Marineland Bio-wheel Penguin 200

Marineland Bio-wheel Penguin 200 HOB

I’ve had this filter on my 65g freshwater planted tank for about 7 months. My water looks and tests great, and I can see water being pushed through the filter media, but the bio wheel isn’t spinning. How big of a deal is that, does anyone know? I have completely disassembled and cleaned it, changed and cleaned the filter media, and sprayed a silicone lubricant on the tips of the wheel footing. Every now and then it might make a lazy turn or two, but it’s slowed to essentially nothing. When new, it spun like a top. It does still feel damp... Can anyone help with this, or tell me with confidence that it’s not an emergency?
Thank you!!

 

I have the same filter and similar issue as well. In the manual they do say it is doing its job as long as any rotation is present. If it bothers you a new wheel is about $20, but I've never replaced one so I don't know if it'll make a difference.

I haven't had any changes in water chemistry come back in tests after mine stopped

 

You really shouldn't be cleaning it. By doing so you're killing off the beneficial bacteria in the wheel. I wouldn't spray anything on the tips either.

 

You will want to clean the pins and pin holders then lube them once a month with 100% silicon grease. I have 2 Penguins and 4 Emperors. Never had an issue in all the years I have used them.

And yes you need to have the wheels spinning. The bb will only grow on the part of the wheel that is wet. The wheel should be a uniform brown in color when fully mature.

Never clean the wheels themselves.

Another reason the wheels do not turn is the cartridges are not allowing proper flow through. When the Cartridge can no longer function properly I strip everything off the plastic backing and cut a 2 stage filter medium (I get it by the roll) and place it in front of it. I also am getting clam shells like what the Emperor has to put bio medium in.

I am starting to put Seachem Matrix in most of my filters. It will take several months for the anaerobic bacteria to establish its self and help with nitrates.

As a side note, I am of the opinion that you are vastly under filtered if that is the only filter you have on that 65 gallon. If you do not want a canister a Emperor 400 would be a good addition.

 

Marineland Bio-wheel Penguin 200 HOB

I’ve had this filter on my 65g freshwater planted tank for about 7 months. My water looks and tests great, and I can see water being pushed through the filter media, but the bio wheel isn’t spinning. How big of a deal is that, does anyone know? I have completely disassembled and cleaned it, changed and cleaned the filter media, and sprayed a silicone lubricant on the tips of the wheel footing. Every now and then it might make a lazy turn or two, but it’s slowed to essentially nothing. When new, it spun like a top. It does still feel damp... Can anyone help with this, or tell me with confidence that it’s not an emergency?
Thank you!!

If all the water is flowing through your filter media and over the front where it turns the biowheel, rather than overflowing at the ends of the biowheel, it's working. The biowheel can build up sludge that weighs it down. You can rinse this off by vigorously 'swishing' it in pre-treated water or tank water. However, the biowheel does also build up colony's of bacteria that also can affect it's spin. As long as it is making a "lazy turn or two" once in awhile, and not drying out in spots, it is still working. Make sure it's seated right, that the filter lid isn't touching the biowheel, and that your filter media isn't clogged so water is overflowing on the ends and it is fine. One other thing that can happen is your intake tube (did you run a brush through that?) and tube guard/strainer can build up sludge or get plugged decreasing flow through the filter. Check all that. It still does it's job even though it's not spinning like it did when it was new! I wouldn't use silicone spray on anything that has contact with the tank water. It washes into the tank and is really not good for the fish.

 

Thanks guys- I’m not ever cleaning the wheel- just the filter pad that slides in behind it

 

I have the same filter and similar issue as well. In the manual they do say it is doing its job as long as any rotation is present. If it bothers you a new wheel is about $20, but I've never replaced one so I don't know if it'll make a difference.

I haven't had any changes in water chemistry come back in tests after mine stopped

If it’s working it doesn’t bother me I have a nice even brown color on my wheel, and it’s weighty compared to when it was new, so I’m pretty sure it’s mature. And it is evenly damp over all its surfaces, so maybe there’s nothing to worry about, which would be great!

 

Thanks guys- I’m not ever cleaning the wheel- just the filter pad that slides in behind it

It's not an emergency. I've used bio wheels on my smaller tanks exclusively for years. Usually the problem with the slowed spinning, or rather 'turning' of a mature biowheel is water flow through the filter media itself, something touching the biowheel and interfering with its movement, unseated biowheel itself, or reduced flow of intake water.

 

100% silicon lube is what manufactures include with filters to lube ‘O’ rings. It is harmless to fish and plants. The lack of its use is a mayor contributing factor as to the leaking of canisters.

I have been using it for many years and I am here to tell you it is harmless. IF you use the proper one in the tube.

 

100% silicon lube is what manufactures include with filters to lube ‘O’ rings. It is harmless to fish and plants. The lack of its use is a mayor contributing factor as to the leaking of canisters.

I have been using it for many years and I am here to tell you it is harmless. IF you use the proper one in the tube.

Would you be willing to share the specific product you’re using?

 

100% silicon lube is what manufactures include with filters to lube ‘O’ rings. It is harmless to fish and plants. The lack of its use is a mayor contributing factor as to the leaking of canisters.

I have been using it for many years and I am here to tell you it is harmless. IF you use the proper one in the tube.

Don't need it for a biowheel though. And it's only safe if food grade silicone for aquariums is used. Many others have petroleum derivatives in them and are NOT good for fish. I, personally don't use any silicone on my O rings and the only time I've ever had problems with them is when they have been stored for years in a 100 degree garage and allowed to dry out.

 

Would you be willing to share the specific product you’re using?

Sure, I will give you a link when I get home.

Don't need it for a biowheel though. And it's only safe if food grade silicone for aquariums is used. Many others have petroleum derivatives in them and are NOT good for fish. I, personally don't use any silicone on my O rings and the only time I've ever had problems with them is when they have been stored for years in a 100 degree garage and allowed to dry out.

You are in error in this. I specify said 100% silicon. There is water potable that you can get if the 100% it not to your liking. As I stated I have used it for many years and my wheels always turn. And the fact that manufactures include it with their products should give you insight as to its safety.

 

Drinking water safe

Marineland grease

And I thought you just you just chucked the wheels when they quit.

 

Hey David 1978, you only "chuck the wheels" if they break lol! And they usually only break if you stomp on them or the dog chews them up!

 

I feel the wheels are useless. There really isn't that much BB on the wheel. There is some, but not a lot. If you throw the cartridge or wash in it tap water, you are left with only the small bit of BB that was on the wheel. And I simply don't trust that. There is a TON of BB thrown away when replacing the cartridges. The majority of the tanks BB is in there. Not on the wheel. So it is very easy to experience a mini-cycle if the wheel is the only thing you rely on.

I keep bags of matrix behind my cartridges of my bio wheel filters. But I also never replace the cartridges or wash them in tap. Unless they are falling apart. And if I have to replace them, I know the bag of matrix has plenty of BB to keep things stable. While the teeny bit of BB on the wheel would not. Never trust the wheel!!!!!

 

Yecats75 here you go


"WATERPROOF LUBRICANT: NSF 61 approved and designed for use as a waterproof lubricant on faucets and valve stems

• LONG TERM: Contains high raw silicone content making it better for long term lubricant hold, safe for nitrite/rubber o-rings
• SAFE: No chemical contamination to drinking water. Retains its consistency in temperatures from -40° to 400° F"

 

I feel the wheels are useless. There really isn't that much BB on the wheel. There is some, but not a lot. If you throw the cartridge or wash in it tap water, you are left with only the small bit of BB that was on the wheel. And I simply don't trust that. There is a TON of BB thrown away when replacing the cartridges. The majority of the tanks BB is in there. Not on the wheel. So it is very easy to experience a mini-cycle if the wheel is the only thing you rely on.

I keep bags of matrix behind my cartridges of my bio wheel filters. But I also never replace the cartridges or wash them in tap. Unless they are falling apart. And if I have to replace them, I know the bag of matrix has plenty of BB to keep things stable. While the teeny bit of BB on the wheel would not. Never trust the wheel!!!!!

TRUST THE WHEEL! It rolls better than the cube!

 

For anyone interested, this is a link to a 45 second video demonstration of the easiest and most effective fix for a non-spinning bio wheel. Just did this and was instantly successful, and my next thought was “wow I gotta share this with the folks”! I didn’t use a pen like he did- I used a wide reusable straw like you use for milkshakes or smoothies, and I had to add 2 pieces instead of just 1 like he does, but my once-troublesome wheel is spinning like a top now, just like it did out of the box!

 

For anyone interested, this is a link to a 45 second video demonstration of the easiest and most effective fix for a non-spinning bio wheel. Just did this and was instantly successful, and my next thought was “wow I gotta share this with the folks”! I didn’t use a pen like he did- I used a wide reusable straw like you use for milkshakes or smoothies, and I had to add 2 pieces instead of just 1 like he does, but my once-troublesome wheel is spinning like a top now, just like it did out of the box!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't feel that the bio wheels are that important once the tank is well established. There should be enough bacteria in the water and gravel. I have 2 emperor 400 filters in my 75 gal tank and no longer use the bio wheels. I've had my tank 20 plus years.

 

The biowheels probably aren't that important after the tank is established. It sure is a great security blanket if you decide to switch out ALL your substrate at once tho...lol!

 

Yeah, I believe the filter performs equally whether it's on or not