We Have A Huge Problem...bio Wheels Stopped Working!

[watertown28]

So I check on the little guys today when I got home. Took a quick look at the 72 gallon and saw all fish were there and did not think anything of it. Well go down a hour later... and i noticed something.

My Bio wheels on the Marineland Penguin 350 pretty much stopped turning! So I quick grab the wheels out and dropped them into the tank, pulled the whole unit out. Cleaned the plastic inserts with brush. Changed the filter pad. Even went as far as taking the propeller out and cleaned in there and the propeller itself.

Put it all together and it did not make one bit of difference! One side always spun pretty slowly, but the other usually went at a good clip. Now they both pretty much seem dead in the water.

What makes it much worse, is that there is no where close that sells something with a bio wheel. There is one store a bit away that I for sure know has this type of filter in stock. Before I jump the gun here I want to ask how I should proceed to fix this?

Options:
1- I do have a Tetra EX 70 on the 50 gallon. Cycled....at least for 2 white clouds ( Zeroes on the important stuff and very little NO3?).
2- Buy the other filter of the same model.... that in itself poses a question..... Do I re use the old bio wheels? Should I use one old one for a while before introducing the new one on the other side?

SO I am stuck. I will need a new filter it looks like... either way. I have only walmart close by that will sell a filter large enough for the 50 or 72 gallon. Even that store I was talking about has only the Marineland filter big enough for it.

I guess I am more upset that the money this week was ment for a few more new stock items. Animart by me in another town is closing at the end of the month, and has some nice fish on buy one get one free because they dont want to move them and want to start fresh. I was gonna go hog crazy in there and walk out with 10+ fish for the 4 tanks I have LOL....

I just need help here because I did not expect this to happen!

O and the budget is ~50 bucks. I still would like to buy some fish heh... or wait until next week.

Stock in the 72 gallon is
7- Dinoes
2 Emmy green corries

 

[thereverendturtle]

Contact marineland and ask them for replacements bearings, or where you might be able to purchase some. Usually a $5-10 fix. I used to sell lots of the bearings when I worked at a lfs.

Do the wheels move at all? If they turn partially every few minutes, marineland says that's acceptable.

 

[watertown28]

Contact marineland and ask them for replacements bearings, or where you might be able to purchase some. Usually a $5-10 fix. I used to sell lots of the bearings when I worked at a lfs.

Do the wheels move at all? If they turn partially every few minutes, marineland says that's acceptable.

Yes, one is spinning okay while the other just pauses and sits idle for about 10 seconds and then turns a bit and repeats. hrm so I guess as long as they move its all good? I guess in theory it makes sense because they do stay wet. I do not want to invest into a new filter, because I would just rather save up and some time down the road when I get the tank to almost where I want it I go canister.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Yeah if they are moving you are good. Go get those extra fish.

 

[OldMan47]

As long as you have rotation, you are fine. I have had mine nearly stop at times and was able to clean, not the impeller but the bearing area of the bio-wheels. After that they improved their rotation to a degree. The "normal" rotation speed seems to be more dependent on the angle the spray hits the wheel than anything else.