hamstermann

On both of my penguin 100's, the bio-wheel won't turn. even if we change the cartridge. Anyone have ideas what causes this? they're seated well and the slots where the prongs from the wheel sit are clear and free of dirt. I have tried moving the cartiridge to different heights, but that doesn't seem to be working either. Any other suggestions?

Luniyn

Will they spin easily if you turn them with your hand (careful not to touch the fins, just the plastic ends if you can help it)? If they don't then look to see if anything is blocking it's spinning, in fact remove the cartridge all together and see if it spins freely. If it doesn't spin easily when you spin it with your hand then either something got stuck in or around the ball bearings or the bearings need to be changed out. If without the filter installed it spins freely on it's own, then something on the cartridge is holding back the wheel from spinning. Check the intake tube and make sure it's clear and the water is flowing in though it freely. Then install the cartridge and try to see what about it is hitting the wheel. On the other hand if the wheel spins but seems to stop with a certain fin always ending up at the bottom, then there may be too much accumulation on one or 2 of the fins and it's too hard for the water stream to make them spin. Put some of your tank water into a bucket and remove the wheel and gently rinse it in the bucket to remove some of the built up gunk. Do not scrub it (again try not to touch the fins with your fingers) just swish it around in the water gently or take a small cup and pour the tank water over the parts of the fins that look the dirtiest. Then install it back to the filter and try it out.

hamstermann

They do spin easily when I check them with my hand. I have replaced the cartridge (the carbon-filled one). It doesn't spin whether the cartirdige is new, old, in, or out. I think it may have something to do with water flow, but I cleaned out the filter as best I could, even blowing out the uptake tube. it worked for a few hours after clearing out the uptake tube, then stopped again. There doesn't seem to be any certain fin that's dirtier or heavier than another, it just won't work. one guy at the LFS said that it was probably just that it's so weighed down with bacteria that it won't spin and that it's a good thing, but I'm not sure the water's even touching it. any other ideas? I've got the bio-wheel just free-floating in the tank for now hoping that will work and I've been slowly moving the fry from this tank back into my community tank until I can get this figured out.

Any recommendations about what to buy if I just can't get it to work? The AquaClear HOBs sound the best because they use bio-balls instead of bio wheels so I don't have to worry about them not spinning or losing contact with the water, but wondered if anyone knew of something bettter.

jayfl234

hamsterman i am having the same issue i have a bio-wheel 150 and i have to keep cleaning my filter to get the bio-wheel to spin. I am getting to the point of where i can not keep messing with it all the time. Getting ready to head back to school and i dont have time to keep messing with the filter every week of cleaninig it that is. So i guess i will have to do something.

hamstermann

What I did was to put some ceramic bio-tubes (but bio stars or balls would work too) into the water intake area of the biowheel. It seemed to work as the tank started to re-cycle. You might try that. that way instead of buying a whole new filter, you only have to buy bio media, which should be much cheaper.

atmmachine816

Did you check the fins on the wheel, my friend had this issue and I fixed it because one of them wasn't in correctly. I don't like aquaclear's because I think they are loud. What I do is buy the bio-bag, sponge, and use filter floss and put it in my filter and it keeps my wheel spinning. The bio-wheel's have a poor design in the fact that with the cartridge the wheels do not spin for long at all, I solved this problem by just putting in a fist full of filter floss. I made a topic about it in DIY if you wish to check it out but I need to update it with the addition's of aquaclear media. So basically what I have is the bio-wheel and the same media as a aquaclear. Here's the link http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5672.0

jayfl234

I finally got my wheels spinning again i bought a brush that i could run through the tube to clean all the debris out and talk about dirty. Cleaned both my Penguin 100 and 150. The brush works great will be doing that monthly to be sure they stay spinning.

jayfl234

Well i am back to the same prob as i had before the bio-wheel was turning good for a couple days and then back to the same old thing again. just found the prob my i put just a sponge filter in in place of the stock on and it was leaning up against the well and it was keeping it from moving. I am going to cut another peiece little bigger so that dont happen again.

jayfl234

Since i have no carbon running in my filter could i just buy the carbon and put in a bag and just let it hang in my filter instead of buying on with carbon and sponge togeather. So when i need to put carbon in i can just drop it in.

atmmachine816

Yes that's what I do, I use aquaclear bags.

jayfl234

Sounds good i think i will go that way instead. I am going to try here shortly next time i get to my lfs fiber floss. I have been wanting to try it and see if it will work good for me. I will let yall know what happens. Thanks again

atmmachine816

Sounds good, keep me updated. I love my fiber floss keeps the tank so clean

oregongal

I am having the same problem, how do I get to this thread?
Clicking on it does not take me there.

http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5672.0

I am hating my bio wheel right now.