bio wheel?

Brickyardpub · 03/28/2008, 02:08 PM

hey there, does a bio wheel fit into the same category as the bio balls?? concensus seems to say take them out as they are potential nitrate problems. I have a Marineland Tidepool sump on my tank and was wondering if I should just take it out?? To be honest I would like the extra room to put two more pumps for TLF Phosphate and Carbon Reactors... I would rather get some live rock rubble for that section as well... any opinions appreciated, please.

pjr300 · 03/28/2008, 02:11 PM

Pretty much so..... as long as you enough live rock in the tank, you don't need the wheel.

Brickyardpub · 03/28/2008, 02:21 PM

i would say after 8 months up and running I am at about 95 pounds in my 75 gallon ( 105 TWC ) I plan on adding about another 15 or so pounds in the next month. Think that's enough??

pjr300 · 03/28/2008, 02:27 PM

Yes! I think that is fine.

bertoni · 03/28/2008, 02:52 PM

If there are animals in the tank, I probably wouldn't just yank the bio-wheel, since that might cause a cycle. What's the setup like?

Brickyardpub · 03/29/2008, 02:13 PM

75 with a 10 gallon sump ( with bio wheel ) about 80 lbs sand ( approx 3-4 in. ) 95 pounds well cured live rock ( been in systems for over 4 years at this point ) 20 gal Refugium with Chaeto and a 4 in. bed as well. About 10 lbs of rock in the fuge as well.

As for livestock :

2 small false percs ( 3 months old )
2 purple firefish
1 Red Scooter Blenny
4 Turbos
20 Astrea
6 Nass. Snails
baby horshoe crab
5 Red legged hermits
5 Blue legged ( tiny ones )
Sand Sifting sea star
1 large Neon Blue legged hermit ( large )

Torch Coral
Hammer Frags
Few schroom rocks
8 In. Favia Colony

there may be a few more snails than that... hard to count them all at once. I change my filter media out in the trays every 2-3 weeks. Anything else I am missing??

bertoni · 03/30/2008, 12:45 AM

Well, you could try pulling it, but I wouldn't be hugely surprised if you saw some cycling effects.

inachu · 03/30/2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brickyardpub
i would say after 8 months up and running I am at about 95 pounds in my 75 gallon ( 105 TWC ) I plan on adding about another 15 or so pounds in the next month. Think that's enough??

As I an a newbe this scares the heck out of me!

I am so afraid of the bottom falling out and water all over the living room

I was told if you have a 55 gallon tank then use 55 pounds of rock.

Persoanlly I would have a metal bottom once I can afford it.

Brickyardpub · 04/03/2008, 06:45 PM

my stand is a DIY I made that is way over-engineered IMO. I used 4x4 posts x 6 over a 5 foot width and its cross braced with lag bolts and the top is oak plywood... so there isn't any missing middle area of no support for the glass. I could easily hold a 500 gallon tank on all those 4x4's. All in all materials ran about 90 dollars, even with the trim and crown molding I put around it. The garbage pine stands they have for 75's are well over 200 bucks...

Brickyardpub · 04/03/2008, 06:47 PM

Jonathan,
any suggestions for a plan of action to eventually get the wheel out of there?

bertoni · 04/03/2008, 08:54 PM

Well, if you want to go through the work, you could try peeling away the media a bit at a time, if possible. I don't know much about bio-wheels, since I've never run one.

Percula9 · 04/03/2008, 09:03 PM

I doubt with the amount of live rock and sand and refugium, taking the wheel out will have any affect on your system.

Brickyardpub · 04/04/2008, 02:48 PM

i actually just picked up another 20 lbs of live sand to add to my refugium to make the bed a solid 4 inches deep. Can I add another layer over the existing layer of sand without disturbing too much???

bertoni · 04/04/2008, 03:03 PM

I would add the sand about 1/4" inch per week, to avoid burying animals. That should be fine.

Brickyardpub · 04/04/2008, 07:29 PM

awesome... that was my plan pretty much. thanks for any and all advice friends... cheers,

bertoni · 04/04/2008, 11:32 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

03/28/2008, 02:08 PM	#1
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	bio wheel? hey there, does a bio wheel fit into the same category as the bio balls?? concensus seems to say take them out as they are potential nitrate problems. I have a Marineland Tidepool sump on my tank and was wondering if I should just take it out?? To be honest I would like the extra room to put two more pumps for TLF Phosphate and Carbon Reactors... I would rather get some live rock rubble for that section as well... any opinions appreciated, please.

03/28/2008, 02:21 PM	#3
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	i would say after 8 months up and running I am at about 95 pounds in my 75 gallon ( 105 TWC ) I plan on adding about another 15 or so pounds in the next month. Think that's enough?? __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

03/28/2008, 02:52 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If there are animals in the tank, I probably wouldn't just yank the bio-wheel, since that might cause a cycle. What's the setup like? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/29/2008, 02:13 PM	#6
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	75 with a 10 gallon sump ( with bio wheel ) about 80 lbs sand ( approx 3-4 in. ) 95 pounds well cured live rock ( been in systems for over 4 years at this point ) 20 gal Refugium with Chaeto and a 4 in. bed as well. About 10 lbs of rock in the fuge as well. As for livestock : 2 small false percs ( 3 months old ) 2 purple firefish 1 Red Scooter Blenny 4 Turbos 20 Astrea 6 Nass. Snails baby horshoe crab 5 Red legged hermits 5 Blue legged ( tiny ones ) Sand Sifting sea star 1 large Neon Blue legged hermit ( large ) Torch Coral Hammer Frags Few schroom rocks 8 In. Favia Colony there may be a few more snails than that... hard to count them all at once. I change my filter media out in the trays every 2-3 weeks. Anything else I am missing?? __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

03/30/2008, 12:45 AM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, you could try pulling it, but I wouldn't be hugely surprised if you saw some cycling effects. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/28/2008, 02:11 PM	#2
pjr300 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 234	Pretty much so..... as long as you enough live rock in the tank, you don't need the wheel.

03/28/2008, 02:27 PM	#4
pjr300 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 234	Yes! I think that is fine.

04/03/2008, 06:45 PM	#9
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	my stand is a DIY I made that is way over-engineered IMO. I used 4x4 posts x 6 over a 5 foot width and its cross braced with lag bolts and the top is oak plywood... so there isn't any missing middle area of no support for the glass. I could easily hold a 500 gallon tank on all those 4x4's. All in all materials ran about 90 dollars, even with the trim and crown molding I put around it. The garbage pine stands they have for 75's are well over 200 bucks... __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

04/03/2008, 06:47 PM	#10
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	Jonathan, any suggestions for a plan of action to eventually get the wheel out of there? __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

04/03/2008, 08:54 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, if you want to go through the work, you could try peeling away the media a bit at a time, if possible. I don't know much about bio-wheels, since I've never run one. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/03/2008, 09:03 PM	#12
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	I doubt with the amount of live rock and sand and refugium, taking the wheel out will have any affect on your system.

04/04/2008, 02:48 PM	#13
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	i actually just picked up another 20 lbs of live sand to add to my refugium to make the bed a solid 4 inches deep. Can I add another layer over the existing layer of sand without disturbing too much??? __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

04/04/2008, 03:03 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would add the sand about 1/4" inch per week, to avoid burying animals. That should be fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/04/2008, 07:29 PM	#15
Brickyardpub Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 147	awesome... that was my plan pretty much. thanks for any and all advice friends... cheers, __________________ steviem ~ Serenity Now ~

04/04/2008, 11:32 PM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni