Help Guys Help!!

[DeadlyAlliance]

Im still kind of new to this so any help is great. About 3 weeks ago i bought a 46 gallon tank to put my black molly in it. I had to buy everything for this tank. I usually buy a aquarium kit but i wanted a big tank and i have never purchase a filter and heater and all that stuff seperate. Ok well i bought a Penguin 330 ( I have never had one of this) and i notice today that one of the bio-wheels wasn't spinning and they both seem really slow. So my question to those who have had this filter is are the bio-wheels sopposed to be fast or at a regular pace and if they dont spin what can i do? Everything seems normal and its not even a month old so i dont know if this is a problem or am i just being paranoid? And if it did stop working can someone recommed the best filter that money can buy as long as its not too conplicated because like i said earlier im still trying to learn all of this stuff.
Any Help is great. Thank You.

 

[BobK]

Not to worry. A slow bio-wheel is fine, as long as it is spinning. The holes in the spray tubes are probably clogged. Take the brush that came with the filter and run it in and out of the spray tube(s). Make sure to remove the spray tubes first. Clean them in a bucket of aquarium water and replace the tubes. Your media may also be clogged. Remove the media cartridge(s) and swish it around in the bucket as well. If the bio-wheels are still slow, you can take the brush and clean the points where the bio-wheels lay in the filter. Never clean the bio-wheels. I have an Emperor 400 and I just cleaned mine last night.

 

[chishnfips]

What he said, The thing is ran by a magnet motor, so it may be bloacked but if yuou haven't had it long I cant see it getting manky in only a few weeks, Have you been rinsing it out anyway?

If it is faulty take it back, I have a Fluval which has been very reliable.

 

[BobK]

I doubt the pump itselft doesn't work. The filter pumps water through tubes with holes in them. The holes spray water on the bio-wheel. The jets of water turn the bio-wheel. These holes are very tiny. If one is even slightly blocked the wheel slows down. This is normal. I have to clean them weekly. It is all stated in the directions as well.

Now, if the motor isn't running then that is a different story. Personally, I'm very happy with the Penquin/Emperor bio-wheel filters from Marineland. The folks at all the lfs's love 'em too. Hope this helps.

 

[DeadlyAlliance]

Thanxs guys for your replies it seems to be working but im going to do what you all told me to do just to make sure they still work. I have one question before i do all of his what is a spray hole and where is it my manuel doesnt say anything about a spray hole. And no i havent since anything yet but im going to. Thanx again guys.

 

[BobK]

Oops, I thought the Penguin and the Emperor filters worked the same. You don't have a spray tube. Clean the bio-wheel bearings and axles. Here's a link to the manual.

Bob

http/marineland.com/products/manuals/penguin_manual.pdf