Stuck Bio-Wheel

[TommyR]

Several things to try:

Clean the INSIDE of the intake tube with a pipe brush.

Check the filter cartridge and replace or clean if needed.

Check the bearings on the bio wheel shafts , clean them off.

See if the wheel is sitting properly on the filter.

Give it a good once over and clean everything and restart.

Tom

 

[><(((\"> JLange]

Never clean the wheel. When cleaning the filter unit float the wheel in the tank so it stays wet. Use the round tube brush to clean the spray head. Make sure all the little holes are clean and adjust the direction of flow so it sprays on the back side of the wheel.

It only needs to turn a little every now and then. The directions say even if it is jerky, the media has to be exposed to the water AND air to work properly.

JOhn ><>

 

[anonapersona]

medication

When I add medication that might hurt the biofilter, I take the biowheels off and put them in a plastic bag to keep them moist but aerated.

 

[gsk177]

I have to ditto Loudmouth....
I used to have an Emperor 400 and soon grew tired of the whole biowheel worries. I hated it when the wheel stopped turning. IMO, if the wheel is not turning, then whats the point in having the wheel in the first place? I understand the concept of growing the bacteria on the wheel and the water and air together maybe making the bacteria grow a little faster. But once the bacteria is grown and the wheel stops turning, what good is the actual WHEEL mechanism doing? If the wheel is NOT turning at all, or just turning every now and then, couldn't you just float the wheel in the tank and get the same result?

I personally think the "wheels" are just a gimick to get you to buy a certain filter.
I have since upgraded to Aquaclear filters. They move way more water, cost less, and have more "customizable" options with biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration needs.

 

[TommyR]

I have to ditto Loudmouth....
I personally think the "wheels" are just a gimick to get you to buy a certain filter.
I have since upgraded to Aquaclear filters. They move way more water, cost less, and have more "customizable" options with biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration needs.

The bio wheels DO work well, I have a mini on a 10g and it works fine. If you take apart the cartridge and use sheet filter material around it instead you won't have to buy new cartridges. I AM going to try an Aquaclear 30 on a new 20g high shortly however to try them out. Go everything ready to go, I just have to add water...

Tom