Bio Wheel Will Not Spin

My Bio-wheel like won't spin. (refraining from using bad word) If I stick my finger in there and give it a push it works just fine, but then it eventually just stops. Anything I can do?? (besides cuss at the thing... >)

*in... out... in... out...*
;D

 

is the filter media in all the way?

 

luckily the tank is right here in the family room...so yeah I just pushed on it a bit and it's as far in as it's gonna go, which hopefully is all the way.

 

I don't know anything about biowheels but could it be that the flow is to slow? That's one reason I could think of why the wheel might stop.

 

But I don't see why the flow would be too slow. ???

 

Intake tube could be clogged or blocked, the impeller that draws water up the tube could be dirty and in need of cleaning or your biobag could be at the end of it's lifespan.......Did you try any of these?

 

marineland filters don't use bio bags they use "rite size" filter cartages

 

marineland filters don't use bio bags they use "rite size" filter cartages

Same thing....different name....They serve the same purpose........

 

you ant add extra media to the marineland filters

 

I'm not sure what are you talking about..... ??? Who said anything about adding anything extra???? All I asked was if it had been changed recently......I used the wrong terminology........The only thing that would slow the water flow down would be how the water is drawn in and the media it flows through...There is really nothing to these filters.

It's a small motor which drives an impeller, which spins to draw water through a tube and push it through fliter media....It's that simple.....If all of these are intact and the water flow is unrestricted but trickling and the wheel itself is seated correctly but not spinning, then the motor is spent and the filter needs to be replaced.....

 

sry I used the wrong words they differ because you can't add extra media to the marineland ones

 

Again.....Who said anything about adding anything???? ??? ??? ??? All I said was they were and did the same thing but you informed me that they were called cartridges and not biobags.....WRONG TERMINOLOGY USED BY ME.........there is absoultely no difference in what their function is......

 

Make sure there isn't any filter floss or algae wrapped around it.

 

Will the bio-wheel come out? If so swish it in used tank water just like you would your filter media. Sometimes they get clogged also and need to be swished
Carol

 

All good ideas except the filter and tank are brand new--set up for like 2 weeks. I have been cycling with flakes but I don't see how enough flakes in this amount of time could have gotten into the filter (most just get stuck to the outside of the intake) and clogged it enough to slow the flow of water.

 

Did you take it out, regardless? There may be something very small - even a piece of hair - which could be wrapped around it.

 

Sorry, wrapped around what?

 

Around the wheel.

 

Oh, I didn't catch that. I will see if there is anything cought on the wheel itself.

Well then...nothing wrong with the wheel. It spins just fine if I give it a push but it eventually stops again. (insert expletive here)
Well, oh well, it is still a great filter even if the BIO-Wheel doesn't work.

 

If it's still doing that then the water isn't getting to it right - there might not be enough water-flow going through it, see if raising the media allows it to work or if removing the media will speed it up. If it's too thick (the media) then the water will just overflow over the piece of pipe that it travels through into the filter, or near there. Also be sure (if you haven't already) to rinse out the tube as there could be chunks of something stuck in it.

 

The water isn't overflowing. However, I decided to try removing the media just to see what happened and the flow sped up a lot (and the wheel started spinning). I don't see how that could happen...the tank is new and the media has like nothing on it. ??? Anyway, I slowly put the media back in and didn't push it down as hard, and the wheel kept going although more slowly. I'll just see what happens...

 

If it's still spinning oddly (erratic, slow-fast-slow-fast, etc) try shaking the carbon around inside of the media and making sure it fits in perfectly. It very well may just be an oddly shaped piece of media.

 

Sounds like the motor in the filter may be going.......It should have enough strength to pull the water up the intake and force it through the media....It doesn't sound as if it's able to do that.....

 

Um, the filter's been running for 3 weeks.

 

Um, the filter's been running for 3 weeks.

Umm SO WHAT? There are such things as defects.....Age has nothing to do with manufacturing defects....Furthermore, if it's not working properly TAKE IT BACK.

 

Good point. I'll keep messing with it though...a few days ago I god the wheel to start spinning somehow...but now it's not spinning again...ugh, the thing is so annoying!

 

yes the flake junk could have the impeller completely clogged. You need to clean the impeller first and then try to clean the tubes. Even though it is only 2 weeks the flakes can really have it clogged.

If cleaning the impeller doesn't work call the good folks at Marineland they are wizards at getting things going and will spend as much time as necessary walking you through it.

Rose

 

I will give it all a good cleaning.  I just looked at the intake tube and realized it is like totally covered in bits of plant. :

 

You need to get brushes to clean the tube with if you havne't already, you need to do that once a month along with cleaning the impeller, that's what I do. Did you check to make sure the bio-wheel things are pushed in properly, if they aren't that might be the problem, like they aren't bent at all, it happened to Greg. Make sure that the tube is pushed all the way down into the filter box. Also just a correction Vin sometimes it's not the filter but just that the media cartridge is just too thick for the water too be pushed through and make the wheel spin, I'v found that true with my filter, I don't know if you have a bio-wheel but if you don't they are a little different from power filters just to let you know so you don't get mad if what you say doesn't apply to a bio-wheel, though I'm sure everybody is just trying to give good advice and we are just misinterpreting things.

Austin

 

Really late update, the filter (and bio wheel) is working fine now. It just needed someone to show it who's boss! ;D : ???

 

That's great!!!! Thanks for the update Boss
Carol

 

Hi, can anyone help? I have apenguin 150 bio wheel power filter, the bio wheel will not move at all on its own, I even tried a new one to see if that would work, but that won't move either,, I rasied and lowered the water level, I cleaned the bearings on the wheel and the slots it goes into, when I raise the filter cartidge it will spin then, but where ever I put the cartridge it sdoesn't make any difference, there are no blockages and I cleaned the impeller, the rest of power filter does work, I made sure the immellor was seated in the correct place, this is driving me nuts, its only a couple of weeks old cos my other filter stopped working completely, not having much luck at all, worried about my fish , Please any advice??? thanks.

 

I find it takes me about 20 minutes of jiggling everything to get mine going again.

 

lol, I have jiggled everything I can possibley think of and it still won't work > :'(

 

Make sure the impeller is really well seated, and the blue filter thingie is, too. I've found that raising my water level as high as possible helps. But yeah, its frustrating and makes me insane.

 

I cheched the filter cartridge and its ok, I moved it about to see if the wheel would move but it made no difference, I have mad ethe water higher and lower and stil it WONT MOVE, this is getting me soooooo mad, willcheck the impeller again now, can't think of anything else to do , maybe I should take it back to store? I tried to phone Marineland this afternoon but they had closed for the day :

YIPPEEEEE its working, lol, I took the whole thing apart again, and it shoved a brush up the tube that's got a bend in it, don't know what its called, but oh goodness the muck that was stuck inside was revolting, I had cleaned it out but didnt go right up and around the tube, but its running great now, didnt realise that would make so much difference, but thanks for your advice Boxermum, oh and I got a new 46 gall tank today cos its my birthday tomorrow so my fishes will have a bigger home to play in.

 

Cool, congrats! I have these to help clean the uptake tubes:

 

congrats! what are you putiing in your new tank? Happy Birthday!

Denise

 

Thanks for help, I am putting in some plateys, 2 gourmis, 2 algae eaters, an upside down cat fish and a pictus. In my other tank which is bigger I had a baby oscar, he is so cool, but man does he mess a lot, a rea poop machine lol, he tries to beg for food all day but I don't feed him too much, been outside catching crickets and grasshoppers YUCKKKKK , but he loves them, I keep the tank very clean though and the filter. He even lets me stroke him, and he plays with a ping pong ball. I love all my fish, and this is a great site when I need help( which is often )

 

plays with a ping pong ball??? that's hilarious!! must be neat..except for catching bug-treats
Denise