Bio-wheel

[daveedka]

I have all penguins -- the mini in my 5g and 220s in my 36g -- when I first started a few months ago, I had the wheel in my mini stop while I was at work -- no idea for how long. I had a goldfish my daughter won at a carnival and was just learning my lessons (and yes, I lost the goldfish). Couldn't learn things fast enough to save her. Now that I've started learning things BEFORE doing them, things are MUCH better! I don't have any problem with my wheels now -- every water change, I swish the carbon filter in the siphoned water or change it out. Amazing how things work when you "use as directed"!

I should have specified the question to elkhound, but that's fine. the penguins use the outflow to spin the wheels as you pointed out. The emporers actually have spray bars that direct water onto the wheels from the impeller cavity. With the emps you could feasably stop all flow through the mechanical cartidges and still have water happily spinning you bio-wheels. I tend to think emporer rather than penguin when someone asks a bio-wheel question.
Dave

 

[elkhound]

Thank you so much for ALL of the insight. I actually think I fixed it. It appears that way anyway. I took off the lid and watched it for a good 30 minutes (probably longer) and it would spin occasionally only and by occasionally I am talking 10 seconds of spinning every 3-4 minutes. While I was parked watching it I fooled around with the filter and it was fine and then I noticed the intake was not totally snapped into place so I turned off the filter and pulled it out and took the entire thing apart and put it back together again with the intake now properly in place the wheel is working fine. It slows down occasionally and acts like it is going to stop but then it picks back up again. So now I am back in good filtering business thanks to everyone. BTW, I did have the smarts to remove the wrapper the first time!!!

 

[TommyR]

Thank you so much for ALL of the insight. So now I am back in good filtering business thanks to everyone. BTW, I did have the smarts to remove the wrapper the first time!!!

I'll add that about every 3-6 months do a total cleaning on the filter. Unplug, take it to the sink and clean everything on/in it. Use a toothbrush and one of those flexible intake tube cleaners. Be sure to take out the impeller and clean that good too.

These things get pretty gunky (that's a technical term!) after a while.

Tom

 

[Roan Art]

I'll add that about every 3-6 months do a total cleaning on the filter. Unplug, take it to the sink and clean everything on/in it. Use a toothbrush and one of those flexible intake tube cleaners. Be sure to take out the impeller and clean that good too.

These things get pretty gunky (that's a technical term!) after a while.

Tom

Ah, no, do not do this. Never clean your filter parts in untreated tap water. Use a bucket of old tank water to swish the parts in. Don't clean the "gunk" out unless it's restricting your water flow. If you do need to clean it, don't kill yourself making it squeaky-clean. Just run a brush through it to maintain water flow.

Do use a toothbrush to clean the impeller. That part has to remain gunk-free. I clean my impeller with every water change.

Lots of good stuff in that there "gunk". Don't kill it with chlorine or scrub it *all* off.


My 2 cents,
Roan

 

[TommyR]

Ah, no, do not do this. Never clean your filter parts in untreated tap water. Use a bucket of old tank water to swish the parts in. Don't clean the "gunk" out unless it's restricting your water flow. If you do need to clean it, don't kill yourself making it squeaky-clean. Just run a brush through it to maintain water flow.

Do use a toothbrush to clean the impeller. That part has to remain gunk-free. I clean my impeller with every water change.

Lots of good stuff in that there "gunk". Don't kill it with chlorine or scrub it *all* off.


My 2 cents,
Roan

I should have added (forgot) NOT to do the bio-wheel itself. I clean everything else well though.

Tom

 

[Roan Art]

I should have added (forgot) NOT to do the bio-wheel itself. I clean everything else well though.

Honestly, Tom, there's no need to clean it that thoroughly and you'll likely be doing more harm than good. Obviously you've had no problems, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

Now, cleaning the filter is one thing and it seems to work for you, but I would strongly and totally argue against cleaning any part of your aquarium that may harbor bacteria in untreated tap water. Not a good thing to do at all. Perhaps this is one practice you should reassess?

I know there's a thread on here somewhere that discusses this, but I can't find it. Typical. Maybe someone else can.

Not cleaning the bio wheel goes without saying

Roan

 

[TommyR]

Honestly, Tom, there's no need to clean it that thoroughly and you'll likely be doing more harm than good. Obviously you've had no problems, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

Now, cleaning the filter is one thing and it seems to work for you, but I would strongly and totally argue against cleaning any part of your aquarium that may harbor bacteria in untreated tap water. Not a good thing to do at all. Perhaps this is one practice you should reassess?

I know there's a thread on here somewhere that discusses this, but I can't find it. Typical. Maybe someone else can.

Not cleaning the bio wheel goes without saying

Roan

I don't think/believe it harms anything, there is plenty enough good bacteria on/in the gravel, caves,decorations,heater,etc. to do the job.

To me a cleaned filter performs at it's maximum flow/exchange rate. Besides, the filter frame also harbors good bateria on top of everything else in the tank.

Tom

 

[daveedka]

In actuality, when bio-wheels are in use,unless you are brutaly overstocked or using an extremely undersized filter cleaning in tap water will not have an effect. As mention by both sides of this discussion do not clean the bio-wheel. the bio-wheel however will constitute mre than enough bio-filtration to keep the tank safe. therefore you can change cartidges (Or in my case custom sponges) clean the filter etc. any way you wish. just leae the wheel hanging in the tank while you clean the rest of the filter so you don't compromise it. I have found especially with emporers that the periodic scrubbing is the only way to keep them quiet and effecient. The filter is specifically designed to be able to be cleaned in this manner.
Now with that said, it is never bad advice to err on the side of caution. so cleaning in tank water would not be bad advice by any stretch.

Remember that the plastic components of the filter are non pourous and therefore not capable of colonizing huge colonies anyhow. the primary colony is the wheel, the secondary is most likely the filter media, But the platic parts and impellar really aren't significant in you bio-filter.
dave

 

[Roan Art]

Well, I bow to Dave's greater knowledge :bowing:.

We're both right and should do what works best for us As for cautious, dats my middle name

That being said and done, I will admit that Tom's method is okay dokay. However, I will still never advise someone to clean a filter in tap water. Just doesn't click as a good practice to me. I won't contradict anyone who advises otherwise, but I'm never going to advocate it. That's just me

So, Tom, we agree both methods are correct. Dat okay with you?

Btw, it was nice having a civil disagreement with someone. That doesn't happen too often on boards. Kudos!

Roan

 

[TommyR]

Well, I bow to Dave's greater knowledge :bowing:.

We're both right and should do what works best for us As for cautious, dats my middle name

That being said and done, I will admit that Tom's method is okay dokay. However, I will still never advise someone to clean a filter in tap water. Just doesn't click as a good practice to me. I won't contradict anyone who advises otherwise, but I'm never going to advocate it. That's just me

So, Tom, we agree both methods are correct. Dat okay with you?

Btw, it was nice having a civil disagreement with someone. That doesn't happen too often on boards. Kudos!

Roan

Works for me! Hey, I'm fairly easy, that's not to say I can't be uncivilized every now and then but I try to behave.



Heck, I'm 47 so as I get older I get to be more cranky they tell me!

Tom