Bio Wheel Question

[washowi]

I asked this question in the Atlanta section. Now I would like to hear from the world. Because I am still confused. Please help straighten me out!

I have heard that since I have live rock in my tank, I do not need the Bio wheel in my hang-on Emporer 400.

What does everyone think? I do not know. Would like some opinions if you have any.

I thought the bio wheel was for the bacteria that helps breakdown the Nitrite and Ammonia and turn it into Nitrate? I know bacteria is in the live rock, but is that enough? I guess it is but who is to say? Bio wheel in or out?

I skim with a CPR Bak Pak 24/7. I have about 70 pounds of live rock in a 50 gallon tank running an Emporer 400 filter with the carbon basket filled.

Does it do anything?

Thanks
Todd

[Cosine]

well I'm no expert but with 70lbs of rock in a 50g tank I think that will be enough biological filtration

that's my opinion
let's hear from others!
hth

[SPANKYSREEF]

Hi Washowi

I used a bio wheel for the first month and 1/2 of my tank cycle. It helped spped up the process. Once I got steady readings I removed it. Its been about a year with no problems and the live rock is more then enough bio filtration...Anthony

[washowi]

So will leaving it in do any harm?

Todd

[SPANKYSREEF]

I dont think it will do any harm...though you might get mixed thoughts on this one....Some say they are just bacteria farms...others say they are great....We will see what the other folks think...Good Luck!

[reefworried124]

Get rid of the wheels!!! The recommended amount of live rock in your aquarium should be at least 1 to 1 1/3 pounds per gallon or something like that of live rock. This is more than enough bio filtration. I think the reason why the biowheels dont work in a reef tank, is because a reef tank is super sensitive to nitrate levels, unlike the fish only tanks. The biowheel is designed (and succeeds) at providing excellent biological filtration, but is designed to produce the ammonia and nitrite consuming bacteria that thrive in the highly oxygenated environment that the biowheels provide. However, the nitrate controlling bacteria are needed in a low oxygen environment and so the biowheels cannot provide it. So, with the biowheels in, you can potentially cause a biological imbalance in your tank.

So in short, the rocks are excellent bio filters and you just dont need to wheels. Does this help?

[SPANKYSREEF]

Well put reefworried!

[washowi]

Thanks, It does and will be ripping them out today!

Todd

[Cosine]

are you just taking the wheel out? or the entire filter?
The filter can stay without the wheel for extra flow.

[washowi]

Just the wheel. Cause I have the filter in there of course and a carbon basket behind it.

Todd

[Cosine]

good stuff!

[washowi]

Do you think I can take them out - Bam - now? Or one wheel out ,then a week later the other. I guess there will be no shock to the system when I remove them right?

Todd

[Loverotties]

You can use the filter on a hospital tank.

[JennM]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

You can use the filter on a hospital tank.

The biowheels will only be useful on a hospital tank IF they stay "live", otherwise they will cycle again.

I've seen good results using the bio wheels or bio balls... search my user name in this forum and "bio-balls" and there was a lengthy discussion months ago on this very subject.

Opinions vary - use them, don't use them - I've seen excellent results with both, and much depends on the individual tank, water changes, feeding habits and etc.

I would lean toward "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" because quickly removing a large portion of the aerobic bacteria (that are now living on the bio-wheels) could cause as many problems in the short term, as potential problems in the long term. Todd's tank is still far too new to be at risk for nitrate issues, and IMO, keeping the bio-wheels at least for now, is the best way to go. If over time, the tank begins to experience elevated nitrate levels, then it's time to rethink the bio-wheels, but I'd watch and wait.

Popular thinking is that they become "nitrate factories" but I believe this is a bit of a misnomer. They don't produce nitrates out of nowhere, the nitrates stem from breaking down of ammonia and nitrite in the system. Bio wheels cannot break the nitrate into nitrogen gas, as mentioned above, that's done by anaerobic and anoxic bacterial activity, which occurs within the live rock. As long as there isn't a disproportionate amount of aerobic versus anaerobic/anoxic bacteria present, this should not be a problem, and this will vary from one tank to another. As long as there is enough anaerobic and anoxic bacteria present to convert the nitrate to nitrogen, there should not be a problem, whether or not there is an artificial biological medium present.

Can the tank thrive without the bio wheels? Absolutely -- but whether or not they contribute to long-term nitrate issues, depends on all those variables.

IMO this is one of those "your mileage may vary" issues, that is not carved in stone.

The Emperor filter is still useful for water movement and mechanical and chemical filtration as long as the cartridges are rinsed regularly and replaced regularly.

Jenn

[JennM]

Here is the discussion thread I referenced:

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...ight=bio-balls

Jenn