Cleaning Bio-Wheel Filters

[s_anthony]

I dismantled 5 tanks a few months back, and *ahem* forgot about cleaning up the bio-wheels before I just kind of threw them in our 3rd floor storage (yuck).

I am cleaning out all my fishy stuff tonight, and decided I need to do something with them. I say toss them, but overall there's about +$200.00 worth of filters there... I figured I could craigslist them but then I wouldn't want someone seeing how nasty they look.

What's the safest way of cleaning all the yucky build up that has dried on them .. baking soda and water ? Or just scrub the crap out of them..

 

[Lotus]

Soak them in water with some bleach (plain chlorine bleach) for a couple of days, then rinse well and dry. They usually come out nice and clean.

 

[s_anthony]

Even with the motors attached ? I figured they were waterproof, but didn't think they were that waterproof to soak them entirely from the outside..

 

[Lotus]

Oh, I thought you just meant the bio-wheel itself.

Soak the other parts in vinegar/water for a while, then use a toothbrush to clean. Obviously, don't put the plugs in the water.

 

[s_anthony]

hehe.. I thought so... but I figured you might know a secret that we all don't know

I wouldn't have soaked the cord or anything like that, but it made some sense that the things are somewhat waterproof.. so figured it was worth asking

So it looks like I have some work ahead of me...