Bio wheels????

spleify · 04/28/2007, 09:34 PM

I have a HOB Emperor 400, it has biowheels in it. When I got it the instructions said to never clean it or replace the wheels unless one happens to tear. With all the new talks about bio balls being nitrate factories, do bio wheels have the same effect? Would it be adventageous to remove the bio wheels? would it be advantageous to add Phosban and or carbon, or something of the sorts, in those area's? Thanks in advance.

drummereef · 04/28/2007, 09:37 PM

Yes, they do. If you have at least 1lb/gallon of live rock I would take the biowheel out and only use the Emperor for flow and carbon. If you feel the need for a phosphate media you can run that as well.

omni2226 · 04/28/2007, 10:01 PM

You need nitrite to get nitrates.
You remove the biowheels.
What happens? You are transfering the "factory" from the wheels to the rocks.
It wont hurt to leave the wheels in. Just remove any filter floss, or change it once a week. the source of the so called "factory" is the gunk trapped in/on the biowballs in wet drys.
Biowheels are a whole diffrent animal.

supervdl · 04/28/2007, 10:22 PM

I don't think they have the same effect, but with live rock there is no need for a biowheel.

spleify · 04/28/2007, 10:31 PM

I have about 85-95 lbs of live rock in my 55 gal.

HBtank · 04/28/2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by omni2226
You need nitrite to get nitrates.
You remove the biowheels.
What happens? You are transfering the "factory" from the wheels to the rocks.
It wont hurt to leave the wheels in. Just remove any filter floss, or change it once a week. the source of the so called "factory" is the gunk trapped in/on the biowballs in wet drys.
Biowheels are a whole diffrent animal.

There are other ways to reduce organic waste besides the nitrogen cycle. For instance, a skimmer. Biowhells are just to good at their job, and will increase nitrates in comparison to not using them.

drummereef · 04/28/2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by omni2226
You need nitrite to get nitrates.
You remove the biowheels.
What happens? You are transfering the "factory" from the wheels to the rocks.
It wont hurt to leave the wheels in. Just remove any filter floss, or change it once a week. the source of the so called "factory" is the gunk trapped in/on the biowballs in wet drys.
Biowheels are a whole diffrent animal.

Not completely true here. The aerobic systems such as biowheels and wet/dry filters will do extremely well with breaking down ammonia and nitrite, but the bacteria they host are not greatly efficient at breaking down nitrate. Use your live rock for this purpose.

spleify · 04/29/2007, 12:41 AM

So, should I clean them? Or remove them? Or leave them?

drummereef · 04/29/2007, 12:43 AM

Remove them.

HowardW · 04/29/2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Remove them.

I agree, live rock and a good skimmer makes the bio wheels pretty much unnecessary for a marine tank IMO. You can definately use the Emperor for running carbon though, just clean it at least once or twice a week so it doesn't become a detrius trap.

In Deep Water · 04/29/2007, 08:21 AM

I took out my bio-wheels because I didnt want my LR to have to compete with the wheels for the biological filtration. I run carbon in the two media slots behind the filter pads. My tank is performing better now then when I had the wheels in. Nitrates are downand remain stable.

04/28/2007, 09:34 PM	#1
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Bio wheels???? I have a HOB Emperor 400, it has biowheels in it. When I got it the instructions said to never clean it or replace the wheels unless one happens to tear. With all the new talks about bio balls being nitrate factories, do bio wheels have the same effect? Would it be adventageous to remove the bio wheels? would it be advantageous to add Phosban and or carbon, or something of the sorts, in those area's? Thanks in advance. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

04/28/2007, 09:37 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Yes, they do. If you have at least 1lb/gallon of live rock I would take the biowheel out and only use the Emperor for flow and carbon. If you feel the need for a phosphate media you can run that as well. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/28/2007, 10:01 PM	#3
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	You need nitrite to get nitrates. You remove the biowheels. What happens? You are transfering the "factory" from the wheels to the rocks. It wont hurt to leave the wheels in. Just remove any filter floss, or change it once a week. the source of the so called "factory" is the gunk trapped in/on the biowballs in wet drys. Biowheels are a whole diffrent animal. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

04/28/2007, 10:22 PM	#4
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I don't think they have the same effect, but with live rock there is no need for a biowheel. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

04/28/2007, 10:31 PM	#5
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I have about 85-95 lbs of live rock in my 55 gal. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

04/29/2007, 12:41 AM	#8
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	So, should I clean them? Or remove them? Or leave them? __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

04/29/2007, 12:43 AM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Remove them. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/29/2007, 08:21 AM	#11
In Deep Water Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 288	I took out my bio-wheels because I didnt want my LR to have to compete with the wheels for the biological filtration. I run carbon in the two media slots behind the filter pads. My tank is performing better now then when I had the wheels in. Nitrates are downand remain stable. Last edited by In Deep Water; 04/29/2007 at 08:33 AM.