New Tank...Does anyone use Millennium 2000

[PJGirl112]

One of my best friends had an 40G empty tank in her basement with stand, hood and various fish tank supplies that she wasn't using and I told her that people would pay $400+ for the whole set-up and suggested that she sell it (she was a college student). A few days later she called me and told me that she was moving and didn't want the tank anymore, "did I want it????"

She gave everything to me for free, I just had to move it all. Amazing as that was...I cleaned everything thoroughly and the equipment (filter, heater, skimmer, light (although I replaced the bulb for plants)) all worked.

My question is that the filter is a Millennium 2000 and I had a hard time finding replacement cartridges for it, but found them at Petco finally. The filter seems great after 3+ months with fish in there, but I was wondering since it's not a mainstream filter if there were problems with it that I should be aware of down the line???

Actually for a large filter it seems very user friendly so far and easy to clean, so I wonder why it's not a popular as say Penguin or others????

 

[melonie]

If I had to guess, I would say that it became a matter of technology vs. maintenance requirements vs. price. The 'unique' selling point of the Millennium filter line was that they used a venturi air injector to promote biological filtration in a porous pad. When the same company invented and patented the Bio-Wheel, it achieved this same objective without the complexity and potential maintenance issues of the venturi approach, and allowed them to introduce new filter models which were significantly less expensive to manufacture and buy than the Millennium series.

Concensus was that the Millennium's were one of the best HOB filters on the market 5 years ago, and still are from a technical standpoint, although the Bio-Wheel has overshadowed them. Potential maintenance problems involve keeping the venturi air injector cleaned out and working properly. IMHO if it is doing a good job of filtering, keep on running it. When the day comes that your Millennium filter gives up the ship, don't bother investing time and money repairing it though - just trash it and pick up a new Bio-Wheel HOB filter.

 

[SCU33ZE]

If I had to guess, I would say that it became a matter of technology vs. maintenance requirements vs. price. The 'unique' selling point of the Millennium filter line was that they used a venturi air injector to promote biological filtration in a porous pad. When the same company invented and patented the Bio-Wheel, it achieved this same objective without the complexity and potential maintenance issues of the venturi approach, and allowed them to introduce new filter models which were significantly less expensive to manufacture and buy than the Millennium series.

Concensus was that the Millennium's were one of the best HOB filters on the market 5 years ago, and still are from a technical standpoint, although the Bio-Wheel has overshadowed them. Potential maintenance problems involve keeping the venturi air injector cleaned out and working properly. IMHO if it is doing a good job of filtering, keep on running it. When the day comes that your Millennium filter gives up the ship, don't bother investing time and money repairing it though - just trash it and pick up a new Bio-Wheel HOB filter.

Very nicely said.
One thing missed was the pourus pad.
This filter uses a "bio grid" which is said not to clog.
Heres a good review of this filter.

Review of Milenium Filters

Choose wisely and you will thank youself later on

I think Penguins are the way to go if yo want good bio-filtration/aeration IMO

Good luck!

 

[anonapersona]

replaceable pads

I got a Millenium 2000 cheap in a garage sale and I find it rather noisy. If you check the online retailers you may find a clamshell type frame to hold cut to fit pads, instead of the bought cartridges it comes with.

 

[PJGirl112]

Very well said...everyone! ^Thanks so much!

Honestly, since I didn't reconize the brand name originally I was going to just go out and buy a brand new one, but that would have put me back and when you are starting a "free tank"...$55 is allot of money if you have one that's working already! So, far (and we are working on 4+ months I have had no problems with this filter...the air gauge in only on for the day after I do a water change), noise is pretty non-existant compared to the other smaller tanks-and I am pretty happy with it.

No use repairing something you got for free and I will look into the Bio-Wheels when the time comes, definately. Thanks!