Bio wheel went dry!!!!

[lillibirdy]

I came home late last night and changed back from the polishing filter to the regular filter. Apparently I didn't put it together right and didn't even notice it wasn't on till after work today when my bio wheels where not moving. I guess I was hearing the dang air pump for the bubble wall, and didn't notice the quiet noise from the Magnum 350 was absent. So I am thinking the bio wheels where dry for 15 hours. Jeez, after all that good luck with it cycling so fast, I go and ruin it! In the future, how long does it take to completely die out when it is dry? My wheels are very quiet also and under a big wooden hood and behind the light, not something I would see every day, if they ever stop for any reason I might not notice right away.
KathyW

 

[Bignose]

If it dry, you can pretty much be sure the bacteria are dead. If it was moist, you may have a chance. Wet bacteria will die off from lack of food (ammonia) somewhere between an hour and a day -- it is tough to know 100%. Just install the bio-wheel correctly, and test your water more frequently, and everything might be fine.

 

[DannyBoy17]

If it dry, you can pretty much be sure the bacteria are dead. If it was moist, you may have a chance. Wet bacteria will die off from lack of food (ammonia) somewhere between an hour and a day -- it is tough to know 100%. Just install the bio-wheel correctly, and test your water more frequently, and everything might be fine.

Mine was off for a month, and it lived.

Weird.

DB

 

[yvez9]

the sponge should hold enough bacteria anyway and the part that stayed wat will quickly repopulate the dry part of the wheel
IMO' you have nothing to worry about!