Emp.400 bio wheel rotation

[doubledragon]

I have found that if you buy emp. 400's and aim all the spray tip's as high as they go on the bio wheels that after a short period of time(after saturated fully, and start to build up bb on them) that they slow down to the perfect speed(that slowly, to stop,slow,stop,slow motion). When brand new though they will go very fast for a little while, hours, day's, etc. but hit that perfect speed in no time, and it takes all the guess work out of it. I also have to stick a paperclip in the holes every now and then and wiggle it around to keep them from plugging up.

 

[gomezladdams]

Yea the spraybars clog only annoying thing about that filter.It does come with a brush for easy cleaning though

 

[maseyferguson05]

I have heard that they are less effective with hard water.

Isint it the faster they spin the better?

 

[ewurm]

I don't use Biowheel filters for that reason. I don't have to worry about it. Aqua Clear for me.

 

[BIGgourami]

i got a couple of emperors, they do the stop slow thing too.
just every 3-6 months (or whenever you do MAJOR tank maintenance, clean teh filter, rocks, plants, wood, etc) take out the tube and brush it out, it takes like 2 minutes.

 

[ercnan]

Turn them around every so often helps too, just point the spray tubes down first, or learn another lesson.

 

[doubledragon]

Turn them around every so often helps too, just point the spray tubes down first, or learn another lesson.

Never tried turnin them around, but I have learn't my lesson about pointing the spray tips down first....haha

 

[doubledragon]

I have heard that they are less effective with hard water.

Isint it the faster they spin the better?

The hard water thing, mine work fine and I have very hard water.


Actually faster spinning is not better. Here is what a pamplet from marineland says.

STEP1 Rotates freely, driven by water flow, STEP2 Bio-Wheel develops a culture of benificial bacteria and may also change color STEP3 your fully cultured Bio-Wheel will be saturated and heavy. It will slow down and may even rotate irregularly.

ALSO Bio-wheel does not need to be replaced or cleaned. Bearings should be kept clean to allow wheel to rotate freely. To ensure maximum flow to Bio-Wheel, perform regular filter maintenance.


ALSO Laboratory Tests Prove: A cultured Bio-wheel Rotating at any speed Removes Toxic Ammonia....FASTER. It also has a chart but I can't type that in haha.

All my bio-wheels rotate very slow or slow,stop,slow,stop, that is a good thing...

 

[BushFishRox]

I was just thinking, if it spins slower doesnt it take longer for it to convert any waste?

 

[Wolf3101]

A slower rotation speed gives longer contact time with the water and still provides fresh air for the wet/dry bio-wheels. Giant versions of this type of filter (20' in dia.) have been in use in municipal water systems for 30 years. Marineland only adapted them for aquarium use.