New Biowheel

[blang]

I have a ten gallon tank with an eclipse filter and light system. The biowheel makes a a loud splashing sound. I called Marineland and after trying several different things, they are sending me a new biowheel.

My tank has been cycled since November. The Customer Rep said that I didn't have to worry about a mini cycle occuring as most of my good bacteria is in the tank and my old biowheel isn't that old.

Is she correct? Do I need to worry. I have some sensitive fish in the tank that I don't want to lose.

 

[Cafe Jeff]

I'd be wary of swapping it.
What do you think is causing the splashing? Jeff

 

[Richie]

One thing you could do when you get the new bio wheel is just float the old one in the tank for awhile until the new has a chance to grow new bacteria

 

[Cafe Jeff]

Quick question for Canadians. I understand that WallMart in the US carries WallMart branded Marineland filter media for half the price of the name brand media.
Do Canada's Walmart's do the same? Jeff

 

[Menagerie]

Do Canada's Walmart's do the same?

I would have to shop at Walmart 8O 8O 8O
I'm not sure. We have had a biowheel for 3 years and I just rinse the bugger, I have never felt a need to change it.

 

[blang]

One day I took the biowheel out and floated it in the tank. The Rep told me that after awhile it should sink. It never did that.

When I take the biowheel out, the tank is very quiet. In my 15 gallon tall, I barely hear the filter. One day I almost had a heart attack as I thought it was off but it was just being quiet. My ten gallon is very noisy and my husband is complaining that he can't sleep.

 

[blang]

richie, how long should I float it?

 

[Cafe Jeff]

Do Canada's Walmart's do the same?

I would have to shop at Walmart 8O 8O 8O
I'm not sure. We have had a biowheel for 3 years and I just rinse the bugger, I have never felt a need to change it.

I was thinking of the cartridges that have the carbon in them. Jeff

 

[FawnN]

I didn't know that Marineland made a 10 gallon eclipse. Are you sure your 10 is not a 12 gallon? They come in 3, 6, 12 and 37.

Anyways, you should have no problem replacing your biowheel since you have your filter bed, which holds a lot of your beneficial bacteria too.

Unless you are overstocked, I think a quick swap should not cause any problems. But as a percaution, as mentioned above, just let your old one float around in your tank for a couple of days while your new one is running.

 

[SerLunchbox]

a 2 - 3 month old bio-wheel is nothing to worry about ... I had to swap one of mine out after 4 months and it was all good.

 

[blang]

I rec'd the new biowheel today and it is larger than the old one. I took the old one out and popped the new one in and there was silence. Ahhhh, I can't wait to go to bed tonight.

The tank is not an eclipse tank, I just bought the top for a plain ten gallon. It was originally suppose to be a QT but the LFS convinced me to just get this setup and keep it running all of the time with a few fish. Of course, I knew deep down that it would just turn into a second tank.