fishchick

I have two biowheels that i use for my 75 gall and one isnt working , should I try to replace it soon , or will it be ok !

Ghostfish

If there is gunk built up on it, rinse it off in some room temp water. Just shake it around in the water a bit, and stick it back on. You may also need to wipe off the outake area where the water flows underneath the biowheel. Make sure there is not gunk built up there. Biowheels usually last quite awhile, but you eventually will have to replace. Try the above first, and if that doesn't fix it then you can try replacing it. Just replace don't replace the other one anytime soon so you don't lose too much of the bacteria.

Lucy

Ghostfish is right except don't use plain tap water.....either conditioned water or use tank water. Chlorine can kill the bacteria built up on it.
Check your water level also.

Ghostfish

Good catch. I forgot that part. I generally would use tap water that I have conditioned with Prime.

clinton1621

Also check the grooves that the ends of the wheel go into for any gunk or water deposits that could be keeping it from turning

Randall

I would check everything everyone else has suggested,but also make sure the filter cartridge doesn't need to be replaced too.If it has a lot of gunk on it,it will restrict waterflow,and the wheels won't turn.I would also check to make sure the impellar isn't full of gunk as well.If it is not pulling up enough water,the wheel won't turn.I have an old Penguin 330 on one of my tanks.It must be 10yrs old now and still has the original Bio Whells on it.You should never need to replace them,as long as the filter is properly maintained.Doing all of these things should get the wheel turning again.The whole filter should really be taken off the tank,the intake tube taken off,the impellar removed and everything given a good cleaning once a month.

Lucy

You have to be careful about 'a good cleaning' don't use soap or any other detergents.
Rinsing them in used tank water should be ok, anymore you could send your tank into a mini cycle.

Randall

True,thanks Lucy.I just use some tank water that I siphon out when I am cleaning,and a sponge that I only use for that paticular tank.I have several tanks and I have different cleaning tools for each tank.

COBettaCouple

If you can't get it running, I'd replace it, but would try to keep the media wet for now.

fishchick

I have tried , to rinse it , so i will have to replace it !