biowheel questions

[bermuda]

hey all. i've been a member a long time, but i'm not a keeper of monster fish, just a monster fish lover. anywho, i usually just come here to ask a few questions when they pop up.

i currently have a little 10 gal with an eclipse 1 hood. the levels are usually fabulous and i'm pretty sure i have the tank perfectly balanced with fish numbers cuz when i add one, i lose one, so i just leave it alone mostly. my question is about the biowheel that comes with the hood - it spins veeery slowly and i was wondering if that's a sign i need a new one. also, there is lots of water pouring backwards out of the part that holds the filter pad and it never gets to the wheel at all. is there anything i can do to fix that? it's just causing massive algae growth.

 

[mike dunagan]

use oldtank water to clean the filterpad

 

[bermuda]

to help with the backflow thing? will that help the biowheel? sorry, i am more of a rat person than a fish person but i really like keeping fish too, lol.

 

[Mystix212]

The slower the bio whell moves the better, but not too slow. Because when water moves over the wheel slowly it is in contact with the bacteria thus allowing for cleanign water, but if its passes the wheel fast, it hasnt got much contact time which doesnt allow the water the get rid of its harmful substances. I dont tI made it clear, but I'll verify if you want me to. Someone else may.

 

[CHOMPERS]

...the biowheel that comes with the hood - it spins veeery slowly and i was wondering if that's a sign i need a new one.

It is a sign that you need to take the hood off, take it apart, and clean everything. The Bio-wheels do not normally need cleaning or replacing.

...also, there is lots of water pouring backwards out of the part that holds the filter pad...

Clean the filter pad with your kitchen sprayer, or replace the pad.

...it's just causing massive algae growth.

Algae growth is not due to your filter.

 

[bermuda]

sorry i meant there is algae growth where the water is spilling backwards over the part that sucks water back up; so above the water line and on the plastic pieces.

but thanks for the info you guys, i just washed the filter out a little, it shouldn't need replacing for a little while more.

 

[bukster]

the gunk in the hood just needs to be cleaned out and you should be fine. just make sure u don't let u'r biowheel dry out or you can kill a lot of u'r bacteria. once clean you should notice a huge difference. gl

 

[Wolf3101]

Good advice all around... You never replace the bio wheels...I've used them for 25 years now...but you need to either clean or replace the filter pad. The bypassing you see is the sign that its time to change/clean the filter pad. About twice a year you need to float the biowheel in the tank and remove and completely clean out the hood/filter assembly to keep everything flowing properly.
(hint) thats also a great time to replace the bulb.

 

[bukster]

good call on the bulb i never woulda thought of that. but then again i've never owned a all-in-one before and probably won't unless i build one so i guess i don't have to worry. much props though.