Aquarium Care

If you live in an apartment, there is a good chance that the only pets you will be able to keep are fish, and that can actually be a good thing. There are a wide variety of fish, and they have very different personalities. You may not be able to play with them like a puppy or a kitten, but the can be a soothing and fascinating addition to your home nonetheless. They do require a bit of preparation for, so you will need to get a tank ready with freshwater aquarium water quality before you go out to select your new pets.

This is, unfortunately, more difficult that just filling a bowl with water and putting the fish in it. Especially if using tap water, that could lead to a very short experience with the hobby. While still easier than maintaining a saltwater environment, there are basic considerations that must be accounted for before adding the beautiful and interesting fish varieties.

If you want to keep fish as pets, you have to maintain the water they will live in just as nature does in the wild. There are narrow ranges of chemicals you need to monitor to keep the fish healthy. Monitoring ammonia, nitrites, the acidity of the water and its oxygenation are all important to keep fish alive. This is relatively easy to check, with kits available at almost any pet store.

Ammonia is going to be a continuous concern and must be monitored. The reason it is so problematic is that the food you feed the fish and the waste the fish excrete add to the ammonia concentrations, and can ultimately kill the fish. Other possible concerns are nitrogen and phosphates which contribute to the growth of algae, which then deplete the water oxygen levels. You can reduce the these problems with products like EcoBio-Block which keeps a continuous supply of beneficial bacteria in the water, breaking down toxins like ammonia into safer by-products and creating a clear and healthy environment for your fish.

Chlorine is usually a factor because we are all rather restricted to tap water as our source for the tank. Nearly all municipalities add chlorine or chloramines to our water to make it healthier for us hardy humans. While it kills things that are bad for people and we tolerate it well, the chlorine/chloramine itself will kill fish. Chlorine will dissipate if the water is left out for 24 hours, however; chloramines must be treated with a special additive. Unless you know for sure that you have chlorine, the safest thing to do is to use the additive.

Another concern for fish is the acidity of the water. There is a range of acidity or alkalinity fish can tolerate, and each species has its own preference, but it is something to check. Kits are available which test the water again using color coding which will tell you the measure of hydronium ions in the water. The pH levels go from very acidic at the zero reading to very alkaline or basic at readings up to fourteen. A reading of seven is neutral and most fish will do well in it.

Without an adequate supply of oxygen, your fish will not survive. This seems obvious and it is usually not a great concern, as oxygen dissolves in water naturally. To ensure there is enough, you can add plants to the tank, which produce it, and you can have pumps that keep water moving, as well as adding an air stone that bubbles air up through the tank continuously. Another factor is keeping the number of fish appropriate to the size of the tank.

One way to help with the initial establishment of a healthy aquarium is to use beneficial bacteria to help establish an appropriate balance right at the beginning. Using products from a reputable company will ensure the water is ready to help your new pets survive and thrive. One source of quality products to gain and maintain freshwater aquarium water quality are the EcoBio-Block products which in simplifying the process, will make for a great aquatic pet experience.

Find great deals on EcoBio-Block Products by going online. There you will find how aquarium water will benefit from this product. Head online and learn more now.

Technorati Tags: Acidity, Ammonia Concentrations, Aquarium, Aquarium Fish, Aquarium Water, aquarium water quality, Beneficial Bacteria, Chlorine, Continuous Supply, Fish, Fish Aquarium, Fish As Pets, Fish Pets, Fish Tank, Fish Varieties, fresh water aquarium quality, Good Chance, Healthy Environment, Narrow Ranges, Oxygen Levels, Oxygenation, Pet Fish, Pet Store, Phosphates, Saltwater Environment, Tap Water, Water Quality

Replacement Cartridge for Penguin 160 170 200B 300 330 350B Filters 6 pk

Each preassembled Penguin Filter Cartridge filters aquarium water through a double thick polyfiber pad which traps more dirt and debris, faster. The filter cartridge is packed with super-efficient pure Magnum Activated Carbon…it keeps working long after most carbons stop. It’s better than a bag: just shake and rinse. The patented ribbed backing evenly distributes carbon for maximum water to carbon contact. No bypass, no tea bag effect…just crystal clear, crystal clean aquarium water. Each Penguin Filter replacement cartridge includes a foam pad and carbon for superior mechanical and chemical filtration. The easiest way to superior aquarium filtration. Rite-Size Cartridge: C

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars As promised
Item arrived in a timely fashion and in good condition. Was the best price I could find on the internet. Will order from again.

5 Stars Great - but a warning
The Penguin Bio-wheel pumps are great: quiet, effective and long-lasting. (I have a 170 filter in a 39 gallon tank.) These size C filters are widely available, but the Amazon price is much lower than at my not-so-nearby pet store.

A word of warning. The day after changing my filter three months ago fish started dying. Next morning my 6″ long Plecostomus was dead. Then three Clown Loaches, each about 5 ” long. Within a week I had lost 18 of my 20 fish. Yet there was no sign of disease.

A water test and much internet searching finally pointed out what I had done wrong. I had neglected my tank for a few weeks. In a rush to catch up, I siphoned out about 30 percent of the water (more than usual), did a “better” than usual job of siphoning up detritus from the gravel. Then - my biggest mistake - I replaced the Penguin filter too! The result is the water chemistry changed too quickly. The Nitrates spiked to a deadly level. My tank, healthy for more than two years, needed to be started over. Took two months and many water changes before I could safely add new fish.

I visited perhaps a dozen “fish forums” and only one had a comment saying “don’t change filters when you do a water change.’ The Penguin filters and the box they come in carry no warnings. What I (and you) should do is simple: space your water changes and filter changes a week or two apart.

Now knowing how important the “aged” filter is (especially in a tank like mine with no under gravel filter) I’ve started this habit: there’s just enough space to get a second filter flat against the old filter. After a couple of weeks, I remove the older filter and put the newer one - by now doing some biological filtering - in its place. That way the tank is never depending on only a new filter. For larger tanks (say 55 gal and up), the 330 or 350 Penguin pump holds two filters side by side, so just change one filter at a time.

Hope this helps you avoid the disaster that hit my tank

5 Stars PENGUIN REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE
I BOUGHT THESE PENGUIN REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE FOR MY PENGUIN POWER FILTER MODEL 200 VERY GOOD FILTERS. THIS IS THE WAY TO GO WITH THIS SETUP .

5 Stars Great filters for a great price
This is one of the easiest systems to use and finding these filters for a good price is a bonus

5 Stars speedy service
I live overseas and I found it hard to purchase this item here so ordering online was well deserving. A Company that ships to an apo address always deserves kudos! speedy service

Buy/More Info

Technorati Tags: Activated Carbon, Amazon Price, Aquarium Filtration, Aquarium Water, Carbons, Cartridge Filters, Chemical Filtration, Clown Loaches, Filter Cartridge, Filter Replacement, Foam Pad, Gallon Tank, Maximum Water, Plecostomus, Polyfiber, Size C, Tea Bag, Timely Fashion, Water Chemistry, Water Test

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 Star Demolished
Both filters were cracked. One filter was just cracked on the lid affecting nothing but the other ones back of the filter was totally busted. Still trying to get a water tight seal on the busted filter after months of trial and error. I do blame UPS for the damage and I also blame AQUARIA INC (MARINELAND)for shipping this in a box that barely held both filters. There wasn’t any space between the shipping box and the thin cardboard the filter are in. Thus leading my filters to be crushed. I can’t stand UPS they always damage my stuff. But with all that said they’re a very good filter! Hopefully you’ll be luckier than ,e and end up with a non-damaged filter.

Buy/More Info

Technorati Tags: Amazon, Aquarists, Aquarium Filter, Aquarium Filters, Aquarium Filtration, Aquarium Power Filters, Aquarium Supplies, Aquarium Water, Chemical Filtration, Filter Cartridges, Filtration Media, Fish Tanks, Flow Rates, Marineland, Mechanical Filtration, Nitrifying Bacteria, Nothing Works, Power Filter, Water Circulation, Wheel Rotation

Replacement Cartridge for Penguin 160 170 200B 300 330 350B Filters 6 pk

Each preassembled Penguin Filter Cartridge filters aquarium water through a double thick polyfiber pad which traps more dirt and debris, faster. The filter cartridge is packed with super-efficient pure Magnum Activated Carbon…it keeps working long after most carbons stop. It’s better than a bag: just shake and rinse. The patented ribbed backing evenly distributes carbon for maximum water to carbon contact. No bypass, no tea bag effect…just crystal clear, crystal clean aquarium water. Each Penguin Filter replacement cartridge includes a foam pad and carbon for superior mechanical and chemical filtration. The easiest way to superior aquarium filtration. Rite-Size Cartridge: C

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great - but a warning
The Penguin Bio-wheel pumps are great: quiet, effective and long-lasting. (I have a 170 filter in a 39 gallon tank.) These size C filters are widely available, but the Amazon price is much lower than at my not-so-nearby pet store.

A word of warning. The day after changing my filter three months ago fish started dying. Next morning my 6″ long Plecostomus was dead. Then three Clown Loaches, each about 5 ” long. Within a week I had lost 18 of my 20 fish. Yet there was no sign of disease.

A water test and much internet searching finally pointed out what I had done wrong. I had neglected my tank for a few weeks. In a rush to catch up, I siphoned out about 30 percent of the water (more than usual), did a “better” than usual job of siphoning up detritus from the gravel. Then - my biggest mistake - I replaced the Penguin filter too! The result is the water chemistry changed too quickly. The Nitrates spiked to a deadly level. My tank, healthy for more than two years, needed to be started over. Took two months and many water changes before I could safely add new fish.

I visited perhaps a dozen “fish forums” and only one had a comment saying “don’t change filters when you do a water change.’ The Penguin filters and the box they come in carry no warnings. What I (and you) should do is simple: space your water changes and filter changes a week or two apart.

Now knowing how important the “aged” filter is (especially in a tank like mine with no under gravel filter) I’ve started this habit: there’s just enough space to get a second filter flat against the old filter. After a couple of weeks, I remove the older filter and put the newer one - by now doing some biological filtering - in its place. That way the tank is never depending on only a new filter. For larger tanks (say 55 gal and up), the 330 or 350 Penguin pump holds two filters side by side, so just change one filter at a time.

Hope this helps you avoid the disaster that hit my tank

5 Stars Great filters for a great price
This is one of the easiest systems to use and finding these filters for a good price is a bonus

5 Stars PENGUIN REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE
I BOUGHT THESE PENGUIN REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE FOR MY PENGUIN POWER FILTER MODEL 200 VERY GOOD FILTERS. THIS IS THE WAY TO GO WITH THIS SETUP .

5 Stars speedy service
I live overseas and I found it hard to purchase this item here so ordering online was well deserving. A Company that ships to an apo address always deserves kudos! speedy service

5 Stars As promised
Item arrived in a timely fashion and in good condition. Was the best price I could find on the internet. Will order from again.

Buy/More Info

Technorati Tags: Amazon Price, Aquarium Filtration, Aquarium Water, Carbons, Cartridge Filters, Chemical Filtration, Clown Loaches, Dozen Fish, Filter Cartridge, Filter Replacement, Foam Pad, Gallon Tank, Maximum Water, Plecostomus, Polyfiber, Size C, Tea Bag, Water Changes, Water Chemistry, Water Test

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

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 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.

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.

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.

Buy/More Info

Technorati Tags: Aquarists, Aquarium Filter, Aquarium Filters, Aquarium Filtration, Aquarium Power Filters, 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, Water Circulation, Wheel Rotation