bio-wheel/nitrates

[newbie77]

i have tidepool ll wet dry filter. this unit has a bio wheel. my nitrates never go below 20ppm's. i ask a few lfs employee's about this and they said it could be the wheel. they said it just like having bio balls. my question is can i remove the bio wheel without causing any kind of problems in my tank? and should i use live rock in my sump like rubble or small pieces?
ammo:0
ph:8.3
nitrite:0
nitrate:20ppm

 

[beth]

Wet dry filters, filter bad dependent filters, bio balls, are all known to result in nitrates. Basically, these filters do not complete the nitrogen cycle, exporting nitrates out of your system. The best thing you can do it try to move away from these filters and start replacing them with more natural [efficient filters], such as a refugium, LR, a high quality skimmer, etc.

 

[tjake68]

i agree 100 percent with beth these filters dont remove nitrate but you can always do small water changes every week i have a trickle filter that works great as long as i keep up my water changes you might have too many fish and could be overfeeding these all contribute to high nitrate whats yor stocking list and what size tank also you can add another filter as a back up to help and strong protien skimmer

 

[newbie77]

I have 90gal with a 100lbs of live rock. I am running coralife super skimmer. I only have 5 fish. I feed once a day. How water for a 90 would be consider a small water change.