skimmer / filter question

kapella · 03/02/2008, 01:10 PM

Hello all,
I just wanted to carify something... I have 30 gal tank. I've been running a biowheel filter and Remora skimmer. After reading some posts; do I need the filter? or skimmer is enough.

Thanks in advance.

SquidHC · 03/02/2008, 01:15 PM

The skimmer, along with your live rock should be all the filtration you need.

Avi · 03/02/2008, 01:21 PM

I'd take down the biowheel filter. But I'd just add that you should have at least 30-pounds of live rock along with the skimmer to optimize.

jankyjameson · 03/02/2008, 01:22 PM

the skimmer will be plenty, but you may want to run the filter anyway. the actual biowheel part of it is pretty much obsolete, because the live rock (assuming you have the proper amount?) will provide far superior biological filtration. however, you can use the filter to run whatever you want. i have a remora on my 20long, and i use a power filter to run filter pads, carbon, phosban, whatever. it keeps the water crystal clear.

woogy · 03/02/2008, 01:23 PM

take the biowheel out as long as you have enough live rock and just run carbon in HOB filter along with skimmer

kapella · 03/02/2008, 01:59 PM

Thanks all. I have about 50lbs of LR.

jonbry123 · 03/02/2008, 03:19 PM

Kapella,

I agree with all the previous posts;however, the biowheel originally was designed to remove metabolites such as ammonia and nitrates. Now most in the "Know" will tell you that this mechanism will contribute to nitrate build up as it will catch small organic matter. I agree it will do this. You don't mention whether this is a RT or FOWLR tank. If a RT I would remove the biowheels as well or clean them a couple of times a month to remove any organic matter that is attached to them. Once your tank has cycled the main thing you will have to deal with is nitrates and phosphates. You will know if not testing whether these metabolites are out of hand is if you have large algae blooms. On a smaller tank I would not recommend using carbon as it pulls the good as well as the bad out of your water which means you would need to dose with addtivites more often. I would suggest as media substrate such as SeaChem's Purigen as it doesn't pull the necessary elements out of the water like carbon does.

03/02/2008, 01:10 PM	#1
kapella Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 105	skimmer / filter question Hello all, I just wanted to carify something... I have 30 gal tank. I've been running a biowheel filter and Remora skimmer. After reading some posts; do I need the filter? or skimmer is enough. Thanks in advance.

03/02/2008, 01:15 PM	#2
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	The skimmer, along with your live rock should be all the filtration you need. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

03/02/2008, 01:21 PM	#3
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I'd take down the biowheel filter. But I'd just add that you should have at least 30-pounds of live rock along with the skimmer to optimize. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

03/02/2008, 03:19 PM	#7
jonbry123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: allentown, pa Posts: 581	Kapella, I agree with all the previous posts;however, the biowheel originally was designed to remove metabolites such as ammonia and nitrates. Now most in the "Know" will tell you that this mechanism will contribute to nitrate build up as it will catch small organic matter. I agree it will do this. You don't mention whether this is a RT or FOWLR tank. If a RT I would remove the biowheels as well or clean them a couple of times a month to remove any organic matter that is attached to them. Once your tank has cycled the main thing you will have to deal with is nitrates and phosphates. You will know if not testing whether these metabolites are out of hand is if you have large algae blooms. On a smaller tank I would not recommend using carbon as it pulls the good as well as the bad out of your water which means you would need to dose with addtivites more often. I would suggest as media substrate such as SeaChem's Purigen as it doesn't pull the necessary elements out of the water like carbon does. __________________ Bryan "You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry."-Norman Juster Current Tank Info: 300gl FOWLR/155glRT

03/02/2008, 01:22 PM	#4
jankyjameson Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: austin, tx Posts: 57	the skimmer will be plenty, but you may want to run the filter anyway. the actual biowheel part of it is pretty much obsolete, because the live rock (assuming you have the proper amount?) will provide far superior biological filtration. however, you can use the filter to run whatever you want. i have a remora on my 20long, and i use a power filter to run filter pads, carbon, phosban, whatever. it keeps the water crystal clear.

03/02/2008, 01:23 PM	#5
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	take the biowheel out as long as you have enough live rock and just run carbon in HOB filter along with skimmer

03/02/2008, 01:59 PM	#6
kapella Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 105	Thanks all. I have about 50lbs of LR.