Penguin 100B Biowheel not moving

[Kazenouta]

Hey everyone,
So my Penguin 100B Bio-wheel is hardly moving and at times not moving at all. I cleaned the intake and impeller for the unit and still it's acting this way. Any ideas on how to get the bio-wheel moving again?

Thanks

[gm72]

Did you clean the parts where the wheels end? I mean where the turning point it? Adjust flow?

[EmmanuelJB]

Usually when my bio wheels stop moving its either that I need to clean the intake and impeller or I need to replace the cartridge. SO maybe try replacing the cartridge??

[HeatherB]

I have always heard that even if the biowheel is turning a little it is fine and considered to be working properly?? Could be wrong though.

Try cleaning where the wheel actually sits down into the filter. And make sure it is in right.

Do you have something over or around your intake that could be slowing the flow down? Or maybe too much filter media- or an exceptionally gunky pad that needs to be rinsed?

[Kazenouta]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm doing a full filter cleaning now. I'm doing a WC at the same time and siphoning water directly into the area where the impeller sits as that part is really dirty. Also really dirty is the notches on the bio-wheel itself where the plastic attaches to the BB growth areas. Going to take some Q-tips and delicately clean out the smaller areas. Here's hoping this will do the job.

[Kazenouta]

Okay. Cleaned the AC filter floss I had in the filter to serve as mechanical filtration, cleaned the rungs of the bio-wheel, cleaned the white plastic holes where the bio-wheel connects to the white plastic, cleaned the impeller, the impeller housing, and the intake houses. After all that it seems to be working as it did when I first bought it. Even so this is the fourth time in about 2 weeks I've had to clean it like this; I think I'll be buying an AC30 filter soon.

[HeatherB]

Aquaclears are the best filters ever!!! The only problems I have ever had with them was the impeller not starting and having to stick something down to move it. And sometimes I think they take a little longer to prime than they could!

But other than that they are wonderful! Adjustable flow...easy to maintain etc etc. LOVE THEM!

[mjbickford]

but how quiet are AC filters?

[gm72]

The only thing I can hear from them is the water moving, no mechanical noise.

[Zilla]

but how quiet are AC filters?

One of the covers of mine makes a rattling noise if I don't seat it all the way down. Other than that, no noise. I have my 20 gallon about 7 feet from me and the water coming from it makes more noise than the filter does.

I don't fill my tanks all the way to the rim, hence the water noise.