 350). Question should a put one of these inserts on each side (or will only one side be ok)?

hssea

.....or should I go with just another filter pad (so I would have two filter pads)

ccb04

I've heard of people doing it without a problem.

I would put it in front of the cartridge if possible ... so the filter cartridge catches most of the debris and not the biomax. You want to try to keep the porous ceramic from becoming clogged as much as possible.

They do come in pouches ... and you would have different size options depending on how much room you have in your filter.

aquarist48

I say go for it. If you have the room to add it do it. The more surface area you have in the tank and the filter the better off your tank is going to be.

hssea

They have a filter media size 70/300 ($3.99) for Aquaclear filter model 70 or 300. Since I'm putting it in a BioWheel 350...i guess this one sounds the closet in size. If its to small that wouldn't matter...right?? And if it to large than I could just squish it in...right Now should I order two one for each side?? I take it these last for a very long time and will just need to be rinsed in tank water.

aquarist48

Yes to all of the above. You should never have to replace it Only rinse it in siphoned tank water as you mentioned.

Be careful squishing it in and don't break anything.

hssea

ok. If its to thick and I can't gently squish it into place...then I can opened it up a little take some cylinders out and hand sew it up a little. Now I thinking that I should replace my blue pad that I really tore up when removing the carbon (it looks so thin and flimsy) with a little thicker one to catch al the debris prior to getting into the the ceramic cylinders

hssea

Sorry for the horrible grammer. I really need to proof my texts prior to sending...just aweful

aquarist48

You're exactly right. You can use the blue pads until they are falling apart. However, don't remove all of your good bacteria at one time. Do you have other bio media in there?

Charlize

Rather than using the cartridges with bio wheels,this is what I use.IMO there is no reason for carbon,and this will save you a lot of money over time.Just cut them to fit in the filter box.
http://petsolutions.amazonwebstore.c...B0002565PW.htm
It sounds like you can put the Aquaclear inserts in your Penguin.I have never tried it.Are you wanting to increase your bio filtration by doing this?

aquarist48

Using carbon is a matter of choice and some members here do not use it. I recommend that you do. It helps to keep the tank clear, odor control and adds elements back into the water that can dissipate over time.
"activated carbon :
sometimes abbreviated as "AC", this is a form of carbon that is used in aquariums to remove dissolved nutrients and yellowing compounds to help clean or polish the aquarium water. It is often used to remove smells in the aquarium as well. It is frequently used on water faucets to filter drinking water too. Activated carbon has a limited lifetime and must be replaced periodically. How often you need to replace your carbon depends on the tank circumstances, such as stocking levels and maintenance regimen. There are various grades of activated carbon with some being better than others when it comes to leeching compounds. Some brands may release phosphates into the water. If you have a reef tank or are experiencing algae problems while using activated carbon, try testing your brand using a phosphate test kit. You may be surprised.

Use caution when replacing large quantities of activated carbon in your aquarium. It's a better idea to replace half at a time to prevent light shock to corals".

hssea

Aquarist: For filtration media I only have the blue pad and the bio wheel on each side. I would replace the torn up and thin pad after a couple weeks of the ceramic cylinders in place so that they would have the proper bacteria established first. Then replace the blue padding. Do you think waiting 2 weeks is enough time ...don't want to disrupt my cycle.

Charlize: I did remove the carbon from the biowheel filtration pads when they were already in use...being all wet I had to cut it on three sides... so now are torn up looking..and being so thin I just don't know if they are not useful. I saw the same padding (as your link) on the Foster site...that is exactly what I was thinking of ordering. Those blue pads are they sturdy enough to dropped into the filter with out having to "tie" them to the plastic filter frame that came with the biowheels..I was thinking of just placing them agaisnt the plastic frame without actually attaching them

aquarist48

I think two weeks would be be good ...3 if you think the blue pad will last that long. Obviously you have been doing your research! That's nice to see.

Charlize

I shouldn't have said there is no reason to use carboon.It does help with odor,and with removing meds.I actually use it in some of my tanks on a regualt basis.The filter pad I linked will save you a lot of money over time.If you want to continue using carbon,the Penguin 350 has media baskets that can be purchased and carbon can be added to those.

hssea

When using carbon for the above reasons couldn't I just put a little in some panty hose and place that into the filter. If I need to lets say remove some meds. I used to use the carbon but would forget to replace the cartridges regularly and they got expensive. My Walmart sells carbon in large plastice containers...otherwise I have to order online.

Charlize

It is usually better to be safe than sorry,but with Bio wheels,the majority of the bacteria is on the wheels.Changing out your filter pad shouldn't effect you bacteria enough to cause any problems.With the 350 you have 2 pads or cartridges on either side.You could change one,then after a week or 2 change the other.
I get my filter pads from Foster and Smith(the same that I linked)They do stay up by themselves in the filter box,and last a lot longer than the filter cartridges.

hssea

Aquirist: In my other tank I'm also using the biowheel 350 but in that one I also have a white course type pad (actually feels like a scrubbie pad..not sure if that came with that 350 and my other didn't have it...I did order both a couple years apart). Anyway I like that setup

Charlize

Yes putting some carbon in some panty hose should work.These are the media baskets I have bought for some of my Penguin filters,
http://www.aquariumguys.com/mediabasket.html

aquarist48

Yes, you can use panty hose (that has never seen soap) as a media bag for your carbon. Be sure to rinse the carbon first before adding it. I have found Carbon to be cheaper when bought in bulk and not in cartridges.

hssea

Thanks for all your help. I let everyone how it fits and works out.

Charlize

It is much,much cheaper this way.

prairielilly

One thing I used to do with my Penguin was remove the carbon from the dry, unused cartridges and save it (I put it in a small mesh bag I bought at the LFS, same idea as the pantyhose). Then I cut the used blue media off an old cartridge, laid that against the new cartridge, covered them both with a piece of inexpensive coarse white filter media cut to size and used that - worked quite well, and no danger of lost biofiltration.

I've also heard of people using the AquaClear sponges in place of the cartridges altogether (can't remember who, sorry).

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hssea

No your not to late ...i've done my online shopping and everything is in the "cart" (online). Now I have something else to think about. With the pot scrubbers do you cut them to form a perfect square in the filter?? Does floss go behind or really on top of the scrubbies?? (sorry a little confused).

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hssea

=D= Thanks for the pictures. So the water flows through the scrubbies and then through the floss and out into the tank. From the pictures it looks like you are using two scrubbies on each side, unless there is another two below. Sorry for so many questions..I would like to try this on one of my tanks and the bio modules on the other, so just checking how many scrubbies to get. Thanks again for the pictures it made it alot more clearer.

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