bio-wheel stopped moving after one week

canumaso · 07-07-2009, 09:37 PM

I bought a new penguin bio-wheel 200 about one week ago. It worked perfectly at first. Wheel was spinning very fast until I unplugged the filter in order to plug it into a surge protector. It was unplugged for 30 seconds at most, but when i plugged it back in and the filter primed... the wheel started moving very slowly, and then stopped a few minutes later. When i took it out it was heavy and filled with water. I've read a number of posts on the penguin filters that say you have to clean the intake tube regularly to ensure sufficient water flow, but i've only had mine for a week so that can't be the problem. And the water flow seems excellent in any case. The purple slots the bio-wheel fits into are also clear and are both pushed down all the way. Does anyone have an idea what the problem can be? Is it supposed to be filling with water? Do I have a defective wheel?

canumaso · 07-08-2009, 09:51 AM

i figured out the problem, i had shifted the dresser the fish tank was sitting on, which made the water level slightly uneven... easily corrected with a small piece of cardboard under one side of the filter. works perfectly again.

one good thing resulted from this however, it motivated me to join this board...

Matt Nace · 07-08-2009, 12:14 PM

Welcome to the board!

Glad you got the bio wheel spinning again.

stoddern · 07-26-2009, 11:09 PM

I have the the same HOB only penguin 150, I find if the blue part of the carbon cartrige is heavily soiled it slows the flow rate so the bio-wheel won't spin.

07-07-2009, 09:37 PM	#1
canumaso Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	bio-wheel stopped moving after one week I bought a new penguin bio-wheel 200 about one week ago. It worked perfectly at first. Wheel was spinning very fast until I unplugged the filter in order to plug it into a surge protector. It was unplugged for 30 seconds at most, but when i plugged it back in and the filter primed... the wheel started moving very slowly, and then stopped a few minutes later. When i took it out it was heavy and filled with water. I've read a number of posts on the penguin filters that say you have to clean the intake tube regularly to ensure sufficient water flow, but i've only had mine for a week so that can't be the problem. And the water flow seems excellent in any case. The purple slots the bio-wheel fits into are also clear and are both pushed down all the way. Does anyone have an idea what the problem can be? Is it supposed to be filling with water? Do I have a defective wheel?

07-08-2009, 09:51 AM	#2
canumaso Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	nevermind i figured out the problem, i had shifted the dresser the fish tank was sitting on, which made the water level slightly uneven... easily corrected with a small piece of cardboard under one side of the filter. works perfectly again. one good thing resulted from this however, it motivated me to join this board...

07-08-2009, 12:14 PM	#3
Matt Nace Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,457	Welcome to the board! Glad you got the bio wheel spinning again. __________________ -=Matt=- Current tanks: 125 gallon CA cichlid tank 150 gallon African Mbuna tank 10g q-hosp-fry tank

07-26-2009, 11:09 PM	#4
stoddern Little Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 139	I have the the same HOB only penguin 150, I find if the blue part of the carbon cartrige is heavily soiled it slows the flow rate so the bio-wheel won't spin. __________________ 10gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wistera, 4 Blue platy's, 1 Male Phantom Tetra, 2 Female Phantom tetras, 1 Upside Down Cat, 1 Blue Gourami. 20gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wisteria. 1 Gold Gourami, 1 Giant Danio, 6 White Clouds, 2 Bristle Nose Pleco's.