Aquarium Filters · owner-verdict comparison

Eheim Classic 2217 vs Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Eheim Classic 2217: 82% of 80 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 26 for the Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Eheim Classic 2217

82%of 80 owners recommend
82% recommend · 3% neutral · 15% don't
Owners praise
  • Lasts for years to decades / built to last
  • Easy maintenance, backwashes into a bucket
  • Excellent biological / over-filtration
Owners complain about
  • Media isn't in easy lift-out baskets
  • Flow leaves dead spots, may need a powerhead
Full owner report →

Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter

35%of 26 owners recommend
35% recommend · 38% neutral · 27% don't
Full owner report →

What Eheim Classic 2217 owners say

“loving the canister. very quiet”
— @T_Quik on YouTube
“If I had to choose again I'd probably buy two Eheim. Though the Fluval is a bit easier to maintain and it does suck up fish waste better, the noisy impeller and crappy build quality of it has kind of turned me off it.”
— Mun-Mun on Reddit
“My life would be easier and my tanks would look better if I had only bought Fluvals!”
— @shavinmccrotch9435 on YouTube

What Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter owners say

“Great filter...I bought the Emperor 400 back in the day and I loved it!”
— @Cichlids23 on YouTube
“Had them babies running for 6yrs non-stop. My only complaint is the wheel stops Sometimes”
— @just4kicks950 on YouTube
“When my wheel stops spinning I just lose my $hit and I get all crazy”
— @MrCatalina31768 on YouTube