Bio-wheel Filters And Sand Substrate

[Barracuda518]

I posted this in the hardware section and didnt get a response, So I thought I would try it here.

I just bought a 55 US gallon tank that I will be keeping cories in. Im looking to get a bio-wheel filter and was looking at the Marineland Pengiun filters. I dont want a really loud filter. I have 2 questions. First, has anyone had problems with a bio-wheel filter and a sand substrate? The second question is, I have no idea which one to get to provide the proper filtration and not too much current in the tank. I was wondering if I need to get 2 smaller filters so that there is a lot of current on one side of the tank.

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Polardbear]

I run Penquin 330's on my 50 and 55 gallon tanks, an Emperor 400 on my 75 gallon, and use a few Penquin 100's on my 10 gallon fry tanks. All my tanks have sand substrate and corys in them. On the 3 larger tanks I also run second filters that are AquaClears. I haven't had any problems with any of my filters and the sand, but I do make a point of not stirring the sand up while the filters are running. When I do my cleaning and water changes I usually wait a minute or two to make sure the sand has settled back down before I start the filters up.

If you are planning on primarily keeping Corys I wouldn't be overly concerned about too much current. My little maniacs love to play in the filter current, they can be quite the little daredevils. They have even more fun playing in the output of my 300 gph power head.

I do have to add though that neither the Penquins or the Emperor are exactly the quietest filters in the world. If you keep your water level right at the lip of the overflow they are quiet but as soon as your water level drops more than 1/2 an inch you will start hearing them. I think my AquaClears are a lot quieter.

 

[Barracuda518]

So do you recommend the AuqaClear over the Penguins? I dont mind a little nosie, but I dont want a ton. So where is your Penguin 330 positioned on your tank?

Thanks

 

[Polardbear]

I have a hard time choosing between them which probably explains why I have one of each on my tanks! Each of the tanks has one of the Penquins on the right side of the back wall and one of the Aqua Clears on the left side of the back wall. The noise is really only an issue if your water levels drops from evaporation quickly and you're to lazy to get up and add water. (My water level drops really fast due to our extremely dry air, air conditioning and my use of power heads and air stones to entertain my very spoiled Swordtails and Corys).

 

[Teelie]

Biowheels can be noisy, depending on a few variables. I have two of them on two seperate 30g tanks. One is kind of loud and noisy (in my bedroom of course ) but the other is almost silent and it's the one in the foyer. They're both Pengiuns I think but one is a slightly more powerful one and oddly the quieter one.

They both make the trickling splashing noise if the water gets below a certain level but the one in my room seems to be "splashier" so I guess what I'm saying is that it really depends on the water height and the strength of the filter.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

if it were up to me, i would get an aquaclear. the bio wheel doesnt really give you more bacteria.

 

[mattbeau]

I had nothing but trouble with the penguin bioheel 150 with a sand substrate, the problem is there is no prefilter before the impeller, any sand sucked up imidiatly jams it up and causes it to shut down, I was never able to resolve the problem, I would cleen it out (very time consuming)about every other day, and without the filter running there was no water flowing to the filter media killing my bacteria.

I tied retrofitting a sponge on the intake to block the sand, but all that did was slowed the flow rate of water so the biowheel would end up dry.

If you are going with sand, I would stay away from this filter, with gravel instead of sand though it is fantastic

I ended up with using an internal fluval 2 whic is very quiet and has no broblems dealing with sand

good luck

 

[StarOrbs]

I agree, get an Aquaclear. They tend to be cheaper and are just as effective. Of course it's up to you.