75 Gallon Tank Do I need Filter Cartridges?

Hello, I have two filter running in my 75 gallon. One is a Penguin 375 meant for 75 gallon tanks and the other is a Penn Plax Cascade 1500, meant for 200 gallon tanks. The problem I'm having is with the penguin. The cartridges get gunked up so quickly that they dam up the water, so the two bio wheels can't spin. Should I just get rid of the cartridges or is there an easy way to make efficient cartridges myself? Would it be better to just put media bags of carbon and those ceramic rings in the chamber instead?

 

Hello, I have two filter running in my 75 gallon. One is a Penguin 375 meant for 75 gallon tanks and the other is a Penn Plax Cascade 1500, meant for 200 gallon tanks. The problem I'm having is with the penguin. The cartridges get gunked up so quickly that they dam up the water, so the two bio wheels can't spin. Should I just get rid of the cartridges or is there an easy way to make efficient cartridges myself? Would it be better to just put media bags of carbon and those ceramic rings in the chamber instead?

Yep a sponge and some other kind of media can replace them easily. Heres some how tos
Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Aquarium Filter Forum | 385506

 

Yep a sponge and some other kind of media can replace them easily. Heres some how tos
Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Aquarium Filter Forum | 385506

Thanks so much for the link. I read through some of it and I can't wait to make my HOB more effective and less of a pain, lol. My Canister is relatively new, but it's not leaking and I don't want to stop it and take apart until there's actually an issue, so I'll probs wait to put some home-made filter media in there.

 

Thanks so much for the link. I read through some of it and I can't wait to make my HOB more effective and less of a pain, lol. My Canister is relatively new, but it's not leaking and I don't want to stop it and take apart until there's actually an issue, so I'll probs wait to put some home-made filter media in there.

Has the canister been running a few months? If not I would wait a bit.

 

Has the canister been running a few months? If not I would wait a bit.

I've had it less than a month. I don't plan on messing with right now unless something starts leaking or goes wrong in some way. It's working perfectly fine now, so I will wait at leasta few months.

 

Sounds like a plan! Have fun modding it up!

 

Sounds like a plan! Have fun modding it up!

Thanks again for the help!

 

I use one of the single wheel penguin biowheel filters and I modded it up. Works very well.

I removed the intake strainer and fit sponges over the intake tube and the second intake hole(removed the little plastic thing that covers it). Inside the filter I used porous media in the bottom(I think I had pond filter stones on hand at the time, but I am sure there are better things) and a large sponge in most of the filter box. The large Aquaclear sponge fit perfectly. I also have a bag of biomax media in the space above the impeller which I use if I want to seed a new tank, otherwise it just lives there. Maybe 2 or 3 times a year I will rinse the big sponge in tank water, other than that I only have to clean the intake sponges. Usually I squeeze them out after I do a vaccuum.

I have seen other mods use filter floss, but I seem to be doing well without. It was restricting water flow, and I felt like a bigger sponge worked best for me. I included some pics.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your mods.

 

I use one of the single wheel penguin biowheel filters and I modded it up. Works very well.

I removed the intake strainer and fit sponges over the intake tube and the second intake hole(removed the little plastic thing that covers it). Inside the filter I used porous media in the bottom(I think I had pond filter stones on hand at the time, but I am sure there are better things) and a large sponge in most of the filter box. The large Aquaclear sponge fit perfectly. I also have a bag of biomax media in the space above the impeller which I use if I want to seed a new tank, otherwise it just lives there. Maybe 2 or 3 times a year I will rinse the big sponge in tank water, other than that I only have to clean the intake sponges. Usually I squeeze them out after I do a vaccuum.

I have seen other mods use filter floss, but I seem to be doing well without. It was restricting water flow, and I felt like a bigger sponge worked best for me. I included some pics.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your mods.

Awesome, thanks for the pictures, I can use them for reference. I plan on adding rhe sponges to the intake areas too.