Aquarium Care

Penguin BIO Wheel 350 Power Filter up to 75 Gallon

Join the millions of other demanding aquarists that have chosen Penguin filters with complete, 3-stage aquarium filtration to keep their aquarium clear, clean, and healthy. These Bio Wheel Aquarium filters are one of the best aquarium power filters for any aquarist. Check out these fantastic improvements to the already efficient Penguin line. A larger Bio-wheel means more area for nitrifying bacteria to grow, keeping your aquarium totally free of harmful ammonia and nitrites. Increased flow rates maintain optimum water circulation and insure proper Bio-wheel rotation. Adjustable mid-level intake strainer allows you to take aquarium water from mid-tank for complete circulation. The Penguin’s all-new cover design and sealed motor dramatically reduces water noise while still maintaining optimum oxygenation. All Penguin filters use the handy Rite-Size filtration media cartridges so changing the filter is a snap. Penguin filter cartridges take care of all mechanical and chemical filtration in your aquarium and are extremely easy to replace. For complete, easy aquarium filtration for your aquarium, nothing works like a Penguin filter.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Back when I had fish…
The one I had looked exactly like this.

Marineland Aquarium Products Penguin Power Filter 350 Gph - PF0350BPF0330B

My friend (later in the review) has this exact model and has no complants about it.

Ok… so I think the noise a lot of the people are talking about with these reviews are people that ether don’t know how to correctly prime a filter of this design, or they didn’t even try to see if they had the tube correctly seated on the propeller. Trust me folks you will know the difference in sound if you put the tube in wrong… And as for priming the water in the filter, the tank need to be “full” almost touching the bottom of the reservoir flow over. That’s where the water level is supposed to be when using this kind of filter.

I’m going to be honest to you guys, I did the fish thing for about 2 years in a fresh water 55 long. And it just got to where I couldn’t keep it maintained the way it needed to be and sold off every thing (fish included) to a friend. One thing I do know is this, every single ones of these hang off the back filters are going to make some noise simply due to the fact water transfers sound better then just about anything. Also this filter uses a completely sealed stator (for obvious water proofing reasons) and you can’t get a precision fit on the rotor (propeller). On a motor like that there is going to be some rotor wobble that makes noise (let’s not forget the AC buzz ALL STRAIGHT AC MOTORS MAKE). I had this filter shortly after going through and “testing” a few others so let’s say almost 2 years. After I sold it to my friend I think the thing lasted a good year after that (around 3 total). He is still using this type and brand of filter today in the tank I sold him, some of the fish are deferent but same stuff lol…

What does all that have to do with this review? Not a whole lot but this type of filter is going to make noise to a degree because of how it’s incorporated to filter the water (hanging on the back of a “glass water filled thing”). You`re just going to have to deal with it. If you must have complete scilence, I would look into (also read up on if unfamiliar) a canister set up. I’ve found this brand makes the least noise and that’s why I initially stuck with it. As time went on I found they work vary well and that bio wheel really dose help “good bacteria” find a home in large amounts where it wont be unsightly to look at. And the filters could not be more idiot proof and effective. The ribs keep the carbon from settling in the bottom unlike them cheap slide on kind and they fit like a glove and filter virtually all water that goes though the filter.

Here is some common info for first time owners of this type of filter:

Also folks keep the things clean, you have to clean them AT LEAST once a month or more (more then likely more) depending on it’s load (don`t forget the inside of the tube!!! tube needs to stay clean for max flow to turn the wheel). I highly recommend ether having a vary strong sprayer in the sink or buying some long bottle brushes for the thing, makes cleaning a lot easier. Also don’t clean the bio wheel with chlorinated water or you may kill off a lot of “good bacteria” that takes so long to grow on it. I personally just used a small stiff paint brush and tank water to “brush” not “scrub” off the excess bio mass from time to time (main reasion it won’t turn evenly anymore too). One more thing when you clean your tank/filter let the bio wheel/s float in the tank, don’t take them out or the bacteria could dry out and die. Keep the tank filled to the bottom of the filters return (reservoir flow over) if you don’t want to hear “turbulent” water the bio wheel makes as it turns. Something I found to be a big help is to twist up the wheel slightly (make the bio wheel have the faint appearance of a cork screw or drill bit, not much, just enough to see that the fins are not horizontal anymore.) Make sure the rotor is correctly seated in the bottom and that the tube support is as well. That right there is where most of the noise problem arises, not putting the stupid propeller and tube back in right after cleaning it or when you first get it.

“Free and clear” did a good job of explaining some of the things I covered as well, I suggest reading their review too.

The cleaner you keep your tank/s the better this and any filter will be able to work, it is a lot of work and that’s why I know first hand about this type of tank filter.

4 Stars aquarium filter
Works great. I have 3 of these in 2 aquariums. They can get tempramental at times when I do a water changeout, but overall they are quite and efficient.

5 Stars Great filtration
The best I have ever used . I have two 30gl. African Cichlid set-ups that I keep over crowded to cut down on the fighting for territory and a 30 gal . community tank and these filters do a great job with the bio-load of each . The bio-wheels do a great job of polishing the water , and a great place to grow good bacteria, this is why they slow down after they been used for awhile , the Bio-wheels build up bacteria and muck , simply rinse them off in dechlorinated water that is the same temp. as your tank water so you do not kill off the bacteria and they will continue to serve you well . Easy to change filters , which I change only one at a time so as not to remove all the bacteria in my filters . And even after my own laziness of going weeks without cleaning it , it will run smooth and whisper quiet . I have never had a problem with noise on any of my 3 Penguin 350 filters , after a water change or power outage just a little shot of water in it to prime it and it starts right up just as quiet as before , and sometimes that is not even needed as the water that was left in it will prime it for me . I will never use any other filter .

3 Stars Decent, but heres a tip
I think this is an ok filter, it definitely does its job of providing chemical and mechanical filtration, but heres a tip.

I do ALOT of work with fish tanks and supplies. One thing I have noticed from cleaning, fixing and modifying aquarium supplies is that in the last few years, maybe a little longer, marineland has started using cheaper parts.

I have an older model of this filter and it has adjustable flow and a bit better construction. I liked it, so I bought a new one. The newer one is noticeably cheaper in construction and components, no flow control knob and after four months it periodically grinds and it is LOUD! I hear it across my decent sized home.

So bottom line, it does its job as a filter, and in my opinion its a great filter. Just has a few things it could improve on.

1 Star Out Of Stock
Just got an e-mail they are out of stock so the quantity they show on Amazon is false, dont order at this time.

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Technorati Tags: Aquarists, Aquarium Filters, Aquarium Filtration, Aquarium Power Filters, Aquarium Tank, Aquarium Water, Chemical Filtration, Complants, Exact Model, Filter Cartridges, Filtration Media, Flow Rates, Gph, Marineland Aquarium Products, Mid Level, Nitrifying Bacteria, Nothing Works, Power Filter, Reservoir Flow, Water Circulation, Wheel Rotation

Super Pet My First Home Tank Topper

Doubles the living space of any 10 gallon tank for small animals.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Wonderful addition to a 10-gallon aquarium!
My gerbil Geronimo (rescued from the animal shelter) LOVES his new digs. He sleeps and plays downstairs and then goes upstairs for water, food, and to let me know he wants out to explore. I already had the aquarium so the tank topper made a simple addition that takes up no more floor space and gives him tons more room to climb and play. The only reason I didn’t give it 5-stars is that cleaning can be kind of a pain, and he has been chewing up the plastic house…and could certainly chew up the plastic ramps too if he wanted to.

5 Stars Great item
We ordered the Super Pet My First Home Tank Topper when my son was going to purchase 2 pet rats. We have never owned rats before and wanted to make sure they had the proper amount of room without having an oversized, hard to clean cage. This looked like a really neat idea so we purchased it. It arrived promptly, was easy to assemble and fits well on a standard 10 gallon aquarium. Really quite an ingenious idea. Our rats love it and have not chewed on the ramps. We installed a little bed up on the platform by their food bowl and they are quite at home in it. All in all, a very good product.

5 Stars Great Space Saver
My Winter White dwarf hamster has always lived in a 1 level 10 gallon tank. He seemed to be getting depressed and bored with the same old same old, so I debated buying a larger tank or a multi-level tank. Well, I couldn’t buy a bigger tank because my small apartment is already pretty crowded, and I couldn’t get a wire cage because it wouldn’t have been heavy enough… my cats would have knocked the poor dude over.

It has been an hour he’s been in the tank with the new cage topper, and he’s currently trying to figure out how to use the ramps. Its so much fun to watch and he seems to enjoy exploring. Great product.

5 Stars Replacement Parts available
I am excited to recieve my Tank Topper!! You can get Raplacement Parts at Superpet Co. Website and they are pretty cheap cost. My Male Gerbil is a Chewer and I will probobly have to replace some parts. I just hope it fits good on the top of the tank, because I have a Mischievious Cat that will try to get to the Gerbil!! Amazon has the best Price on this, it costs $42.00 at the Pet Store!! I got mine on Amazon for $26.00 with Free Shipping / Yeah!!

5 Stars Perfect solution
I have two white rats and space was a problem till I bought this tank topper. It fits perfect over my 10 gal aquarium and was easy to assemble. It did not take long for Cookie and Carmine to get used to it and explore every inch of it. It is more fun to watch them play now. Cookie sometimes sleeps on the top floor so that she does not miss out on anything.

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It is best to set up a fish tank if you love the aesthetics of displaying a clean, glittering, and well-decorated aquarium. A fish tank requires regular cleaning and maintenance checks. So, you should put in some time to care for it. A little love will really make fish tank maintenance a whole lot fun.

Water clean-up and conditioning

Probably, the first thing you might notice about your fish tank is the scummy water. If the water is no longer clear, you know that it is time for a total change. Do not wait for the water to look like something out of a drainage pipe. Make use of a method of changing water that suits you best. There are people who use a bucket to keep the fish in water, while a hundred percent of the fish tank water is being replaced. Others prefer changing about 20% of the water at a time, two times a week. Whatever the case, you should de-chlorinate the water that you will be putting into the tank.

Change the water.

Aside from the tank, the water is one of the primary clues as to how much scum is invading the aquarium. Dank smell and dark coloring are signs that your fish tank needs a total change in water. If you do not want to have to change every droplet of water at one time, you may have to change about 20% at a time. This process, however, should be done at least twice a week. If you want to follow this method, you need to make sure that you change a percentage of the water before the water changes in coloring and smell. This means that you cannot miss the twice a week regularity

Check the filter and bacteria growth.

Fish tank maintenance does not only focus on the tank itself but also on the organisms living in it and the equipment attached to the tank. The said equipment are installed for the reason of helping the fish survive at ideal conditions. The devices should be maintained in tip-top shape so that they can continue serving their roles.

Keep on checking the temperature in your fish tank.

The temperature is vital to fish tank maintenance. This is because your fish may not survive temperatures that are too cold or too hot. If temperatures are allowed to go haywire, you may not have anything to call your aquarium. Aquarium thermometers should make it easy for you to see if fish tank temperature is going over or under the limits.

Provide a certain amount of light.

How much lighting do your pet fish need? Find out the amount of light your particular breed of fish. This means that you cannot mix fish with very different lighting requirements. When you know the amount, maintain this level. Do not overdo lighting because this can cause fast algae growth.

Provide enough oxygen to your fish.

Fish tank maintenance entails fish survival as one of the top objectives. You should ensure that your fish have enough oxygen. This means that the water has to be cleaned regularly so that oxygen can be properly absorbed. If there are too many organisms competing for oxygen in the tank, then it would be best to install an aerator. The aerator can ensure that there is enough oxygen for every organism.

Do not forget that an important point of fish tank maintenance is the care of your fish. Check your fish regularly for a change in coloring, listlessness, and other odd behavior. Immediately remove any dead fish.

Sean Kerring is a marine fish enthusiast and breeder who has been raising and breeding fish for over twenty years, when his parents gave him his very first betta. He always uses the highest quality aquarium products, including various brands to get the highest quality results out of his regular fish tank maintenance. Learn more at marinedepot.com.

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Wall Mount Fish Bowl Aquarium Tank Beta Goldfish

Wonderful Wall Mount Fish Bowl!

Measures 10″ in Diameter.

Made from Acrylic.

Easily Mounts to the Wall.

Open top for Easy Cleaning.

Holds Approximately 1 Gallon of Water.

This is a great item for any fish lover or even yourself as a decoration.

FISH AND OTHER ITEMS DO NOT COME WITH BOWL.

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Technorati Tags: acrylic, Aquarium Fish, Aquarium Tank, Beta Fish, Decoration, Diameter, Fish Aquarium, Fish Beta, Fish Bowl, Fish Lover, Fish Tank, Goldfish

Cloudy Aquarium

Many a new aquarium owner has panicked when their tank has taken on the appearance of what one such owner described to me as “a smoke filled room at a party.” In aquarium lexicon, we call such smoky appearance “cloudiness” because of its resemblance to the wispy clouds that sometimes appear in the sky. Everyone who keeps fish as a hobby wants their tank or tanks to be sparkling clean and clear at all times. Cloudy fish tanks look unsightly, and the water in these tanks can seriously harm the health of your fish. What causes these cloudy fish tanks, and what is the best way to get rid of the cloudiness?

The water clarity in a fish tank is generally affected by several factors, and the color of the water can often be a clue as to what is causing it to be cloudy. The water in a fish tank that has just been set up will often display a gray or white tint. This is called a “bacterial bloom” and it is very common in new tanks, for the nutrients and the bacteria in the water are imbalanced.

If your tank is so new that you have not added fish to it, dust from one or more of the decorations you added, or from the gravel or other substrate you placed at the bottom of the tank may be the cause of the cloudiness you see. Any item that goes into your fish tank must be made for that purpose, and you must rinse it well beforehand. When bacterial bloom appears in a fish tank that has already been established, your tank filter may not be working properly. You may be overfeeding your fish, or you may have too many fish in too small an aquarium.

A green cloudiness in your tank water means you are dealing with a sudden algae bloom. There are several reasons for an algae bloom some of which mimic the causes of a bacterial bloom. For example, when there is too much waste matter in your tank, be it left over food or the waste products from your fish, the bacteria from this waste converts into nitrates. As these nitrates grow in number, an algae bloom is imminent. Leaving the tank light on too many hours a day encourages the growth of green algae, and so does a high phosphate level in the tank water.

You may sometimes see a yellow color in your cloudy fish tanks. Decorative driftwood, decayed plant matter from aquarium plantings, fish waste, and dissolved organic carbons, often called DOC, can all be the cause of yellow cloudy water. Occasionally, you may also see a brown cloudiness in your tank water. This is caused from an overgrowth of brown algae. Brown algae can be caused by the tank not getting enough light, or from certain types of driftwood that have been placed in the tank.

By eliminating the causes of the different varieties of cloudy tank water, you can make caring for your aquarium much easier. Partial water changes of 10 to 20 percent of the water can help, as can making sure the filter on your tank is of the proper size. In order to remove the cloudiness from the water, and to make sure it does not come back, you need to see to it that your tank has a good supply of beneficial bacteria. This point confuses many newcomers to the aquarium hobby. They are so sure that bacteria are a bad thing that they balk when told it is needed in their tank! However, once they understand about good vs. bad bacteria, they are eager to know what they can do in order to maintain a colony of the good bacteria. Fortunately, there are some good solutions available. One of the best for cloudy water is the EcoBio-Block. When hobbyists learn of the advantages that go along with placing a product from EcoBio-Block in their aquarium, they agree that this is the easiest solution to the problem.

These products contain live beneficial bacteria, which multiply and make their way into the tank water every 30 minutes or so. They work in new set-ups as well as established aquariums to establish a nitrifying bacteria colony. This will take care of most cloudy water naturally, cuts down on the need for water changes and vacuuming the gravel or substrate, and will last for years. You could almost say that EcoBio-Block products are an aquarium owner’s best friend!

Technorati Tags: Algae, Algae Bloom, Aquarium Tank, Bacterial Bloom, Cloudiness, Cloudy Aquarium, Cloudy Fish Tanks, Fish Tank, Gravel, Lexicon, New Aquarium, New Tanks, Nutrients, Resemblance, Several Factors, Smoke Filled Room, Substrate, Tank Water, Waste Matter, Water Clarity, Water Tanks, Wispy Clouds