Beth1965

Hi-a all.
I have a penguin 350 for my 55 gal.
can anyone estimate what the life span is of such a filter?

Jaysee

With propper maintanance, years

eiginh

I agree, maintain it and it will last a lifetime. I have that running in my 40g.

Beth1965

darned. i simply can not get one of the wheels going. ive cleaned around and moved the filter behing it around as well and just can not get it going.
i cant bring it to a store to ahve someone look at it cause im so far away and can not leave the tank for a full day without filtering (can i?)

Jaysee

Is the water coming out of the spillway fine?

The other wheel is spinning?

What are you using for media?

eiginh

Play with your media. Is your media in the back slot or the front slot? Where is your spray bar aiming at? Make sure you clean the bearings that hold the wheels.

Jaysee

Only the emperors have spraybars.

eiginh

Oh LOL! That's what I have. Oopsies! anyways just play with your media. I think that's the reason why the bio-wheel isn't moving.

Beth1965

Ive cleaned and cleaned & played with the media (I have a cartridge in there) -never been replaced-i just do a swish once in a while (in used water).
the water spills out find from filter.
ive switched the wheels around and its only the one side (wheel) that doesnt move.
the media is in the last (farthest slot)
ive cleaned the bearings with a q-tip.
any other advice? or ?'s
Move the filter to another slot? I can try that.

Jaysee

Is it the same size (length AND diameter) as the one that works?

Does it seem like the water flow is being restricted at all?

When you say you switched them - is it the wheel or the side that doesn't spin?

Beth1965

The wheel does not spin (there is no side to spin, the wheels sit in a little purple bearing thing).
the wheels are exactly the same and both worked until recently. if i ever had stop or a slow down of the wheel, it was always the same one that is NOT spinning now.
the water is NOT restricted at all.
Caps are not yelling, just attention to my words

eiginh

Hmm I think your bio-wheel must be too heavy with bacteria. Have you tried rinsing it with your tank water?

Beth1965

not lately but I will when I get home.
i hope that will help.
i jsut dont get it. but wait!!!! if it spins on the other side when i switch it over, it spins, cant be this!

eiginh

Hmm, I think its your flow for that side then.

If nothing else prevails it is time to call sherlock holmes!

Jaysee

If the wheel spins fine when you move it to the other side, then it's got to be the purple things that the wheel pins rest on. Pehaps there is some gunk underneath the purple things that is causing it to not sit flat.


I didn't know sherlock holmes was a bare knuckle boxer (trailer for the movie).

eiginh

She said she cleaned it though. "ive cleaned the bearings with a q-tip." Is it safe to put vegetable oil to grease it up?

Jaysee

The bearings come out - she made no mention of cleaning underneath them or if she's popped'em out....

I'm running out of ideas

eiginh

I know the purple bearings come out but doesn't the wheel hang inside the bearings not under it?

Beth if you can post a video when you get home later perhaps we can identify your mystery problem.

Jaysee

If one of the bearings is sitting higher than the other, for whatever reason, the inbalance can be enough to stop the wheel.

Yeah, a video would be nice. I have a collection of emperors and penguins, but am running out of ideas...

Beth1965

yes, she's taken out the purple things and cleaned them

now please don't hate me, cause this turns into a total DUH moment.

i just came home and stuck my hand inside the filter.
Guess what was in there?
a big hunk of stuffing i was saving for bacteria for a a just in case---new tank.

Beth1965

I dread your responses here.

eiginh

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL problem solved High five!

Jaysee

You know that's the first thing I though of, but didn't mention it.....

That's one of my complaints about the penguins - the wheel is spun by the outflow of water which means it has to sit lower, where it can be impeded by media - makes it very hard to use custom media. The spray bars on the emperors allows the wheel to sit higher, away from all that.

Beth1965

I hear your distaste for the penquin but I really do like mine.
you didnt mention the part of looking inside the filter cause you thought, "nah, she's knows to check that out"....LOL
Wrong, I am a true blue ding dong.
I can't even do one of those "listen to what I did...." i friggin did it right here on Fishlore for all to read about as it happens.

eiginh

Yeah that's what thing I dislike about penguins I'm doing the same thing with my penguin 150b and I have to play with the media in order for the wheel to spin. I wish they made emperors for smaller tanks.