Penguin Bio
Aquarium Hang On the Back Power Filters (hob Filters), Their Strengths and Weaknesses (especially in Bio Filtration)
HOB filters (hang on the back- power filters) are quite popular for good reason. They are generally inexpensive and simple to operate. But they do have a couple of weaknesses, especially in bio filtration and in the case of Aqua Clears: a high “flow by rate”.
[1] Bio filtration; The Aqua clear is better here than others, but it has a weak impeller design that is not very durable and they are prone to leaks. The Aqua Clear is also a poor mechanical filter with a high “flow by rate” (the amount of water that actually is forced thru the filter media).
That leaves the cartridge models starting with the Penguin. The Penguin has a much lower “flow by rate” than the Aqua Clear and is less prone to leaks, but their bio filtration is poor, even with the bio wheel, which is vastly over-rated in my tests I preformed through my aquarium maintenance business. I removed the bio wheel on penguin filters on comparable aquariums with comparable bio loads and fish and found no discernable ammonia spike. Yet when HOB filters that had running pre filters attached to their intakes were removed, there were discernable ammonia spikes.
The Whisper and ReSun the HOB filters I prefer the most. Both these filters have a low “flow by rate”. The ReSun is a much better value and is less prone to leaks, but the ReSun currently has a poor choice of filter size options.
This brings me to the point that ALL HOB filters should be equipped with Pre Filters (the Filter Max is the best due to its patented sponge technology). Pre Filters vastly increase bio filtration, are inexpensive ($4.99 and up), prevent baby fish from being sucked into the filter, and provide a measure of bio stability when the cartridge is changed.
[2] The other weakness of HOB filters is the poor cross circulation they provide (HOB filters provide vertical circulation). Cross circulation is especially important in larger aquariums such as a 48″ 60 gallon aquarium. For small aquariums such as 20 gallons or less, this is of less concern, although I would still consider an addition filter such as an air driven sponge filter for redundancy.
This is easily remedied with an Internal Filter. I recommend the Via Aqua Internal Filter due to its reliability, and inexpensive sponge media which keeps it simple to keep.
For more information about sponge filtration, please see this article: “Sponge filtration”
About the Author
by Carl Strohmeyer
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/
Club Penguin Bio Drives a Car
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MARINELAND CARTRIDGE PENGUIN FILTER 99/100B OR BIO WHEEL MINI 1PK FREE SHIP USA $5.72 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 150 FILTER. NEW! $28.50 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL MINI 100 FILTER. NEW! $22.50 |
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6 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $16.99 |
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Marineland Penguin 170 Bio Wheel Impeller Assembly Magnetic Model 170B PR1268 $11.99 |
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Bio-wheel power filter penguin 350 $60.00 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 100 Fish Tank Aquarium Filter used $14.99 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel Bearings PR1910B. Pack of 2 $2.99 |
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Marineland Bio Wheel Assembly for Penguin 100B $6.99 |
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PENGUIN BIO-Wheel 350 Filter $29.99 |
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Penguin 170B Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly PR1940B $8.99 |
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Penguin 99B Mini Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly PR1932B $5.99 |
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Marineland Penguin 200 Biowheel Bio wheel aquarium hang on filter fish tank $13.51 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 350 FILTER $43.50 |
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IMAGINE GOLD BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN FILTER MINI 1 PACK FREE SHIPPING TO THE USA $5.19 |
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IMAGINE GOLD BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN FILTER MINI 3 PACK FREE SHIPPING TO THE USA $8.49 |
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IMAGINE GOLD BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN FILTER 125 1 PACK FREE SHIPPING TO THE USA $5.49 |
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Marineland Bio-Wheel Assembly for Penguin 110B $4.46 |
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Penguin 100B Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly PRBW100B $8.99 |
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1 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridge Marineland RITE SIZE C $4.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 200 FILTER. NEW! $32.99 |
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TWENTY YEARS A-GROWING-MAURICE O’SULLIVAN-BRITISH PENGUIN-BIO.-BLUE-1ST-1938–VG $0.99 |
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Bio Cartridge power filter cartridges by Penguin-lot of 9 packages $9.99 |
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Penguin 350 Bio-Wheel Aquarium Filtration System Filter $38.24 |
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3 Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 170 200B 330 350B Filter Cartridges Size “C” $9.99 |
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MARINELAND BIO-WHEEL POWER FILTER PENGUIN 100 $20.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL BEARING 99 125 150 170 330 $5.99 |
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Penguin 150B Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly PRBW150B $9.99 |
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Penguin 200B/350B Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly $12.99 |
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BIO3 FILTER CARTRIDGES 12 PACK – PENGUIN 125 / BIOWHEEL $11.62 |
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BIO3 FILTER CARTRIDGES 12 PACK – PENGUIN MINI /BIOWHEEL $10.87 |
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10 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $24.99 |
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Fish Aquarium filter cartridge for Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filter Model 330B NEW $10.15 |
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Penguin 125 Bio-Wheel Power Filter $40.93 |
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Penguin Mini Bio Wheel Aquarium Filter Fish Tank used $14.99 |
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Marineland Penguin Power Filter Replacement Bio-Wheel $7.79 |
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Penguin 150 Bio-Wheel Aquarium Filtration System Filter $30.99 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN MINI FILTER 1PK REPLACE $2.99 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN MINI FILTER 6PK REPLACE $12.99 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN 125 FILTER 6PK REPLACE $12.98 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN 125 FILTER 3PK REPLACE $4.99 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN 125 FILTER 1PK REPLACE $2.99 |
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IMAGINE BIO 3 CARTRIDGE PENGUIN 170/330 FILTER 6PK REPL $14.49 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 100B FILTER POWER FILTERS $24.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 150B FILTER POWER FILTERS $26.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 200B FILTER POWER FILTERS $32.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 100B REPLACEMENT NEW $8.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 150B REPLACEMENT NEW $10.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 200B REPLACEMENT NEW $12.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 350B REPLACEMENT NEW $14.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY 99B SYS3 EXP REPLACE $6.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 125 REPLACE $8.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 170 REPLACE $9.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 330 REPLACE $8.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 100B REPLACE $12.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 150B REPLACE $13.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 200B 350B $17.99 |
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MARINELAND – PENGUIN 200B BIO-WHEEL FILTER ~NEW~ $24.78 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 200 B Filter Strainer PF0200B PR10332-931 $5.99 |
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Marineland (Aquaria) Bio Wheel Cover For Penguin 350B $18.81 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL BEARING FILTER ALL PFE $7.99 |
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8 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $20.99 |
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Marineland Bio-wheel Power FIlter Penguin 150 with cartridge 30 gallon aquarium $24.95 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-wheel Power FIlter 200 with cartridge 50 gallon aquarium $29.95 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-wheel Assembly 125 b replacement PR1935b $6.95 |
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Penguin Bio Wheel Replacement 200b and 350B #50436 $10.39 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 350C FILTER POWER FILTERS $41.99 |
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MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL PENGUIN PF 400B 280B PFE2 $9.99 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel 280-400 Strainer PR-2110 $7.99 |
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4 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $12.99 |
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BIO 1st/1st Edition LEONARDO DA VINCI Sherwin Nuland PENGUIN LIVES $21.25 |
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Marineland bio-wheel Penguin 200 Power Filter – slightly used! - $22.50 |
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Marineland 350B Penguin Bio-Wheel Hang-on-Back Power F $41.99 |
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Penguin 100 Bio Wheel Aquarium Filter Fish Tank NIB $14.99 |
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Marineland Bio-Wheel Assembly For Penguin 160B $5.32 |
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Marineland 150B Penguin Bio-Wheel Hang-on-Back Power F $20.79 |
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Marineland Bio Wheel for Penguin PF99/PF99B $3.32 |
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2 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $6.99 |
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Marineland Bio Wheel Assembly for Penguin 200B & 350B $9.56 |
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MARINELAND – PENGUIN 350B BIO-WHEEL FILTER ~NEW~ $34.89 |
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ERIC LUTHER LIFE & WORK OF CHE GUEVARA 2001 PENGUIN ALPHA SC BIO PHOTOS MAPS VG- $7.00 |
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12 PENGUIN Bio Wheel 170, 200, 330, 350 Filter Cartridges Marineland RITE SIZE C $29.99 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel 150-B Assembly PR-BW-150B $15.99 |
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Penguin 330B Replacement Bio Wheel Assembly PR1945B $8.99 |
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Marineland 200B Penguin Bio-Wheel Hang-on-Back Power F $31.49 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 100B Filter PRBW100B $11.95 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Bearings PR1910B Marineland $3.50 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 200B/350B Marineland $15.95 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 170 Marineland PR1940B $9.95 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 150B Marineland PRBW150B $12.95 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 330 Marineland PR1945B $8.95 |
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Penguin Bio-Wheel Assembly 125B Marineland PR1935B $8.50 |
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Bio-Wheel Bearings PR10075 Penguin 100-350 Marineland $4.50 |
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Queen Victoria (Penguin Classic Bio…, Lytton Strachey $1.55 |
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Marineland Bio Wheel Assembly for Penguin 150B $7.56 |
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Marineland 100B Penguin Bio-Wheel Hang-on-Back Power F $20.99 |
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Penguin 100 Bio-Wheel Aquarium Filtration System Filter $18.74 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel 350-B Strainer PR-10333 $6.99 |
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Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 100 & 150 B Filter Strainer PF0100B PR10327-931 $4.99 |
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Penguin 200 Bio-Wheel Aquarium Filtration System Filter $36.99 |
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Bio 3 Cartridge Penguin 125 6 Pk $8.73 “Fits Penguin 125 Regent, Aqua-Tech 10-20, NEPTUNE 20.”6 Pk… |
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BIOSHOCK/PS3 SIGNATURE SERIES $19.48 … |
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The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service $15.99 A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career while illustrating the growing importance of America’s intelligence officers and their secret missionsFor a crucial period, Henry Crumpton led the CIA’s global covert operations against America’s terrorist enemies, including al Qaeda. In the days after 9/11, the CIA tasked Crumpton t… |
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The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation $17.40 Illustrated in B/W. A sweeping, atmospheric history of Bell Labs that highlights its unparalleled role as an incubator of innovation and birthplace of the century’s most influential technologies…. |
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Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia $2.05 Source for movie of the same name, starring Julia Roberts…. |
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Bio-Wheel Bearings (2 Pkg)110B $1.78 Bearings to hold bio wheel – Penguin 110B…. |
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Marineland (Aquaria) Bio Wheel Bearings for Penguin 99/125/170/330 … |