Emergency Filter Help!

[LionessN3cubs]

I have a HOB filter...penguin mini biowheel. I know some in the UK dont know what they are but still should be able to help I hope.

Noticed tonight that my biowheel wasn't moving (which means its dried out now) and I dont have as much waterflow as I SHOULD have. Pulled the filter cartridge out to give it a swish and its COVERED in green hairy stuff..NOT like algae I dont think...literally looks like green hair. I swished it some and reinserted it but my it didnt help much.

What do I do? Pull the filter apart and fully clean it or what? I do have a pretty large sponge filter in there as a back up so I know that Im going to cycle again, but it should be a mini cycle. Im also wondering if this has anything to do with losing the platy the other night UGH. HELP please

 

[Miss Wiggle]

the green hair is a form of algae, just take it apart and clean it off as best you can to get the filter moving. if you find it's hard to shift try a sharp blade like a stanley knife blade. You can weaken it first by plunging it into boiling hot water, but as I've said before I'm not familiar with the bio wheels and where the bacteria live, if they live on the place with the algae on then you shouldn't do this as you'll nuke the bacteria.