Bio Wheel not turning

[Dick]

I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.

However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.

Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?

[RedForeman ©®]

|| I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
|| wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
|| spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
||
|| However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
|| I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
|| nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
||
|| Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?

I too have this/these filters, and I've noticed if it's a well aged filter,
they can accumulate gunk near that point and it'll put pressure against it
while it's seated.. Suggestion to take the wheel out, get a Qtip and clean
out the area around the wheel hub... another reason is the filter can be
clogged enough that the pressure from the backside isn't enough to force the
wheel around...

Good luck

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??

[NetMax]

"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
> || I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
> || wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
> || spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
> ||
> || However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
> || I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
> || nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
> ||
> || Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>
> I too have this/these filters, and I've noticed if it's a well aged
filter,
> they can accumulate gunk near that point and it'll put pressure against
it
> while it's seated.. Suggestion to take the wheel out, get a Qtip and
clean
> out the area around the wheel hub... another reason is the filter can
be
> clogged enough that the pressure from the backside isn't enough to
force the
> wheel around...
>
> Good luck
>
> --
> RedForeman ©®

I think Red's got your advice well covered. I've also heard of (but
never tried) giving the bio-wheels a little twist. This keeps a part of
the blade in the water longer (helping to push it along), and it shortens
its length slightly (less lateral pressure on the axle). Definitely try
Red's advice first, but if you are still stuck, then use your discretion
with this twisting idea.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[GloFish]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
wrote:

>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>
>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>
>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?



I agree with Red... I have two 170s and have seen two instances that
occur that cause this... one is a dirty filter keeping the water from
flowing.. when this occurs, water will be flowing out on the intake
side.

The other is when the wheel hubs are dirty... the hubs are the little
blue caps on the ends of the biowheel.. removed, clean out the
insides....




--Tony

[Dick]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 18:38:59 GMT, GloFish >
wrote:

>On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
>wrote:
>
>>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>>
>>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>>
>>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>
>
>
>I agree with Red... I have two 170s and have seen two instances that
>occur that cause this... one is a dirty filter keeping the water from
>flowing.. when this occurs, water will be flowing out on the intake
>side.
>
>The other is when the wheel hubs are dirty... the hubs are the little
>blue caps on the ends of the biowheel.. removed, clean out the
>insides....
>
>
>
>
>--Tony

I have removed the wheel and cleaned the hub side. I pulled the small
white bearings to look for cracks, etc. I have no overflow on the
intake side. I have removed excess gunk from the paddles.


this morning two of the wheels were not turning. One started turning
after the ususual counter spinning and wiping of the spill way. The
other is the obstinate one. It turns so freely if removed from the
run. I acts like one of the paddles is heavier than the rest.

[Dick]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 13:47:05 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
>> || I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>> || wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>> || spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>> ||
>> || However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>> || I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>> || nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>> ||
>> || Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>>
>> I too have this/these filters, and I've noticed if it's a well aged
>filter,
>> they can accumulate gunk near that point and it'll put pressure against
>it
>> while it's seated.. Suggestion to take the wheel out, get a Qtip and
>clean
>> out the area around the wheel hub... another reason is the filter can
>be
>> clogged enough that the pressure from the backside isn't enough to
>force the
>> wheel around...
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> --
>> RedForeman ©®
>
>I think Red's got your advice well covered. I've also heard of (but
>never tried) giving the bio-wheels a little twist. This keeps a part of
>the blade in the water longer (helping to push it along), and it shortens
>its length slightly (less lateral pressure on the axle). Definitely try
>Red's advice first, but if you are still stuck, then use your discretion
>with this twisting idea.

"Twist" like in Chubby Checkers "Twisting the Night Away?"
I can't picture what kind of dance this Twist requires. Twist?

[GloFish]

On Thu, 27 May 2004 04:27:23 -0500, Dick >
wrote:

<snip><snip>

>I have removed the wheel and cleaned the hub side. I pulled the small
>white bearings to look for cracks, etc. I have no overflow on the
>intake side. I have removed excess gunk from the paddles.
>
>
>this morning two of the wheels were not turning. One started turning
>after the ususual counter spinning and wiping of the spill way. The
>other is the obstinate one. It turns so freely if removed from the
>run. I acts like one of the paddles is heavier than the rest.
>


Sound like you have done everything I know... based on MarineLand's
suggestions, and common sense....

My next suggestion would be to replace it.... I was at petsmart
yesterday and they have the replacement wheels for about $5....

Unless someone else has an idea???


--Tony

[Dick]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
wrote:

>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>
>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>
>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?


Answering my own question. I swapped the two wheels on the one filter
and both are now turning. I can't see anything to explain, but it did
the trick.

Dick

[Dick]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 13:47:05 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
>> || I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>> || wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>> || spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>> ||
>> || However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>> || I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>> || nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>> ||
>> || Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>>
>> I too have this/these filters, and I've noticed if it's a well aged
>filter,
>> they can accumulate gunk near that point and it'll put pressure against
>it
>> while it's seated.. Suggestion to take the wheel out, get a Qtip and
>clean
>> out the area around the wheel hub... another reason is the filter can
>be
>> clogged enough that the pressure from the backside isn't enough to
>force the
>> wheel around...
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> --
>> RedForeman ©®
>
>I think Red's got your advice well covered. I've also heard of (but
>never tried) giving the bio-wheels a little twist. This keeps a part of
>the blade in the water longer (helping to push it along), and it shortens
>its length slightly (less lateral pressure on the axle). Definitely try
>Red's advice first, but if you are still stuck, then use your discretion
>with this twisting idea.

I got the wheel to rotate by swapping wells, but it still would
hesitate on some rotations. I finally understood "twisting" and gave
the wheel a twist. It does rotate more smoothly. This is one twist
Chubby would know nothing about. :-)

[Dick]

On Thu, 27 May 2004 11:43:23 GMT, GloFish >
wrote:

>On Thu, 27 May 2004 04:27:23 -0500, Dick >
>wrote:
>
><snip><snip>
>
>>I have removed the wheel and cleaned the hub side. I pulled the small
>>white bearings to look for cracks, etc. I have no overflow on the
>>intake side. I have removed excess gunk from the paddles.
>>
>>
>>this morning two of the wheels were not turning. One started turning
>>after the ususual counter spinning and wiping of the spill way. The
>>other is the obstinate one. It turns so freely if removed from the
>>run. I acts like one of the paddles is heavier than the rest.
>>
>
>
>Sound like you have done everything I know... based on MarineLand's
>suggestions, and common sense....
>
>My next suggestion would be to replace it.... I was at petsmart
>yesterday and they have the replacement wheels for about $5....
>
>Unless someone else has an idea???
>
>
>--Tony

Thanks for thinking about my wheel problem while at Petsmart. I have
to order everything over the internet. However, I do keep a backup
filter and could just swap a bio wheel until I place a new order next
month for food and stuff. Luckily I have found a temporary solution
by swapping the bio wheels from one side to the other.

It is great to have so much help so handy. I live in a small West
Texas town. No fish stores for 200 miles. I call the Internet my
"Window on the world."

Dick

[GloFish]

On Fri, 28 May 2004 06:29:14 -0500, Dick >
wrote:

>It is great to have so much help so handy. I live in a small West
>Texas town. No fish stores for 200 miles. I call the Internet my
>"Window on the world."

I forgot about that.. you have mentioned it before.... and I suppose
you don't get into El Paso too often...

I miss West Texas... from Houston originally... we used to go to Big
Bend in the summer, when growing up... Then to El Paso to visit
relatives, and back to houston... lots of driving.. but truly Gods
country.

Glad you got it roatating....




--Tony

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 26 May 2004 13:47:05 -0400, "NetMax"
> > wrote:
>
> >"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> || I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank.
The
> >> || wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
> >> || spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
> >> ||
> >> || However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
> >> || I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
> >> || nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
> >> ||
> >> || Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
> >>
> >> I too have this/these filters, and I've noticed if it's a well aged
> >filter,
> >> they can accumulate gunk near that point and it'll put pressure
against
> >it
> >> while it's seated.. Suggestion to take the wheel out, get a Qtip and
> >clean
> >> out the area around the wheel hub... another reason is the filter
can
> >be
> >> clogged enough that the pressure from the backside isn't enough to
> >force the
> >> wheel around...
> >>
> >> Good luck
> >>
> >> --
> >> RedForeman ©®
> >
> >I think Red's got your advice well covered. I've also heard of (but
> >never tried) giving the bio-wheels a little twist. This keeps a part
of
> >the blade in the water longer (helping to push it along), and it
shortens
> >its length slightly (less lateral pressure on the axle). Definitely
try
> >Red's advice first, but if you are still stuck, then use your
discretion
> >with this twisting idea.
>
> I got the wheel to rotate by swapping wells, but it still would
> hesitate on some rotations. I finally understood "twisting" and gave
> the wheel a twist. It does rotate more smoothly. This is one twist
> Chubby would know nothing about. :-)

I can only give suggestions, what you do with it..... ;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dick]

On Fri, 28 May 2004 12:41:38 GMT, GloFish >
wrote:

>On Fri, 28 May 2004 06:29:14 -0500, Dick >
>wrote:
>
>>It is great to have so much help so handy. I live in a small West
>>Texas town. No fish stores for 200 miles. I call the Internet my
>>"Window on the world."
>
>I forgot about that.. you have mentioned it before.... and I suppose
>you don't get into El Paso too often...
>
>I miss West Texas... from Houston originally... we used to go to Big
>Bend in the summer, when growing up... Then to El Paso to visit
>relatives, and back to houston... lots of driving.. but truly Gods
>country.
>
>Glad you got it roatating....
>
>
>
>
>--Tony

I never go to El Paso unless I have to. I prefer Carlsbad, N.M. or
even Oddessa. Actually, I stay home almost all the time. I went to
Oddessa early in May to have my motorhome generator fixed. The
refrigerator broke, so mid month drove to Carlsbad to have a new frig
installed. That was a terrible trip as my number one dog ran off
before dawn when I let the three of them out to do their business. He
never came back. A real big loss for me and the other two dogs.
Poncho ran the house. Strange that the youngest didn't go with him,
they are/were buddies and always explored together. Poncho just had a
wanderer inside that loveable skin. He was originally needing a home
partly because he would get out and wander. I almost lost him several
other times including a trip to California where he took off and my
Greyhound went with him. I found him thanks to several men in their
yards giving me clues. Both dogs were both inside a fenced yard. I
couldn't see them. A neighbor told me where they were.

Leaving home is so risky.

I got my fish tanks to enhance my stay at home. Now I have to
consider the fish. I figure I can leave them a couple of days, but
where to go in this part of the country in a few days? <g>

Dick

I have been to the Big Bend twice.

[Tank U]

Dick > wrote in
:

> I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
> wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
> spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>
> However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
> I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
> nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>
> Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>

One area missed when cleaning one of these filters is to pull the impeller
out of the housing and clean both the housing it sits in and the impeller.
You can have clean filters and even a new bio-wheel, but unless you have a
good flow of water going through the filter, the wheel will not turn. It
doesn't take much gunk to slow the impeller down enough to restrict the
water flow.

[www.docsbettas.com]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
> wrote:
>
> >I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
> >wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
> >spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
> >
> >However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
> >I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
> >nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
> >
> >Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>
>
> Answering my own question. I swapped the two wheels on the one filter
> and both are now turning. I can't see anything to explain, but it did
> the trick.
>
> Dick

Pull the intake tube and clean it. They make flexable brushes to do this.
The inside of the intake tube gets gunky and impedes water flow...when you
do this also remove the wheel and clean the ends of both the wheel and the
frame the wheel sits in.
Clean the pads. Also cleaning the impeller at the same time helps. Its
called filter maintanance and needs to be done every so often. Doing this
will make your wheels turn with no problem.

Doc

[Dick]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
wrote:

>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>
>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>
>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?

A follow up on the big wheels not turning. After swapping the bio
wheels there was improvement, the wheels did turn, but a couple of
days ago I saw both were not turning and water was running over the
intake spillway. I didn't have time until this morning to find the
problem. I again cleaned the whole thing including the intake tube.
Not too much grime. Put it back on the 75 gallon tank, more water but
still not turning the wheels, but more coming out the inlet spillway.
Finally, I decided to change out the cartridges. Bingo. The old
cartridges just were dirty in a way I couldn't clean.

Thanks to all those making suggestions. I got lots of useful ideas.
I now know that I can't always just clean. BTW the wheels are 18
months in use, but they ended up not being the problem. I didn't wash
them so as to keep their bacteria.

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Bio Wheel not turning
>From: Dick
>Date: 6/4/2004 7:04 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
>wrote:
>
>>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>>
>>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>>
>>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>
>A follow up on the big wheels not turning. After swapping the bio
>wheels there was improvement, the wheels did turn, but a couple of
>days ago I saw both were not turning and water was running over the
>intake spillway. I didn't have time until this morning to find the
>problem. I again cleaned the whole thing including the intake tube.
>Not too much grime. Put it back on the 75 gallon tank, more water but
>still not turning the wheels, but more coming out the inlet spillway.
>Finally, I decided to change out the cartridges. Bingo. The old
>cartridges just were dirty in a way I couldn't clean.
>
>Thanks to all those making suggestions. I got lots of useful ideas.
>I now know that I can't always just clean. BTW the wheels are 18
>months in use, but they ended up not being the problem. I didn't wash
>them so as to keep their bacteria.

Instead of tossing your filter cartriges, simple rinse them out in old tank
water, and return them to the filter.
The reason for rinsing them in old tank water is to save the nitrifying
bacteria that is already built up inside it. Do this till it falls apart.
If you are simply tossing it out, you're wasting your money, and a nice load of
bacteria.
How often have you been tossing them out (since your tank is 18 months old, by
now you should have a normal routine going).

[Dick]

On 04 Jun 2004 13:26:36 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Bio Wheel not turning
>>From: Dick
>>Date: 6/4/2004 7:04 AM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>On Wed, 26 May 2004 10:12:56 -0500, Dick >
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I have two Marineland 330 power filters on my 75 gallon tank. The
>>>wheels occasionally stop turning. By wiping my finger along the
>>>spillway, the wheels usually start turning again.
>>>
>>>However, one of the 4 wheels is getting harder to get to turn.
>>>I pulled it out and looked at the small plastic bearings, but saw
>>>nothing. The wheel seems to turn easily in the bearings.
>>>
>>>Anyone know what to do to keep those wheels turning?
>>
>>A follow up on the big wheels not turning. After swapping the bio
>>wheels there was improvement, the wheels did turn, but a couple of
>>days ago I saw both were not turning and water was running over the
>>intake spillway. I didn't have time until this morning to find the
>>problem. I again cleaned the whole thing including the intake tube.
>>Not too much grime. Put it back on the 75 gallon tank, more water but
>>still not turning the wheels, but more coming out the inlet spillway.
>>Finally, I decided to change out the cartridges. Bingo. The old
>>cartridges just were dirty in a way I couldn't clean.
>>
>>Thanks to all those making suggestions. I got lots of useful ideas.
>>I now know that I can't always just clean. BTW the wheels are 18
>>months in use, but they ended up not being the problem. I didn't wash
>>them so as to keep their bacteria.
>
>Instead of tossing your filter cartriges, simple rinse them out in old tank
>water, and return them to the filter.
>The reason for rinsing them in old tank water is to save the nitrifying
>bacteria that is already built up inside it. Do this till it falls apart.
>If you are simply tossing it out, you're wasting your money, and a nice load of
>bacteria.
>How often have you been tossing them out (since your tank is 18 months old, by
>now you should have a normal routine going).

The point of my follow up was to say I did something different, I put
in two new cartridges. In earlier posts I indicated I had tried
cleaning the cartridges. I rinse very thoroughly in tap water as I
don't care about keeping the bacteria, I just want to get rid of as
much dirt as I can. The bacteria comes back. BTW I don't have a
normal filter routine. I clean the cartridges when I detect intake
overflow or excess particles in my water. I haven't noticed any set
period of time that would be right. I use the rinse approach and
normally that does the job. I didn't bother to look inside these two
cartridges to see if something unique happened. I was glad to see the
two wheels turning. BTW, I don't rinse the wheels. This is the 3rd
set of 4 cartridges in the 18 months (I have two Penguin 330 with 2
cartridges each.) The first set of four was early in my setup, I was
having lots of problems the first 6 months. Live and learn. This
wheel problem is so minor compared to my early problems. Just an
interesting problem and a surprise fix I wanted to share the fix.