Guess What I Got?

[Man of fish]

I got my new marineland penguin 350 bio-wheel filter along with a aqueon 150 watt pro heater both to go on my 30 gallon. The penguin just barely fits with about 1/2 Cleo 1 cm on both sides to spare. I've put in the heater but not the filter yet. I've got to cut a new hole for it.
I also ordered a new bottle of prime along with a red/blue light bulb.
One thing I was wondering though is how I should set up the media trays. Should I go:
All current media one side and all new on the other or
Half new on each side half old on each side or 2 old sponges and old cartridge one side and 2 new cartridges along with a new sponge and all ceramics.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I got my new marineland penguin 350 bio-wheel filter along with a aqueon 150 watt pro heater both to go on my 30 gallon. The penguin just barely fits with about 1/2 Cleo 1 cm on both sides to spare. I've put in the heater but not the filter yet. I've got to cut a new hole for it.
I also ordered a new bottle of prime along with a red/blue light bulb.
One thing I was wondering though is how I should set up the media trays. Should I go:
All current media one side and all new on the other or
Half new on each side half old on each side or 2 old sponges and old cartridge one side and 2 new cartridges along with a new sponge and all ceramics.

I think half on each, each side has a bio-wheel, so you want both sides to colonize.

I wouldn't use the included cartridges though, they are full of carbon.

 

[Man of fish]

Ok I wasn't really sure. If I put it on would there be a mini cycle? I hope not....

Why can't you use carbon? I use it on my current tank I just don't replace it. The cartridges are just a good place for the good bacs to grow.

 

[Man of fish]

Anyone else know how I should set up the media trays or if there will be a mini cycle when I put on the new filter?

 

[Man of fish]

About to switch the filters. Should I lower the water a little first?? For the media I think I'll do this.
Right side. Front slot my old cartridge and back slot a new cartridge then in the back half old half new ceramics
Left side. Front slot a new cartridge then back slot my old sponges, then in the very back half old half new ceramics.

 

[Man of fish]

About to switch the filters. Should I lower the water a little first?? For the media I think I'll do this.
Right side. Front slot my old cartridge and back slot a new cartridge then in the back half old half new ceramics
Left side. Front slot a new cartridge then back slot my old sponges, then in the very back half old half new ceramics

Oops double post

 

[Man of fish]

I got the filter on and all setup about 2 hours ago. It works great but is a little louder than I expected. what could I expect though, because the motor is in the filter whereas on my other virtually silent filter the motor was in the tank.
Other than that it's all good. I fit 3 cartridges about 2/3 a box of fluval biomax ceramics in and 2 sponges and still have room for more media

 

[FishFanatic04]

Mine doesn't seem loud, but I have 2 Bettas tanks that I can hear from across the house. Maybe I'm not the best judge lol

 

[Man of fish]

Nah it's just right next to my bed and my other filter was silent and this one has a very low hum. Not loud though.

 

[Man of fish]

The water seems to be hitting the biowheel cover on it's way back into the tank and making it a little louder this just started.

 

[FishFanatic04]

The water seems to be hitting the biowheel cover on it's way back into the tank and making it a little louder this just started.

Is it flowing OVER your media? or just splashing off the wheels?

 

[Man of fish]

Oh now it's quieter....
It was just hitting the cover on the way down and making sons noise but now it stopped. One of the bio-wheels is going faster than the other but I suspect that is because the slower side has 2 cartridges and tons of ceramics and the faster side has 1 cartridge and 1 sponge, soon to be 2 sponges and maybe some floss or a polisher pad or something.

The water seems to be hitting the biowheel cover on it's way back into the tank and making it a little louder this just started.

Is it flowing OVER your media? or just splashing off the wheels?

Nah it's just going through it.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Glad it is quieter. Thats how mine goes. I had it stuffed with sponges to try to colonize them for my 75g. the wheels were much slower then, now they are speeding.