Bio-Wheel Question

[Nikkoli110]

Hey guys, I have a question about the bio-wheel on my filter. I have a 29 gallon reef set up, with about 35 lbs live rock, 20 lbs live sand, 4 small fish, and assorted corals. I have a bak pak protein skimmer, and an 18" hob fuge that I keep a 4 inch sand bed, some live rock, and macro algae in. I have the (I think, I'm at work so I cant check) 175 Penguin Bio-Wheel filter. I have heard that these things are nitrate spounges, and that they re-release nitrates into the water. I change my water about every 1-1/2 weeks to 2 weeks, and do about 4-5 gallons. My nirtates have still been about 25-30. All my corals seem to be doing great, my xenia is spreading like nuts. I have a good clean up crew, serpant star, about 20 blue leg hermits, 20 snails, 2 scarlet crabs, and an emerald crab. I have good water movement, coming from the filter, the bak pak return, the fuge return, and also a zoo-med powersweep. Can I take out the Bio-wheel? The thing never seems to acutaly move, so its kind of the bio-sit there nitrate sponge. Can I just take it out, or would that create a ammonia, and then nitrite hike? I also change the filter pad every time I change the water, so the nitrate doesnt build up there. Thanks...

 

[nunofs]

With the skimmer and fuge (in addition to a good amount of live rock) you already have, you shouldn't need the filter at all... I'd say it's safe to remove not only the bio-wheel, but the whole filter. If you're using it to run carbon, you can remove the filter pad and use a carbon bag in its place... this way you only have chemical filtration, not mechanical (well, just a little). That should help with your nitrates, 25-30 is really high for a reef.

Nuno

 

[marco67]

Can I take out the Bio-wheel?

Yes and IMO you should,
Bio wheels work good in Fish Only tanks fresh and salt, as they provide a place for beneficial bacteria to colonize. In a reef your sand and rock provide that place and your bio wheel becomes that nitrate collector you mention.

 

[Nikkoli110]

Oh goody! That baby is coming out tonight then! Plus it looks like crap because I actually have my bak-pak on the side of my tank, because I had no room in the back. Now I can move that into the back and it will look better. If I remove the whole filter, could I just place a bag in the return side of my bak pak or in my hob fuge with carbon in it?

 

[marco67]

Yes,
the return side of a bak-pak is a great place to run a media bag.