bio-wheels = high trates?

[powdertoastman]

i was told that having a bio wheel (not the filter itself, just the wheels) cause high trates in the tank, anyone know if this is true? we only started reefing about a month ago and havnt had the time to build a sump yet, just wondering if this is true or not. TIA

 

[saltwaterdave]

Lots of things to factor in about this.But the bottom line is YES they can be.

 

[moraym]

yes, it can def be a factor with nitrates. So can foam pads in hang-on filters, example: my TetraTec bio foam added about 60ppm nitrates to my tank.

 

[squidd]

No not true...
see post in reef section.

 

[737mech]

I have a bio wheel on my QT and I would say no. As long as you do regular h20 changes you would be fine.
JMO

 

[lesleybird]

Hi, I have had a few biowheels on different tanks and do not think that they cause a nitrate problem at all. They might if they held a lot of particulate matter on them, but they do not as the particulate waste is caught in the filter before getting to the wheel.....and if the wheel does get clogged with gunk you can rince it off in salt water. I think that people who say that they cause high nitrates are only thinking of them like they are in the same catagory as dirty sponges....They are very different. They don't trap too much debris to turn to nitrate like sponges do, mainly just the good bacteria has a place to grow.
Lesley

 

[dreeves]

Biowheels do not cause nitrate...nitrogen cycle causes nitrates...
Biowheels after a pad in the filtration keeping large debris out of the wheel will keep it clean and free of debris build up..and you should never have to mess with it.

 

[gregvabch]

i've had 2 bio-wheels running on my 55g for about a year and a half, since i set it up, and although i had nitrate problems at first, once i switched to sand from crushed coral, got a nice skimmer, started using RO/DI water, and got a better set of lights, i don't have nitrate problems anymore. biowheels help break down ammonia. if you have high nitrates it's only because they're doing their job. over-feeding and over-stocking are more likely to cause high nitrates.