Marineland Penguin Pro 125 Unboxing and Review

This is an unboxing and review of a Marineland Penguin Pro 125 Power Filter that's designed for aquariums up to 20 gallons. I'll show you how to assemble the filter and give some cleaning tips. Then you can see it starting up for the first time and see how quiet it is. This looks to be a great filter for smaller aquariums and I'm really happy with it so far.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

DISCLAIMER: Links in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service using those links, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting this channel so I can provide you with free content.

00:00 Intro
00:25 What's in the Box?
01:14 All About the Pump/Motor Assembly and Impeller
02:52 Internal Strainer Basket Assembly
03:51 Rite-Size B Filter
04:11 Intake Tube Assembly and Options
05:36 Bio-Wheel
06:25 Starting the Filter for the First Time
07:42 Gold Laser Cories and Bristlenose Pleco 'Petey'
08:24 About the Negative Reviews Online

[leslieestrada]

I just bought this filter. I'm trying to learn how to do a planted tank. Your video helped me. Thanks

[richardpijahn]

I just got the filter. Very impressed with design. Also like 2 year warranty. I have 275 it runs silent

[Trains-With-Shane]

I used the old Penguin bio wheel filters for years. And the only complaint that I ever had was having to run around the house and re-prime them if the power went out (for too long). I'm going to be jumping back into the aquarium hobby probably early next year with a 20 gallon and a basic community tank with platies, etc. This looks to be a nicely improved version of the old reliable filters that I used for years. Can't wait to pick one up.

[ainnymallick]

Thank you so much! I hope you know that you really changed my life as my best friend just died and she loved fish but I didn't know how to take care of one. Your video changed my life. Thank you so much I hope you know that you don't only teach us about fish stuff but also make us smile and bring us together! 😊😊😊😊😊 lots of love from the US ❤

[manuelwatts]

01:55 - 1st mod when I setup a new HOB is to Silicon gel the impeller shaft end cap in place in the imp. shaft. And it's a good idea to buy a spare impeller w the filter if the store has them in stock.

[miker]

There seems to be a dislike of Marineland filters in general. Right now I have 5 Penguins running, 2 of which are at least 10 years old. I've never experienced any of the problems found on the various chats and forums. These are all the older styles where the pump is external, versus the newer pump in tank style. I've yet to have one not re-start after a power interruption, which seems to be one of the biggest complaints. The bio wheels will stop running if your filter needs maintenance and the water flow goes into bypass. Also, the purple bearing carriers on the bio wheels will move a bit upwards and cause intermittent rolling. This is a simple fix by pushing the carrier down back into place. As far as noise? None. Other than water splashing when the level goes down below the return. For the price and performance I've received from them, I think they are excellent filters. The filter boxes are large enough to accommodate other types of filter media so you don't have to purchase the suggested cartridges.

[willparsons]

I once had the Marineland 400 "twin bio wheel" HOB. I myself really had great results from the 3 years I had it in service.
Some say these bio-wheel HOB are a pain in the butt because the wheels get plugged up with crud (the purpose of them in the first place!😏 But mine never did. The spray bar that soaked and basically "powered" the wheels to rotate.
Anyways, I "pimped" the filter soon after putting it to use. The filter media that came with the filter was modified in a way that I would remove the blue foam as well as the (useless) charcoal within the filter pad. I'd keep the plastic frame (skeleton) that the cartridge was made with and wrap it with a piece of 1" polyester batton held together by wrapping a few elastic bands around the entire cartridge frame.
Because there was a significant amount of empty space behind the cartridge and the body of the filter itself, I added a handful of medium sized Fluval biomax in each compartment of the 400 filter - of course, stored inside of a dollar store laundry bag in order to easily remove the media from the filter if cleansing was (rarely) necessary.
The end result was crystal clear water with a ton of biological filtration!

[SoFloCichlids]

These and the Tidal filters are the best HOB’s on the market. My tidal 35 is completely silent, and my Marineland pro 125 is only audible once you get up real close to it. I do think the marine land is a better value though, the basket is very useful for different media like crushed coral for African cichlids or bio-media. The Marineland area is much bigger, I stuffed a huge sponge in there which is very nice.

[JmguyN]

Aqua-tech Power-filters are made by Marine-land they are designed pretty much like this one you reviewed. Just no bio wheel on them. Could you review the Aqua Tech Self Priming power filter.

[AquariumThoughts]

I got the 125. There is a slight hum to it. But it's there. My Tidal 55 is completely silent as was my Tidal 75. I used an eheim liberty 200 before this and it was silent as well. But it's not that bad of a hum. The Tidals are quieter. I just don't like the Tidal 35. I had small petricola find there way inside of those.

[silviacheske]

thanks for this video. it was helpful. have a blessed day.

[atticdust]

I purchased the Marineland Penguin Pro 125 here recently, and I noticed the flow control dial affects the movement of the wheel turning. If the flow control dial is turned completely "closed", then the wheel may not move at all. Once I turned the flow control dial, completely to the "open" position, the wheel moved at full speed!!! Hopefully this helps anyone, troubleshooting wheel movement. 😊❤

[sinisterwrld]

I may need the bottem catcher to I can buy the bio wheel and filter my self these two are hard to find

[brentmlarson]

Thanks for the review! One thing I don’t understand is the placement of the media basket. From everything I read, any biological media such as ceramic rings or the K2 media should be placed after mechanical filtration, but this basket is before the mechanical filtration which would make it difficult for beneficial bacteria to grow on whatever biological media is put in that basket. Is this correct or do I have it mixed up and if right, do you know why they would do this?

[pieandcake]

you explain things really well. can you do a video of the beginning of the nitrogen cycle? I need some good information on beginning a tank

[sinisterwrld]

Hey I am missing some parts to this filter idk the name of the pipe that kinda looks like a phone on the left if u can tell whet this part is I would appreciate it so muck ❤😢 i need fishy’s back in that tank

[dawnellparry]

Hello 👋

Thank you for this video! I am starting a 20 gallon freshwater tank with filter. Question—what is the purpose of customizing the media? I noticed this on the side of the filter box it came in, along with recommended media to use. Is this necessary?
Thank you so much!

Cheers

Dawnell

[BigDraco]

Yeah mine is loud when I first connected it. Maybe I should return it back

[ForestRain]

I just bought a new Penguin Pro 275 and it is very noisy. The water flow is quiet but the motor or impeller makes a rattling noise. I guess getting a quiet one is hit or miss.

[robbyrobl]

I'm new to all this. And just got my little girl a goldfish aquarium . I have the exact same filter you're using in the video. My question is why isn't the wheel continuously running and water comes out on the motor side as well as the side that it's supposed to. What am I doing wrong?? I set it exactly as you did and it's been doing this since the 1st day. And I've only had it for a week if that.