Marineland Penguin Power Filter, 50 to 70-Gallon, 350 GPH

Description

Penguin FiltersAll Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filters deliver easy, three-stage mechanical, chemical and biological aquarium filtration. Convenient Penguin Rite-Size Filter Cartridges come ready to use with each filter...ready to mechanically and chemically remove waste, discoloration and odors. Each contains new faster-acting Black Diamond Premium Activated Carbon for maximum efficiency. Biological filtration is provided by the revolutionary and patented BIO-Wheel - proven best at removing toxic ammonia and nitrite. All BIO-Wheel filters feature Noise-Reducing Two-Piece Vented Covers, and Adjustable Mid-Level Intake Strainers. Review: Cleans tank well powerful motor - I’ve used this brand for over 30 years and always liked them. I also used Aqua clear for many years and like them because you can change the media easily. But they don’t restart often after a power failure so I went back to this brand and they almost also start sucking water up again if the power goes out which is important if your not home. I ended up buying the plastic filer inserts for these to save on buying filters from the company. I can mix media however I want. And I also bought the foam filters so I just wash those off. All in all I can mix filter media however I wish with these. Yes sometimes the spinning wheels stop turning but that is mostly due to lack of water flow because filter needs to be cleaned or the space where the tabs are need to be cleaned. Good value for price at least when I bought them. I have a 80 gallon tank and I use this one and one smaller one of the same brand. I like to always have lots of filtration. ** only thing I wish it had was a water flow adjustment. It’s a small thing and not so important that it kept me from buying it but in certain situations it would be nice. Review: Superb filter system for all tanks - I used to work as a marine biologist for a major state aquarium. Marineland bio pumps have been around forever. I have been using them for both salt and freshwater tanks in gallon sizes ranging from 10-200. All have worked flawlessly and I will continue to use them as both primary and secondary systems. They are far superior to anything except canister systems BUT in some ways, better than canister filters due to ease of maintenance. I will pick 3-4 of these at one time over a single system any day. Simply, one goes down (breaks), another is still keeping your tank clean and filtered. Please read!!! your fish and you will be much happier and stun everyone else... Advantages: 1) You don't have to shut it down. Pull the cartridge, rinse the new one with distilled water, slowly replace it back in the formed slots. No shutting down valves, seals/o-ring probs etc.. 2) They're pretty quiet but can get the "bubbling noise" when your water level drops below a certain point.Typically just below the flat part of the outlets. It won't hurt it or the fish if it does, it just gets that "noisy" waterfall sound which some, people feel it's soothing. Keeping the water level up is a good thing and remember, those bio wheels add oxygen to the water. Canisters don't. 3) They are easy to fix unless the actual motor goes bad. A wheel sticks? clean the roller pins and slots. 5 minutes. Impeller stops? try pulling and just clean the surfaces of the magnet and cavity; again a 5 minute job. You do have to unplug it for those two jobs. TIPS- A) Do yourself a huge favor and buy an extra set or two of cartridges. They are easily found from mom-n-pop pet stores to large chain stores. You CAN rinse the old ones in an emergency. B) Go to the grocery store and get a gl jug of distilled water and keep it. Reason? tap and even well water has trace elements and minerals that will kill the beneficial bacteria and cause a cloudy white appearance (bacterial bloom) for a cpl days. C) Motor/impeller maintenance - Unplug the pump. Lift the cover off, grab the intake tube (square) and slightly wiggle while pulling upward. Clean with a paper towel and white vinegar on the rubber "grommets" and silver pins you see.Basically, make sure everything that is suppose to spin, does so smoothly. D) Bio wheel sticking - Just lift the cover off. No need to unplug. Lift the sticking wheel outuse a Q-tip to clean the slots where the wheel rests. Lightly clean the silver roller pins on the ends. Replace. DO NOT CLEAN OR WASH the paper wheel itself. Sounds like work?? it's not... A canister or in tank filter is ten times more work and messy. These are awesome filters.. Get it and take heed to what I wrote. You'll be happy with it....