sgp

my filter is not spinning like when first bought. every once in a while it will kick up again and spin, but then it stops. any ideas what the problem might be?

Dozey

I finally gave up on my penguin bio-wheel filters for this very reason. Most often it is a flow rate problem. And with the penguin filters I simply could not get the cartridges clean enough to keep the bio wheels turning for more then a few days at a time.

Another possibility is the bearings. They can get gummed up. You can try cleaning both the pins on the bio wheel and the bearings that they sit in, although I never had much success doing this. It was always just another cartridge cleaning required.

After several month of having to clean my cartridges every 2 or 3 days I tossed the filters.

AlyeskaGirl

I had that same problem, bought an Aquaclear and tossed the other one. lol

Nate McFin

I have found that if the biowheel gets slightly twisted it will stop turning. Try twisting gently one direction and trying it again. Then twist the other direction if that doesn't work.
I also read on another forum that too much weight on the blades will keep it from spinning as well. They rinsed in used tank water to clean it slightly and that seemed to work.
Next step canister. LOL

Dozey

That was my solution to fix my bio-wheel not spinning problem.

Regal

I've seen that others on this forum have had the same problem with bio-wheels. I love bio-wheels and have had a lot of them and never have had a problem with them not turning.

Marineland customer service is pretty helpful. There's actually a thread on here about that.

I did have a problem with my HOT magnum slowing down and nearly not pumping water at all. (to be fair, I was using diatom powder in it though so it was probably my fault since Marineland no longer recommends using it in the magnum.) I emailed Marineland and the rep suggested that I soak the propeller in white vinegar. It worked like a charm. I use it on all my bio wheels now.

You just need plain white vinegar.

Clean out the filter the way you usually do then leave the media/cartridge out of the filter and pour in the vinegar and drop the impeller in and let it sit for about 20 minutes and then rinse the filter and impeller well before putting it back together.

iseefish

well you guys just solved my problem, i have the pinguin bio 2 in my crayfish tank it let me tell you something it sucks it does not spin, only when i push it and stops lol.. im getting Aquaclear yeeeiyyy!! thank you solved problem, old filter is becoming basura as soon as i get home!!

kendrid

My Emperor 280 was spinning slowly (it never stopped but it was slow). Mine issue was that the spray bar was very clogged and not outputting enough to hit the biowheel.

Butterfly

SGP-Sometimes a bio wheel will get gunked up and a good rinsing in used tank water helps. I didn't see in your post whether you had a biowheel or not. If it's the impeller inside the filter sometimes they get something down around them (a couple of grains of sand or a piece of gravel). If thats it a good flushing with used tank water will help.
Carol

sgp

yeah its a penguin bio-wheel 150. the wheel doesn't seem to stop so much anymore, just kinda inches around. i think it'll do its job until we can get a canister filter

Beth1965

I had same problem with one of the wheels. the problem was one of the little purple casings, it was not pushed down far enough. It's what the wheels lays on.

Regal

The bio wheel spinning erratically is fine.

That's a good point about something getting stuck and slowing down the impeller. I've had strands of java moss wrapped tightly around the impeller.

Hulkanator

i have the same problem.i found after about 3 or 4 day the wheel fills alittle with water and slows the rotation,then stops.how long dose it take to grow the bacteria onto the wheel?

meicalnissyen

Yes,
it is a bio wheel

throw it out