Bio-wheel necessary with LR?
- Thread starter chazz66
- Start date
chandler04
Active Member
If it is large enough, u can set it up as a hang on fuge. Im doing that with my old hang on for my new 30. Just set it to low, get rid of the inserts, put in substrate and some small pieces of rock, and yer in business. Perfect for small tanks, but I DO believe that yer tank is large, lol.
badkharma
Member
I'm running an emperor 400 on my non-display 60 g tank (along with cpr skimmer) and I have 60 lbs of LR in it. I got rid of the biowheels but kept the floss/carbon cartridges because it's still good to have the mechanical filtration. Removing the biowheels does make the system (if you have an emperor 400 anyway) a little louder because of the water sounds, but it's not bad.
clown_nut
Member
I was wondering the same thing. I had a bio-wheel with a 5 gallon freshwater kit i purchased while back and the tank was wonderful as far as health goes. My only guess as to why these guys are tossing the bio-wheels is because maybe they slow the flow rates reduceing circulation??
tervman
Member
Originally posted by clown_nut
also why purchase a bio-wheel useing system if your just gonna toss the dang things??
I bought mine when I was setting up my tank, about 4 months ago, at the recommendation of my LFS. I have since heard that they are not desirable, but I don't really know why.
badkharma
Member
They work good - but here's why you would toss them: If you use a lot of LR, there is no need for extra biofiltration (other than like a fuge or something) - but if you leave them in with all the LR, they'll soon become nitrate factories. If you don't use LR (or a lot of it), or your tank is young (like less than several months), then I'd leave them. They work great. But it's the same with the bioballs in sumps - they'll eventually become nitrate factories with a lot of LR in your main tank.
clown_nut
Member
ah so i see. How is it that they become such polluters? I Mean if they have the same amount of Nitrites to convert as the rest of the system how is it that they produce so much more?? because they recieve so much flow and process it all much quicker?? In which case if i purchased a bio-wheel filter i would be best to remove the bio-wheel after a few months??
badkharma
Member
If you have a lot of LR - say one pound for every gallon, after a few months I'd definitely take them out. Measure your nitrates and follow it - if it starts to rise, take out the biowheels. You don't need them anymore with that amount of LR. There comes a point where there is "too much" biofiltration.
liquidskys
Member
not to bring up a old thread..
but I think that this could be explained a bit better for newbies.. that are going to search for this topic..
They become nitrate holding tanks more less, The bacteria that breaks down nitrates into harmless gas (so it will leave the tank and into the air) only thrive in very low oxygen enviroments,
Thus the bio wheels trap the nitrates and with so much oxygen never alow it to be broken down by the bacteria!
As was said, if you have alot of LR you have no need for you bio wheels.. I turned my biowheel 330 in my fuge! it works great!
another thing is.. Placing your LR directly onto you sand/ CC bed will help promote oxygen poor areas in the cc/sand bed for the nitrate disolving bateria to grow.
but I think that this could be explained a bit better for newbies.. that are going to search for this topic..
They become nitrate holding tanks more less, The bacteria that breaks down nitrates into harmless gas (so it will leave the tank and into the air) only thrive in very low oxygen enviroments,
Thus the bio wheels trap the nitrates and with so much oxygen never alow it to be broken down by the bacteria!
As was said, if you have alot of LR you have no need for you bio wheels.. I turned my biowheel 330 in my fuge! it works great!
another thing is.. Placing your LR directly onto you sand/ CC bed will help promote oxygen poor areas in the cc/sand bed for the nitrate disolving bateria to grow.
angelofish
Member
Since we're talking about bio wheels.I have used an Emperor 400 since day one. For a long time of my nitrates were at 40 or more. Theyre holding steady at 10 for months now.I use de-nitrate and keep up with water changes. If I remove the wheels will my nitrates drop to zero?
mburnickas
Member
I have 50 lbs on LR in my 75 gallon with 5 inches of DSB. SO this is about 55 gallon tank capacity. I also run a Wet/Dry (w/bb) and my nitrates have never get above zero.
The key is upkeep. If people become lazy the nitrate factories are your fault and not the "machine".
I think thomas out here of SWF was/is 100% correct.
The key is upkeep. If people become lazy the nitrate factories are your fault and not the "machine".
I think thomas out here of SWF was/is 100% correct.
liquidskys
Member
if you want to know what a Fuge is
use "Search" for Fuge setup! or fuge info.
as for the nitrate going to zero if you remove your Biowheels.. well its something you have to try and find out..
It comes down to whether or not your tank has oxygen poor enviroments in your DSB for the nitrate eating bacteria to thrive.
use "Search" for Fuge setup! or fuge info.
as for the nitrate going to zero if you remove your Biowheels.. well its something you have to try and find out..
It comes down to whether or not your tank has oxygen poor enviroments in your DSB for the nitrate eating bacteria to thrive.