Penguin BioWheel 350 Question

ArchiReef · 01/11/2008, 04:40 PM

I have heard mixed thoughts on biowheel filters. I was originally told to get one (I did) and I have seen them on a lot of SW tanks. Some people told me its fine to use them but to get rid of the biowheels where as I have seen a lot of SW tanks with the biowheels still on the filter. Why would you removed the biowheel, nitrates? I have a 20 gallon high. Also should I clean the biowheels? I have been told not to.

thanks

JNye · 01/11/2008, 05:06 PM

i use one on my quarantine tank. i think its fine as the load is always very light on that tank...a ten gallon. also i don't think you clean then until they begin having trouble spinning. i think most peoples gripe with them is the inability to process nitrates because they only colonize aerobic bacteria(oxygen loving). i would only use them on a small tank, which i do, because frequent water changes are the easiest and cheapest filtration on small systems. so i say use it but keep a good water change schedule. jmo.

renisel · 01/12/2008, 02:43 AM

I used one for a while on the 20 gallon I had set up for a while. I never had nitrate problems, but that was probably at least partly because I had a DSB. I did, however, have problems with the pump on the filter being very finicky (it would randomly stop working even with a perfectly clean impeller, and no other obstructions).

01/11/2008, 04:40 PM	#1
ArchiReef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago (Lakeview) Posts: 268	Penguin BioWheel 350 Question I have heard mixed thoughts on biowheel filters. I was originally told to get one (I did) and I have seen them on a lot of SW tanks. Some people told me its fine to use them but to get rid of the biowheels where as I have seen a lot of SW tanks with the biowheels still on the filter. Why would you removed the biowheel, nitrates? I have a 20 gallon high. Also should I clean the biowheels? I have been told not to. thanks

01/11/2008, 05:06 PM	#2
JNye Moved On Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 2,230	i use one on my quarantine tank. i think its fine as the load is always very light on that tank...a ten gallon. also i don't think you clean then until they begin having trouble spinning. i think most peoples gripe with them is the inability to process nitrates because they only colonize aerobic bacteria(oxygen loving). i would only use them on a small tank, which i do, because frequent water changes are the easiest and cheapest filtration on small systems. so i say use it but keep a good water change schedule. jmo. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: it don't matter just don't bite it

01/12/2008, 02:43 AM	#3
renisel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 866	I used one for a while on the 20 gallon I had set up for a while. I never had nitrate problems, but that was probably at least partly because I had a DSB. I did, however, have problems with the pump on the filter being very finicky (it would randomly stop working even with a perfectly clean impeller, and no other obstructions).