sshelle's Full Review: Penn Plax Penn Plax Small World Pump & Filter Kit
My daughter adopted all of the snails from her 1st grade class' study of animals (seven of them). Naturally, we had to buy a couple of fish to liven up the tank. And naturally, I had given our old aquarium away about 3 months before this. . . .so all we had was a 1 gallon fish bowl.
Less than a week after getting the snails and fish, the water was less clear and very very smelly. We keep this in our bathroom, so it was definitely noticeable. I also noticed the fish and snails hanging out near the top of the water, like they didn't have enough oxygen or something. . .
I decided the fish and snails needed an airstone or some type of filter that would circulate the water and introduce oxygen into the bowl. So off I went to Petco to find an airstone or filter. I didn't want to spend a small fortune on a filter, and I didn't want it to be too big, since we only have a small fish bowl (one gallon, maybe?). I saw this kit, with pump and filter, for about $20. It had everything we needed--the pump, the tubing, and the filtration unit. It also had illustrations and instructions on the back of the packaging, making it virtually idiot-proof.
The installation was extremely easy and quick. I placed the filtration unit in the bowl and used the suction cups to stick it on the back wall of the fish bowl. I cut the tubing in half so that I could install the little valve that determines how much air comes through the hose, and then hooked it all together and plugged in the pump. This is on a fake marble/cheap plastic counter, so I expected a bunch of noise from the pump, and for it to dance around from the vibrations.
Surprisingly, it hasn't moved one bit while running for about 3 weeks now. . . the little rubber feet on the bottom of the pump keep it in place and also prevent the vibrations from making a lot of noise. I can barely hear it when I'm next to the fish bowl.
The filter works well. . the water has stayed clear for the two weeks I've had the kit, and the fish and snails are not gathered at the top of the water---they are at the bottom, all over the sides, etc. As the days have passed, the white filter has turned brown, from the bottom up (a little more each day). The instructions say to change the filter every 2-4 weeks, so it is about time to change it. I'm glad there is a 'visual', since I have too many other things to worry about than marking the dates of the filter replacement on my already-full calendar. I think the replacement filter cartridges are about $3-$5 at Petco (not bad for a once a month change).
Considering the size of the fish bowl, the filter, which is about 1-2" wide and about 5-6" long and maybe 1-2" deep, takes up a large section of the tank. However, it works so well that I don't mind looking at it. There is carbon on the top half of the filter to remove odors, and white filter material on the bottom to catch solids, etc.
I will probably get a bigger tank, since this is really just a temporary setup, but I will stay with this filter and pump. It is just as quiet as the Whisper pump I had with the other aquarium. I can also see very clearly when it is time to change the filter. With the Whisper cartridges, the filter slid into a black solid holder, so I had no way of knowing how long it had been in and when it was time to change unless I happened to mark it on my calendar. I'm glad I can easily monitor when I need to change the filter, and I like the quiet of the pump. So I'm sold on this. It's nothing fancy, but it does the job well.
The water is drawn through the unit and air bubbles come out the top, adding oxygen to the water and keeping it from becoming stagnant and smelly. I'm really impressed with the kit!
The packaging doesn't say how many gallons this filter can take care of, but the pictures on the front of the packaging show small aquariums, like the Critter Keepers, glass fish bowls, and small (maybe 1-2 gallon, possibly 5) hexagonal tanks.
Compact unit removes harmful gases, odors, and discoloration from your aquarium making the water crystal clear and healthier for your fish. Includes a...More at Petco
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