Heya guys, so yes I have an obsession with making things LOL. Anyway I keep hearing about biowheels, I've never seen anything like em in Aus, but thin I have a general idea...
There like a water wheel, that spins as the current goes past exposing the bacteria growing on it to air and water correct? Is there any chance someone who does have a biowheel could explain it to me? I ahve a filter design I'm working on and would love to have a go at making a biowheel, but need to know what the commercial ones are made of and exactly how they work.
Thanks
Emma
Full Version: Biowheels
Well I've been having a look at pics of the commercial filters and biowheels look to be made of some sort of metal? but other sites talk about em having cartridges? Lol hmm maybe I should just use plastic and attatch filter floss to it to hold the bacteria..
Hi Emma-
Here are 2 short videos of a Penguin Biowheel 100 in action, and a few pictures of just the wheel itself from an unused Penguin 350. The material it's made of reminds me of a car airfilter. It is very fibrous-looking, presumably so there is lots of surface area for the bacteria to adhere. Hope this helps!
biowheel with lid on
biowheel in action
[url=
]biowheel 1[/url]
[url=
]biowheel 2[/url]
[url=
]biowheel 3[/url]
Essentially what you described is how it works. The water passes first through the blue filter floss for mechanical filtration, and, as the water moves out the filter, flows past and turns the biowheel.
Here are 2 short videos of a Penguin Biowheel 100 in action, and a few pictures of just the wheel itself from an unused Penguin 350. The material it's made of reminds me of a car airfilter. It is very fibrous-looking, presumably so there is lots of surface area for the bacteria to adhere. Hope this helps!
biowheel with lid on
biowheel in action
[url=
]biowheel 1[/url][url=
]biowheel 2[/url][url=
]biowheel 3[/url]Essentially what you described is how it works. The water passes first through the blue filter floss for mechanical filtration, and, as the water moves out the filter, flows past and turns the biowheel.
Ooh thanks for that, was just what I was after.
Lol now how to make a biowheel, this should be interesting lol. I've got the rest of it figured out. The water's pumped through filter floss then up above the tank into a coke bottle cut in half lengthways, which is placed in a large plastic planter, so it runs through the coke bottle and then out into the planter and through holes drilled in the planter back into the tan. The biowheel will go in the coke bottle once I work out how to make one.
Lol now how to make a biowheel, this should be interesting lol. I've got the rest of it figured out. The water's pumped through filter floss then up above the tank into a coke bottle cut in half lengthways, which is placed in a large plastic planter, so it runs through the coke bottle and then out into the planter and through holes drilled in the planter back into the tan. The biowheel will go in the coke bottle once I work out how to make one.
Glad I could help! I hope you can find some suitable material. I've been trying to think of something, but am coming up blank. Good luck! 
They sell the bio wheel thats pictured at any large pet store,as a replacement part.Theyre fairly cheep.around 3 or 5 bucks.Easier then trying to make one:) To use them with a homemade filter they have to be attached where the water goes back into the tank.Which propels them to move.I hope that helps
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.