Bio Wheel Filter Stopped

[lotus3]

o.k., my Penguin 200 bio wheel filter has stalled, and then completely stopped for the umpteenth time now. I've about had it with cleaning everything and re-assembling, especially at midnight! Actually, I have 5 other tanks, every one of them has a different filter on it, from whisper to aqueon to just plain old hydro sponge,  and every 1 of them works just as well as the penguin, water is nice and clear and parameters are 
normal. Although I'll stop short at saying this bio wheel doesn't work, I do question how much of an improvement over any other HOB it is!
The tank the penguin is on is a 29g with an angel, 2 cories, 2 small tetras, 2 glass cats, and a raphael cat. It also has a large hydro-sponge filter in it, I haven't touched it in about a year. Until I decide on another filter, (and we know what it WON'T be) if I take the bio wheel out will the penguin act like any other HOB filter without a bio wheel? 
Thanks.
 
Barbara

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Since there is a sponge in there I would think for short term purposes taking the bio wheel out would be okay, but I am not all that experienced in filters and such so if you want to wait for a second opinion before taking action that does not hurt my feelings . Hope you get it figured out.

 

[KieranBoyne]

I'm not too sure. But i would just take it out and leave the hyrdo sponge filter in there on its own until you can find a suitable replacement for the faulty filter. Hope this helped