slow biowheel

Iron Maiden · 07/23/2007, 06:27 PM

I have a biowheel on my 10gal reef. Does anyone else have a problem with a "sticky wheel"? It seems to slow down and sometimes almost stop then starts up again. Should I be concerned about this?

areze · 07/23/2007, 07:40 PM

remove the biowheel. they are intended for freshwater where nitrates are as good as it gets. in reef tanks they are not very useful, youd rather it get skimmed before it becomes a nitrate.

honda2sk · 07/23/2007, 08:42 PM

IF YOU HAD A DEEP SAND BED IN FRESHWATER, wont that get rid of nitrates as well? if so then why is nitrates as good as it gets?

regardless, if its on your QT tank then its fines. it slows down because of the bacteria growth on them. unless you have no mechanical filtration before them then its just crap stuck on it.

Saltwater_Dog · 07/23/2007, 09:03 PM

Lose the biowheel. Does no good for you. I have an emperor and have rock rubble one side and run carbon on the other. Threw my wheel away upon purchase.

Musho3210 · 07/23/2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honda2sk
IF YOU HAD A DEEP SAND BED IN FRESHWATER, wont that get rid of nitrates as well? if so then why is nitrates as good as it gets?

regardless, if its on your QT tank then its fines. it slows down because of the bacteria growth on them. unless you have no mechanical filtration before them then its just crap stuck on it.

DSB's are just too much work for freshwater tanks. Plus they produce hydrogen sulfide like crazy and stink up the place. And its cheaper to change water in freshwater tanks since you dont need RO and you dont need a salt mix, just a dechlorinator and tap water. It is possible though and the cycle doesnt end with nitrate in freshwater, you are correct there.

areze · 07/23/2007, 09:23 PM

fresh water tanks dont generally run skimmers, and a DSB is not nescessary for a low nitrate tank with salt. plenty of very successful bare bottom tanks operate without it. in all tanks there is some level of algea, even if its coraline. clams consume ammonia, and I imagine nitrates are consumed at some slight rate by coral? its in the photosynthesis chain I believe...

but mostly the skimmer can remove the dissolved organics before they break down into the nitrate cycle.

SDhky · 07/23/2007, 09:26 PM

Are you still allowed to remove the biowheel even if it has your benificial bacteria in it? it wont try to cycle the tank again?

areze · 07/23/2007, 09:30 PM

nah, in an established tank, the biowheel is a tiny tiny part. this is double true if you have a sand bed or rock. as those will keep most of your bacteria.

if your running a totally bare tank...

the real principle behind the biowheel as I understood it back in the day, was that it was a portable instant cycle. you could keep the wheel on your display, and transfer it to a friends or to your QT and have an instantly cycled tank there. and for that purpose it was great, but on an existing tank, outside of that need, it was pretty unnecessary.

drummereef · 07/23/2007, 10:08 PM

If you have at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in your 10g, I would remove the bio-wheel. It will cause nitrate issues over time. Better without it, imo.

07/23/2007, 06:27 PM	#1
Iron Maiden Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 79	slow biowheel I have a biowheel on my 10gal reef. Does anyone else have a problem with a "sticky wheel"? It seems to slow down and sometimes almost stop then starts up again. Should I be concerned about this? __________________ "Here's to you Mr. way too proud of Texas guy". Current Tank Info: 125gal reef with 2 yellow tangs, 1 skunk clown, 7 lemon damsels, 4 pink smiths damsels, 1 scooter blenny, 1 banded coral shrimp, sally lightfoot, 2 hermit crabs, 4 gigantic turbos, 2 anemoneis, and corals.

07/23/2007, 07:40 PM	#2
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	remove the biowheel. they are intended for freshwater where nitrates are as good as it gets. in reef tanks they are not very useful, youd rather it get skimmed before it becomes a nitrate. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

07/23/2007, 08:42 PM	#3
honda2sk Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 436	IF YOU HAD A DEEP SAND BED IN FRESHWATER, wont that get rid of nitrates as well? if so then why is nitrates as good as it gets? regardless, if its on your QT tank then its fines. it slows down because of the bacteria growth on them. unless you have no mechanical filtration before them then its just crap stuck on it. Last edited by honda2sk; 07/23/2007 at 08:49 PM.

07/23/2007, 09:03 PM	#4
Saltwater_Dog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana Posts: 375	Lose the biowheel. Does no good for you. I have an emperor and have rock rubble one side and run carbon on the other. Threw my wheel away upon purchase. __________________ GO TIGERS!!!!! Current Tank Info: 100 gal, 160 lbs Live Rock, 120 lbs Live Sand, Octopus HOB Skimmer, PC Lighting, 2-Koralia 3's, 2-Max Jett 900's, Filter Guys Ocean Wave + RO/DI 75gpd

07/23/2007, 09:23 PM	#6
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	fresh water tanks dont generally run skimmers, and a DSB is not nescessary for a low nitrate tank with salt. plenty of very successful bare bottom tanks operate without it. in all tanks there is some level of algea, even if its coraline. clams consume ammonia, and I imagine nitrates are consumed at some slight rate by coral? its in the photosynthesis chain I believe... but mostly the skimmer can remove the dissolved organics before they break down into the nitrate cycle. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

07/23/2007, 09:26 PM	#7
SDhky Moved On Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 258	Are you still allowed to remove the biowheel even if it has your benificial bacteria in it? it wont try to cycle the tank again?

07/23/2007, 09:30 PM	#8
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	nah, in an established tank, the biowheel is a tiny tiny part. this is double true if you have a sand bed or rock. as those will keep most of your bacteria. if your running a totally bare tank... the real principle behind the biowheel as I understood it back in the day, was that it was a portable instant cycle. you could keep the wheel on your display, and transfer it to a friends or to your QT and have an instantly cycled tank there. and for that purpose it was great, but on an existing tank, outside of that need, it was pretty unnecessary. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

07/23/2007, 10:08 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	If you have at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in your 10g, I would remove the bio-wheel. It will cause nitrate issues over time. Better without it, imo. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system