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Jeff Martin
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Monday,
December 31, 2001 - 04:34 am
Okay, now I have a good filter for my tank. The only problem
is the noise! Thw wheel itself makes a splash/drip noise
that drives me crazy. The manual for the filter states that
water noise should decrease a little within 24 hours. Has
anyone out there come across this? Is it normal? When I
stop the wheel, the filter is as quiet as can be. The Aquaclears
make very little water noise in comparison. I just like
the idea behind the biowheel. Any help is appreciated.
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joycedonley
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Monday,
December 31, 2001 - 08:14 am
My opinion is that biowheels are noisier than the Aquaclears.
I have 3 tanks in my bedroom and when I put the penguin
biowheel on one it took me awhile to adjust to the added
noise and get some sleep. I'd probably miss it now!!!
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Nancy
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Monday,
December 31, 2001 - 11:49 am
Jeff, it will improve with time. As the biowheel gets older
it will slow down and not make so much noise. My 170 and
mini (I just ran out to listen to them) are pretty
quiet. I can still hear water movement, but not very much.
Give it some time as it will get better. I think Joyce is
right about the biowheels being noiser than the Aquaclears,
but I still really like the Biowheels.
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kick102
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Tuesday,
January 01, 2002 - 11:38 am
Here again, Jeff, 2 things. Once the biowheel becomes saturated
with water, the noise should decrease. Also you may not
have the spray bar adjusted in the right position and have
too much water flow over the wheels. I don't know a
whole lot about the penguins, but the Emporers can be adjusted
and I would assume the penguins should be the same way.
Also could be faulty as any noise it produces should not
be distracting. Make sure that it has been primed to the
utmost top of the water compartment.
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John
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Sunday,
January 13, 2002 - 11:49 am
I'm thinking of getting a Penguin 125 for my 20 gal.
I like the wheel idea. Any opinions on this filter?
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marie
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Sunday,
January 13, 2002 - 08:55 pm
John, I think the biowheels are great, but I think I would
get a bigger one than the 125. My Mom has a 125 on a 10
gal tank. It does a good job, but IMO it would be too small
for a 20 gal. I have a penguin 170 on my 20 gal and it does
a fine job.
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John
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Sunday,
January 13, 2002 - 08:56 pm
Thanks Marie, I will do that.
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John
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Sunday,
January 13, 2002 - 09:12 pm
I have a Whisper 2. When I change filters, should I try
to sqeeze the sponge out on the wheel to transfer bacteria?
I want to ease the transition. Any tips?
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joycedonley
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 08:16 am
Better idea maybe leave both filters go for about 4 weeks
as long as the current isn't too strong. Or if you can
transfer the media it will help the transition. Just squeezing
the sponge probably won't do much.
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John
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 11:50 am
I don't have room to run both at the same time. Is there
room in the Penguin 170 to insert the Whisper sponge? Thank
you.
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joycedonley
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 12:14 pm
Probably not. My penguin with biowheel is a 175 I think
and the chamber is pretty narrow. You can take a look in
the store at one...but I doubt it! You may have to plan
on cycling the new tank as you did the old. Transferring
some decor,a little gravel and some water may help a bit;
but be sure to still check for ammonia and nitrite.
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John
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 04:10 pm
I just want to put it on the established tank. Will that
possibly cause a biological setback?
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marie
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 04:29 pm
If I understand you correctly, you just want to take the
whisper filter off your tank and put the peguin filter on.
If this is the case, in my opinion, you should be ok. I
did the exact same thing on my 20 gal when I upgraded to
the penguin filter. But as Joyce said, keep an eye on the
ammonia and nitrite levels.
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John
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 04:47 pm
Thanks Marie. My worst nightmare would have been a new cycle.
I will monitor things closely.
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marie
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 05:52 pm
Hey John, if you haven't switched the filters yet, hold
of for a little while and see if Joyce agrees with me. I
think I am telling you the right thing to do, because it
worked ok for me, but I would hate for your tank to have
to cycle again. Joyce has been at this way, way longer than
I have. So lets wait for her to respond ok?
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John
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Monday,
January 14, 2002 - 06:21 pm
I will Marie. I ordered it online and shouldn't get
it until Wed. or Thurs. You are very nice to help.
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joycedonley
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Tuesday,
January 15, 2002 - 08:15 am
How long has the 20 gallon been setup up? There is always
some good bacteria on your decor and in the gravel. If the
tank is only a couple of months old it may recycle! How
large a fish load can also be a determining factor???petwarehouse.com
sells some little sponge filters that run on airpumps.If
you are really worried you can always run one for 3-4 weeks
on your tank that way the good bacteria will build up on
the sponge and it will help insure the breakin of the new
filter. Just a thought if you already have an airpump the
sponge filter is pretty cheap. Dirt magnet sponge filters
from the LPS is basically the same thing, just not as fancy.
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John
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Tuesday,
January 15, 2002 - 11:10 am
Thank you both, ladies. Behind every fishkeeping rookie
man, there must be two experienced fishkeeping women. Or
something like that.
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cq
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Wednesday,
January 23, 2002 - 11:12 am
Just make sure your tank is filled right to the top. They
are very quiet as long as the water level is high. I have
three of them running in my bedroom and I have no problems
sleeping ;).
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John
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Wednesday,
January 23, 2002 - 12:37 pm
Thanks cq. I've had it on for a week now and I'm
impressed. They advise keeping water levels below the frame,
but I know what you mean. If the water is higher, you get
less water flow noise. The tank is in my living room, so
the noise is not a problem, but would the higher water level
have any adverse effect on the filter? I know there is a
pretty strong current with the 170 on a 20 long. I currently
have 4 white clouds, 4 rasboras and 2 corys. Could I add
a few more small fish and if so, what would go well with
my group?
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marie
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Wednesday,
January 23, 2002 - 07:12 pm
I don't think the higher water level would have any
adverse effects on the filter. I keep my water up and haven't
had any problems. I am not sure if you could add any more
fish because I don't know how big the white clouds get.
In my opinion, an understocked tank is a happy tank, unless
you are keeping some aggressive fish like Joyce's mbuna.
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John
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Wednesday,
January 23, 2002 - 07:55 pm
Thanks Marie. The white clouds are about 1 1/4 ins. I don't
think they get any larger. I was thinking of a mellow species,
perhaps tetras? If you think it's too many already,
I will heed your advice.
John
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marie
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Wednesday,
January 23, 2002 - 10:10 pm
I think that you are fine right now. If I have figured it
up correctly, you have about 18 inches of fish in your tank
already. Here are the sizes I assigned to the fish, white
cloud-1 1/2 inches, rasboras-2 in., cories 2 in. But how
"slim" or "full bodied" the fish are can
affect how many fish you can have. In my opinion, I would
not add any more right now, might want to save a little
room for some algae eaters later.
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John
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Thursday,
January 24, 2002 - 07:55 pm
Thank you Marie, you are a great help.
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