dinatwin

I need to change my filter on my5 gallon hex with the bio wheel. (I don't need to change the bio wheel) The flow through the reg filter is getting slow and causing my bio wheel to stop. It's one of these filters http://www.petmountain.com/product/c...2C-hex-7-.html.

Should I cut out the blue part of the filter and let it float in the tank for 2 weeks while the new filter is in place?

I already removed the carbon from the filter that is currently in place.

Thanks

Alessa

I believe you could do that, if you really need to change the filter. If not then why just not keep the old one and swish it around some used tank water?

dinatwin

Hi Alessa I did that and the water flow is still very slow.

Alessa

Have you tried cleaning the intake tube... usually thats where the problem is whenever there is low flow, it gets full of slime.

I had a similar problem and what I did was take out the filter media (and in this case the biowheel, to protect them) and rinse the intake tume and the rest of the filter on running tap water. As long as the filter media and the biowheel are not rinsed by tap you wont go into a mini cycle, and the filter will work properly again.

dinatwin

AHHH Alessa I will try that!! Thanks so much

jdhef

If after cleaning the intake, it still turns slowly, don't be too concerned.

As the biowheel loads up with bacteria it tends to slow down, and sometimes it will even become jerky (starting and stopping). The manufacturer claims that is normal and no cause for alarm.

dinatwin

Thanks JDHF!! I thought i read that somewhere but i couldn't remember. I'm guessing the bacteria on the bio wheel won't die if it stops and gets jerky occasionally?

jdhef

They claim that it will not die due to the stops and starts.

MrsM3197

I have filters with the bio wheels on my betta tank, the 30 and the 25 gal. When I first set them up the wheels would spin quite freely. Now they have been set up a few months, the wheels will kinda jerk and stop, maybe spin a little slower at times. As long as the biowheel is not completely drying out you won't lose your good bacteria. If the wheel accumulates too much grungy you can always swish it around a bit in some used tank water from your next water change (sometimes they collect hard water deposits or algae yuck that make them hard to turn). DO NOT rinse under tap water, clorine will kill the good bacteria.

dinatwin

Thank you both!!! I appreciate it very much