MarineLand Penguin Power Aquarium Filter, 150 GPH, Bio-Wheel

Water passes through this power aquarium filter at 150 GPH, and a rotating Bio-Wheel inside it handles wet/dry biological filtration. MarineLand sells the filter as the Penguin 150, the middle size of the range, and it hangs on the tank as a power filter built around Marineland Rite-Size Filter Cartridges. Mechanical, chemical and biological stages all sit in the one housing, cartridge and wheel together.

Checks before you buy this power filter

The flow figure is the first limit to weigh: at 150 GPH this Penguin 150 sits between the 75 GPH and 100 GPH models on one side and the 200 GPH and 350 GPH sizes on the other. Buyers who need more turnover step up to the larger sizes in the same range, and buyers with a smaller tank drop down.

The second check is the cartridge. The unit takes Marineland Rite-Size Filter Cartridges, and no other cartridge type is listed for it, so it is worth confirming that the Rite-Size cartridges you can get match this model before you order.

What the rotating Bio-Wheel and the three stages do

• The Bio-Wheel turns as water passes, and MarineLand describes that rotation as wet/dry biological filtration.
• The unit runs mechanical, chemical and biological filtration together, so all three stages are part of one hang-on filter rather than three separate devices.
• MarineLand offers four other flow rates besides this one: 75 GPH, 100 GPH, 200 GPH and 350 GPH, with the Penguin 150 rated at 150 GPH.
• Filtration depends on Marineland Rite-Size Filter Cartridges, which is the cartridge type the filter is built around.

What reviewers report about noise, flow and wear

Reports on noise split in the review themes: some reviewers find the Penguin 150 loud, while others describe it as quiet. Reviewers also mention flow performance, and a smaller group raises durability issues. These comments describe individual experiences with the filter, and the noise reports in particular point in both directions.

Questions buyers ask about the Penguin 150

How much water does the Penguin 150 move?

It is rated at 150 GPH. The model name Penguin 150 matches that flow rate.

Which filter cartridges fit this model?

It uses Marineland Rite-Size Filter Cartridges. That is the cartridge type listed for the filter.

What other sizes does this filter range come in?

MarineLand sells four other flow rates: 75 GPH, 100 GPH, 200 GPH and 350 GPH. This page covers the 150 GPH version.

What kind of filtration does the unit provide?

It provides mechanical, chemical and biological filtration, and the rotating Bio-Wheel adds wet/dry biological filtration.

How is the filter powered?

It is a power aquarium filter, listed by MarineLand as the Penguin 150 model.

What customers say

Customers have mixed opinions about the aquarium filter's quality, with some finding it excellent while others say it's not the best. The functionality and noise level also receive mixed feedback - while some say it works well and is super quiet, others report it struggles to work properly and have loud splashing sounds. Value for money is another aspect with divided views, with some praising its high quality for the price while others find it not worth the money.