Bio wheel penguin filter on its last legs..

My filters on its last legs. Looking at an aqueon to replace it. Don't much like the bio wheels. Any thoughts on the difference?

 

I'd actually suggest an aqua clear unless you've decided that self prime is important.

 

Self prime?

 

Aqueons self prime meaning as you plug it in the water pulls from the intake. Aqua clears like bio wheels needs to have water added in the filter for it to start up again. I have an aqueon hob on my 20 and like it; lots of space for bb material.

 

The aqueon will fill itself back up and run without intervention in the event of a power outage, no matter how long. Sometimes bio wheels and aqua clears aren't able to prime and then just run themselves while they're empty. That's the only reason I went with aqeoun, I don't trust the power to work all the time and I'm away for days at a time sometimes.
Just realized I got ninjad!

 

The reviews for the aqueon were good so I thought 2 of them would be fine on my 90 gallon..also do you think I should run it along with the penguin or remove some of the filter from the penguin and place it in the new aqueon? The self prime seems pretty cool to me.

 

The aqua clears hold more media, like your bio wheels, that's their advantage.

I'd run them both together for a month. If the bio wheel doesn't make it that long transfer as much media as you can into the new one. If it does make it that long then you can throw the media into the other one to help it instacycle.

 

The aqua clears hold more media, like your bio wheels, that's their advantage.

I'd run them both together for a month. If the bio wheel doesn't make it that long transfer as much media as you can into the new one. If it does make it that long then you can throw the media into the other one to help it instacycle.

Thanks a ton Wraithen. You're a huge help like always. Thank you for the replies.

 

The power going out won't cause the water to somehow disappear from the filter. The only time you need to prime a bio wheel or Aquaclear is when you do a large water change and the water in the filter drains into the tank due to the low water level in the tank. Having a lose of power won't cause this.

 

I've heard otherwise, no actual real life experience with it.

 

The power going out won't cause the water to somehow disappear from the filter. The only time you need to prime a bio wheel or Aquaclear is when you do a large water change and the water in the filter drains into the tank due to the low water level in the tank. Having a lose of power won't cause this.

I have several Aqua Clear filters of varying size and they all drain as soon as the power goes out. If I'm home, I have to remove the intake tube and add water to the filter to keep the media wet. If I'm not home, my media drys out and they don't restart when the power comes back on.

Edited to add: They do restart, but the impeller pump runs hot with no water in the filter

 

So a self prime is more feasible?

 

I have two aqueon filters that self prime and I like them, as they are reliable and fairly quiet. I prefer the media options with the Aqua Clear filters though. I'm not a fan of the Aqueon filter cartridges.

But for areas prone to power blips and outages, the Aqueon filters are nice.

 

The cartridges do suck! But that's why I cut out the carbon and added my own stuff.

 

I have several Aqua Clear filters of varying size and they all drain as soon as the power goes out. If I'm home, I have to remove the intake tube and add water to the filter to keep the media wet. If I'm not home, my media drys out and they don't restart when the power comes back on.

Edited to add: They do restart, but the impeller pump runs hot with no water in the filter

That's interesting. This is the first I've heard of this happening. I've had a lot of bio wheels and Aquaclears and that's never happened to me, or anyone else I know who uses them. Thanks for the info.

 

Well fellas and ladies, without thinking of anything else besides filtration, what wins the aqueon or the penguin? I need high filtration in my tank cause I got some messy little guys. Been keeping up with the bio wheel with big water changes, 30-50 percent, and still feel like I need more.

 

Well fellas and ladies, without thinking of anything else besides filtration, what wins the aqueon or the penguin? I need high filtration in my tank cause I got some messy little guys. Been keeping up with the bio wheel with big water changes, 30-50 percent, and still feel like I need more.

I've ran both bio wheel and aqueon on my 20. For me the aqueon wins because I always had an issue with the bio wheel. Plus out of the 2 aqueon has more room to cram what you'd like in there. I've got some ceramic rings, a bag of crushed coral and my own made up filter pad with carbon and some floss.

 

Yeah this bio wheel had problems with only one turning, didn't really filter as much as I liked, and not a ton of space. Also the self primes seems smart.

 

For a 90g, maybe you'll want to consider two canisters or one canister and an HOB especially if you have a huge bioload. You'd be able to stuff a ton of bio media and mechanical filtration to support that.

 

For a 90g, maybe you'll want to consider two canisters or one canister and an HOB especially if you have a huge bioload. You'd be able to stuff a ton of bio media and mechanical filtration to support that.

What about two HOB? I've got a baby black spotted eel, a couple ropes, a RTS, and 4 clown loaches. I'm upgrading the 90 soon, I graduate law school in December and will be able to afford the bigger tank, got a fella building a 200 gallon for me. But until then will 2 HOB be worth it?

 

If you're gonna get a 200 gallon soon, if it's replacing the 90 I would get a canister that can handle the 200. I believe most of the new ones are very adjustable.

 

So in the long run the canister will be more reliable.

 

Most likely, but they are also their own can of worms. I would research the out of them. They intimidate me a bit personally but I don't have a reason to use them so I haven't researched them very well.

 

Gotcha. I definitely will.

 

I would want a sump on 200 gallon. It would be cheaper and they are much easier to maintain. But if that is not something you want, I would get a couple of medium size canisters for your 90. Or one large one. Those can go on the 200 and you could add more canisters, or HOB's when you have it.

 

Yes, I don't know about the other fish but with those clown loaches, you'll definitely need a bigger, more high-powered filtration system. I just don't see two Aqueons or biowheels cutting it.

 

Yeah I still got time before the big tank gets in...the guy is building the tank now then the stand and I'll call him and see if he can get everything else built. Basically what I'm hearing is a canister or two for the 90 then when the 200 is done get a sump.

 

How far out is the new tank? A sump involves cutting that tank which will add to the cost and delay the work most likely.

If you're going for the sump on the new tank and it's less than 4 to 6 months out I would skip the canisters. They aren't exactly cheap and your hobs have been working out for now. It's entirely up to you, just food for thought.