newfishguy
Member
I'm running a bio-wheel during my tank cycle and just realized that it may be slowing my cycle down. Is this possible? I don't know why I have it running. I'm going to turn it off when I get home.
Is the Bio-Wheel slowing down my cycle?
- Thread starter newfishguy
- Start date
acekjd83
Member
biowheels house beneficial bacteria... that's their purpose. the wheel stays moist and highly oxygenated, perfect for growth of denitrifying bacteria. a carbon pad, on the other hand, MAY inhibit proper cycling by removing the ammonia and nitrites before they can be "eaten" by the bacteria.
newfishguy
Member
I thought that I read somewhere that the carbon may slow it down. Should I just take out the carbon pad until the tank cycles and keep the bio-wheel running?
Originally Posted by acekjd83
biowheels house beneficial bacteria... that's their purpose. the wheel stays moist and highly oxygenated, perfect for growth of denitrifying bacteria. a carbon pad, on the other hand, MAY inhibit proper cycling by removing the ammonia and nitrites before they can be "eaten" by the bacteria.
Originally Posted by acekjd83
biowheels house beneficial bacteria... that's their purpose. the wheel stays moist and highly oxygenated, perfect for growth of denitrifying bacteria. a carbon pad, on the other hand, MAY inhibit proper cycling by removing the ammonia and nitrites before they can be "eaten" by the bacteria.
kdfrosty
Active Member
I use a dual biowheel (Penguin 330)with the carbon pads running and ceramic media in the media baskets. I do regular maintenance on everything. Nitrates = 0. One of my current goals is to add about 20lbs. more LR and then remove the Penguin 330. This would leave me with just protein skimmer, 85lbs. LR, and 5" DSB for filtration on my 50g reef.
newfishguy
Member
What does that have to do with cycling a tank?
Originally Posted by KDFrosty
I use a dual biowheel (Penguin 330)with the carbon pads running and ceramic media in the media baskets. I do regular maintenance on everything. Nitrates = 0. One of my current goals is to add about 20lbs. more LR and then remove the Penguin 330. This would leave me with just protein skimmer, 85lbs. LR, and 5" DSB for filtration on my 50g reef.
Originally Posted by KDFrosty
I use a dual biowheel (Penguin 330)with the carbon pads running and ceramic media in the media baskets. I do regular maintenance on everything. Nitrates = 0. One of my current goals is to add about 20lbs. more LR and then remove the Penguin 330. This would leave me with just protein skimmer, 85lbs. LR, and 5" DSB for filtration on my 50g reef.
kdfrosty
Active Member
Originally Posted by newfishguy
What does that have to do with cycling a tank?
My point is that it's good to start with but you may want to get rid of it all together later on depending on what type of tank you want to keep. Maybe lots of uncured live rock is also an alternative to a biowheel.
But since you've started your cycle without researching this topic first, you might as well stick with what you have. There's bound to be beneficial bacteria growing on the biowheel. Besides that, you spent money on a piece of equipment that lots of people, including myself, get rid of eventually anyways.
I guess I'm just pointing out the obvious.
What does that have to do with cycling a tank?
My point is that it's good to start with but you may want to get rid of it all together later on depending on what type of tank you want to keep. Maybe lots of uncured live rock is also an alternative to a biowheel.
But since you've started your cycle without researching this topic first, you might as well stick with what you have. There's bound to be beneficial bacteria growing on the biowheel. Besides that, you spent money on a piece of equipment that lots of people, including myself, get rid of eventually anyways.
I guess I'm just pointing out the obvious.
newfishguy
Member
I have researched the topic so don't assume stuff. I have a skimmer for my large tank that will be setup soon. This small 15 gallon tank was originally going to be a qt but I decided to make it a small display tank. That is why a bio-wheel is in it.
Originally Posted by KDFrosty
My point is that it's good to start with but you may want to get rid of it all together later on depending on what type of tank you want to keep. Maybe lots of uncured live rock is also an alternative to a biowheel.
But since you've started your cycle without researching this topic first, you might as well stick with what you have. There's bound to be beneficial bacteria growing on the biowheel. Besides that, you spent money on a piece of equipment that lots of people, including myself, get rid of eventually anyways.
I guess I'm just pointing out the obvious.
Originally Posted by KDFrosty
My point is that it's good to start with but you may want to get rid of it all together later on depending on what type of tank you want to keep. Maybe lots of uncured live rock is also an alternative to a biowheel.
But since you've started your cycle without researching this topic first, you might as well stick with what you have. There's bound to be beneficial bacteria growing on the biowheel. Besides that, you spent money on a piece of equipment that lots of people, including myself, get rid of eventually anyways.
I guess I'm just pointing out the obvious.