A few questions...

I started setting up my aquarium. Putting together my filter just now and have some questions about it. My first question is, there's this attachment that connects mid-way on the intake tube called a "mid-level intake strainer". Um. What is that for? I can open or close it... should it be open or closed? Oh, and I have the penquin 350 on a 30 gallon tank. It has room for 2 filters. I'm sure it's probably better to have 2 filters installed, but since this is only a 30 gallon tank, can I have just one filter installed? Will save me a little money. One more question. Um, I don't have any fish yet. I don't even have any water yet... lol but do I have to install the filter during the cycle period or can I wait until I start adding fish?

Silly questions, I know.

The mid-level strainer is there to pull water out of the middle of the water column.Its your choice as to weather or not to leave it open or close it.

I personally would run both filter pads.Its got the 2 slots for a reason.And go ahead and run it while your tanks cycling.It will help keep that gunk off the surface of your water.

I used to run the same filter on my 30.

The penguin 350? How was it? Any good?

Yeah,I ran a penguin 350.It done what it was supposed to.My biggest complaint with it,It caused a lot of salt creep.

Salt creep.... What's salt creep?

Thats where bubbles pop on the surface of the water,and cause the salt to build up on the sides of the tank,around the filter.Generally makes a mess.

oooooh. Hmm. Maybe I'll try to keep the water level high as to avoid the big splashes.

it won't mater much. Salt creep is a part of the hobby. I clean it off the back of the tank, sump, overflow box top, return pump hose, lights, covers, my hair, etc, monthly. You get used to it.

-Dr Marco

Heh. Sounds like a pain.

do you have a skimmer