Hey folks,

This is a review on the Whisper 40.

Seems to work quite well and contrary to other people's comments about water flow, there have been studies performed comparing flow of water through various HOB filters.

Summary of designs as follows:
Tetra Whisper: water passes 'through' the media, and can clear out impurities faster than either the Hagen AquaClear or Marineland Penguin.

Marineland Penguin: water passes 'through' the media and can clear impurities from aquarium faster than AquaClear, yet marginally slower than Whisper.

Hagen AquaClear: water passes 'around' media, rather than through making it a less efficient model and consequently slower ability to remove impurities from aquarium. It's supposed to pass through, but guess what...apparently it doesn't.

Go to www.americanaquariumproducts.com for more insightful information.


Ok, back to design: fairly large filter chamber with 2 slots available.
I am not keen on using the 'Bio-Bags' which is simply a floss material wrapped around a frame and filled with carbon. Floss material is something you'll be throwing out fairly often as it gets dirty. So, instead I use AquaClear Sponges [or whatever fairly permanent biomedia you like] in this area and rinse them in my bucket during aquarium maintenance. In front of this set up, you could place a sheet of filter floss if you want the extra polish to the water [i.e. removing very small particles]. Buy some cheap acrylic floss, pillow stuffing etc from your local retail store like walmart...craft section etc.

I do like their Biomedia sponge that neatly fits into a frame, so I use that. Once again, not required...use any other sponge you have...but it's available.
It's just a chamber after all, so place whatever your favorite sponges, bioballs, floss etc that you usually use to mechanically and biologically keep the tank happy.

Oh, this puppy self-primes too after a power failure....piece of mind when you're away on vacation. No burned out motors to replace or dead fish to morn when you get back.

Recommended: Yes