I have a Penguin 200. The wheel turning and the water dripping on the plastic causes a lot of noise (the tank is in my bedroom). I took the wheel out for a minute and all that could be heard is the humming of the filter. I use two media cartridges. I have heard it is okay to remove the wheel and leave two filter cartridges in at all time, and want to do it. Has anyone else done this?
2007-01-30 09:21:28 · 9 answers · asked by subzerofun 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
The bio wheel is the best thing for your tank...
Keeping that in mind, If you remove it, you should get some other form of bio-filtration for aerobic bacteria to grow on. Without it, you will remove most of your good bacteria any time you change your filter cartridges, then the bacteria will have to play catch-up.
2 Alternatives that may help:
You can use a cheap sponge filter hooked up to an air pump. These work very well for smaller tanks. Its just a sponge with a glass pipe sticking out the top. Air goes through the pipe & sucks water through the sponge. Bacteria love it. In breeding tanks, this is often the only accessory.
If your model of penguin has 2 media slots, you can buy a bio-sponge like the type that goes in a whisper filter from your local fish store & place it in the front-most slot. Try and find one that will allow at least a quarter inch or so exposed to the surface air.
2007-01-30 09:38:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know what you mean, I have a penguin 350b on one of the tanks in my bedroom and the sound of the water going over the wheel drove me crazy for a while too. I eventually got used to the sound after many nights sleeping with a pillow over my head. I have 4 cartridges in my filter and 2 of them I cut open, removed the charcoal and put in some bio balls, for even more space for the beneficial bacteria. I don't know if both of your cartridges have the foam or not but you could either do what I did with cutting and adding some more media for the bacteria or if you the have a media basket and a cartridge. I like using the normal cartridges since it's just as easy to do a little cutting rather then go out and buy one of their special media baskets.
Long story short, as long as you add something for the beneficial bacteria to colonize on then removing the wheel is fine. Most filters don't even have it so it obviously isn't that necessary.
2007-01-30 17:45:45 · answer #2 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The biowheel is a great place for bacteria to process ammonia, and nitrates. If you are going to remove it. I'd make one of the cartridges a full time cartidge. Just remove the carbon with a knife, and never ever clean it. (Also you can pack it with some filter media from an old cartridge.
PS- You should keep an eye on your ammonia, and nitrite levels for a month or so.
2007-01-30 21:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do this but you are removing the vast majority of the biological filtration in the filter.
Most of the bacteria that breakdown the ammonia reside on the biowheels and removing them will diminish the ability to breakdown ammonia.
Have you tried adjusting the spray bars so that they spray on the back of the biowheels? this will cause the wheels to rotate backwards and the result is less water dripping into the tank making noise.
2007-01-31 11:34:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wheels are what holds the nitrifying bacteria that break down fish waste. If you remove them, make sure you add bio-balls or sponges to hold beneficial bacteria. Make sure the sponges are not treated with any soaps or cleaners.
You can get plain pot scrubbers at a dollar store that make great biological filters.
2007-01-30 18:26:41 · answer #5 · answered by fish guy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wheel is what holds your benefical bacteria in the penguin. Are you sure it is installed properly, maybe the lid to the wheel portion is not on right. All I can hear with my penguin is the trickling of water. But i know that the wheel lid is sometimes a pain to get seated just right. I would try reseating the lid with the wheel in. untill it ran quietly.
2007-01-30 17:30:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have pretty much the same set-up. First of all I think it a waste for two filter cartridges. Use one and clean your wheel thoroughly. With the wheel in it helps the water moving in your tank, which is good for your fish or plant life.
2007-01-30 17:27:37 · answer #7 · answered by vin_man00 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
is it new? the new ones squeak for a couple days and then go quiet. older ones the bearings wear out and you can replace them. you are ok without it -- you just don't get the additional biological filtration. i am not sure about you needing to double up on the filter cartridges.
2007-01-30 17:32:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, its fine, maybe add some plain sponges in as more living space for beneficial bacteria.
2007-01-30 17:26:12 · answer #9 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋