Bio Wheel

[GaryG]

I am learning a lot by reading this board. Thanks to all of you. Sometimes I learn something I was not even thinking about by reading the answers to other people's questions.

I just read under one thread a comment about removing the Bio Wheel from an Eclipse system.

When I upgraded from my 55 to my 150 I brought over all of the equipment that had been on the 55 in addition to the new stuff (wet/dry, UV and huge skimmer) that came with the 150 (figuring more is better and why just have the old stuff laying in the garage). So I have two (large and small) protein skimmers going (that can't hurt). I also brought over the bio wheel that was hanging on the back of the small tank over to the big one. My fish guy said it was not needed, but I figured what could it hurt.

Anyway .... the thread I was reading seemed to indicate that the bio wheel can contribute to Nitrate problems. I DO have a Nitrate problem. How does the bio wheel contribute to it? Should I remove it? If I had started with the 150 I would have never had it to begin with.

[Wrasse Man]

My understanding of the Bio-Wheel isue and Nitrates is that the Bio-Wheel, being mainly seeded with aerobic bacteria, will produce the nitrates. It is anaerobic bacteria that will consume the nitrate and convert that to free nitrogen gas. The reason that the nitrates that the bio-wheel gives off are not consumed by the anaerobic bacteria in your sand bed is that the nitrate will be consumed more efectivly if it is produced right next to the bacteria that will consume it, rather than floating around the water column.

Does that make sense? I seem to remember a discussion that horge and someone else had recently about this also. You may do a search for it, it couldn't have been more than a few weeks ago.

[Doug1]

Bio Wheels and Wet dry filters tend to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria and deal with half the problem. They are very efficient at converting nitrite to nitrate but lack nearby anarobic areas for the anoxic bacteria to convert nitrate to Nitrogen gas, like you would get with a live rock and live sand scenario