[Advice Needed] Terrible Luck With My Filter And Glasstop

[Ciddire]

Greetings forum friends!

It would appear that my penguin 200b filter is defective.

I came home from work today and my filter was off.

I plugged it in and out and was finally able to get it started. However, it is making a terrible grinding sound!
See Youtube video here: http/m.youtube.com/watch?v=ou55Qg_AR-M

I contacted Marineland tech support and was told to return the unit to my place of purchase.

I am currently into my second week of cycling and am seeing results that would indicate I am nearing completion. How can I salvage my cycle work so far?

I am going to return the filter for a refund not a replacement, I will be replacing it with a Aquaclear 50 due to its outstanding reviews on both the internet and this forum. I am also running an Aquatech 20-40 as a backup filter (beyond the return period)
***
Today I was supposed to receive my glass aquarium top via USPS but it arrived broken in 5 pieces. However, my US Satellite Freshwater LED+ arrived in perfect condition!

So basically i'm having a bad fish day.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Save the filter media. You can place it in a bucket of dechlorinated water with an airstone (or in the tank). Sorry you're having a bad day!

 

[Ciddire]

Save the filter media. You can place it in a bucket of dechlorinated water with an airstone (or in the tank). Sorry you're having a bad day!

I'm going to plop it in the tank. I've got the other filter going so I should be good there.

I've read online that cutting up my filter media and plopping it in the new filter to seed it is a good idea. Any comments on this?

Would I cut up the blue filter pads & the biowheel? Or both?

 

[Ninjouzata]

Hmm you can cut the filter pad, not sure about the biowheel. I'd think so but may want to wait for someone who has used them to comment.