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04-04-2008, 08:59 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 66
Karma: 41
 |  Bio wheel holding nitrates?
I have a Marineland Bio wheel filter and was told to remove the wheel because it can build up excess nitrates. My question is, would it be more harmful to remove it if my tank is still cycling (im pretty sure it is...only 3 months old). And, if i remove it, will I have to do anything special to make up for it (like different filtration, adding bacteria, etc.)? Would it be better to just replace it with a new biowheel every so often?
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28 Gallon Bowfront
2 False Perculas
1 Long Tentacled Anemone
1 Scarlet Skunk Shrimp
1 Pearly Jawfish | 
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04-04-2008, 09:02 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Longfin Fairy Wrasse
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Louisville, GA Age: 44
Posts: 2,348
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ya know I say better to be safe then sorry I took mine off after all the mention of high nitrates with them. Mine were running very high, then the addition of live rock and taking them off it's a lot lower, not as much as I'd like, but I got a fix for that(fuge, when it's done) Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubagator87  I have a Marineland Bio wheel filter and was told to remove the wheel because it can build up excess nitrates. My question is, would it be more harmful to remove it if my tank is still cycling (im pretty sure it is...only 3 months old). And, if i remove it, will I have to do anything special to make up for it (like different filtration, adding bacteria, etc.)? Would it be better to just replace it with a new biowheel every so often? | _________ Got Questions? Need Answers?
R.I.P. Big Blue 12/02-10/22//07
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04-05-2008, 09:19 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Clown Trigger
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tatamy, PA Age: 15
Posts: 2,003
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I took mine off and noticed unhappy corals, put it back on, and all is fine..... _________  | |
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04-05-2008, 09:33 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami Age: 39
Posts: 3,668
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I have never owned a hob filter with a bio wheel, so I dont have exp. with one, but I've heard that they are No3 factories. But if you do take it off, I think you need to replce it with carbon and filter pads. _________ 9YR OLD 90G 30G w/d Mag18 150G skimmer 692w MH,yel&kole tang,foxface,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Goniopora(2), Acropora(2),Brain, Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, R&G open brain, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, enias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew  | |
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04-05-2008, 09:47 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Kole Tang
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: joliet,il Age: 40
Posts: 1,756
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the rock and sand is your filter with the berlin method, the wheel will do more harm than good
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just one little sps frag tank with lots of goodies | |
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04-05-2008, 12:19 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Fire Shrimp
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 313
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubagator87 I have a Marineland Bio wheel filter and was told to remove the wheel because it can build up excess nitrates. My question is, would it be more harmful to remove it if my tank is still cycling (im pretty sure it is...only 3 months old). And, if i remove it, will I have to do anything special to make up for it (like different filtration, adding bacteria, etc.)? Would it be better to just replace it with a new biowheel every so often? |
I must chime in on this. BTW, what are your Am N2, N3 numbers ?
So where has this notion of Bio Wheels adding to high Nitrates come from ?
The whole idea is to add to the Bio Filter to help reduce N2, N3, ect not to add to the problem.
I have had up to 8 Bio Wheels running on different tanks with nothing but good success. A couple of the LFS down here run these on there tanks for years and years.
So if your N2, N3 are a little high only after 3 months, ..Well look to lower by simple water changes and other means. I never even rince by Bio Wheels when I maintain the filters.
Did you start with Live Rock, Live Sand, or Live Water ? Have you added any Nitrifying additives ? These will help.
If cycling and you don't wat the nimbers to go too high, I found that Amquel + works well.
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Tank Stuff:
46Gal, 1 AC110, CPR Skimmer, VA Reactor, CL t5 ho 4 x 60 w w/lunar lights , 50 lbs LR, 60lbs LS
FISH:
1 Coral Beauty, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Flame Hawk, 1 Clown Goby, 1 Damsel, 2 Chomis, 1 Black Sailfin Blenny, 1 Royal Gramma
CORAL:
Mushrooms, Anemone, Feather Dusters
INVERT:
hermits different kinds, 2 turbos, 4 Nassarius Snail , Bumblebee, Banded Coral Shrimp, 2 Emeralds, 1 Sally Lightfoot
Params:
Temp 78, PH 8.3, Alk 2.9, Ca 480, Sg 1.023, Dkh 10, Mg 1400, Am .15, N2 .5, N3 10, P4 .05 | 
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04-05-2008, 12:24 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8
Karma: 1
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Biowheels definitely can add some N3, but they can also remove a good amount of AM as well, so if you remove the wheel, test for AM and ensure that the rest of your filter/rock/sand/etc. are keeping that in check. | |
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04-05-2008, 12:28 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,505
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LOL I have never heard this one before If there are nitrates on the bio well that just means the filtration is doing its job. Plus that wheel is adding more oxygen to your water. Try not loading the system up with food and waste to get NO3's under control. Like with Bio Ball I have never had NO3 issues with their use. Most people just feed their tanks to death. I'd leave the wheels in place then if the NO3 in the water go up then find the cause ..
Nitrates only grow in their numbers when NO2 and Ammonias dictate their need .. Thats is the job and Nirtaes are the end of the cycle process. I have never known of the bio whell causing NO3 problems myself.
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Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible. | |
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04-05-2008, 12:33 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cuttingras ya know I say better to be safe then sorry I took mine off after all the mention of high nitrates with them. Mine were running very high, then the addition of live rock and taking them off it's a lot lower, not as much as I'd like, but I got a fix for that(fuge, when it's done) | Linda did you ever have nitrates with the use of the wheels ? The rock addition caused your problem the NO3 increased as the end results of the NO2 and Ammonia die off of the rocks.. To deal with NO3's is a simple , coil but the NO'3 are just the last of the denitrification chain. So you have to have something up the chain to feed and spike the nitrates | |
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04-05-2008, 12:39 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Longfin Fairy Wrasse
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Louisville, GA Age: 44
Posts: 2,348
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tangster Linda did you ever have nitrates with the use of the wheels ? The rock addition caused your problem the NO3 increased as the end results of the NO2 and Ammonia die off of the rocks.. To deal with NO3's is a simple , coil but the NO'3 are just the last of the denitrification chain. So you have to have something up the chain to feed and spike the nitrates | Yes I realized right before I got the rock that my nitrates were in the 80's and stayed there. I got more rock, they went down a little like 60 then taking the wheel out they went down again but to 40. I think not enough rock and the wheels were adding to it. | |
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