Biowheel Filtration

[Helminator]

This topic is in regards to the pinned topic about Marinelands BioWheel filters. I think i read somewhere that oversaturation of oxygen is detrimental to a fish's health, also that they are terrible for planted tanks because they disperse CO2 with the constant churning of the surface. Just a thought btw, thanks.

 

[andywg]

Bio wheel, and any air exposed filtration are bad for planted tanks, which is why most of the people with large tanks don't do planted because they prefer large fish and the large filtration and oxygen levels that go with it.

Apparantly overgassing can be bad, but that will not happen where it is water exposed toa ir, if you have compressed water in an enclosed area with a supply of gas the gas can over-saturate the water, but that will not take place in a wet dry or bio wheel fitler.

 

[jolaf]

How abuot a biowheel that is turning slowly. I changed mine about a month ago and it still is not crystal clear like my other filter used to do for my tank. Is this normal to see little things floating around and a bit cloudy at first if so how long until it clears?

Bio wheel, and any air exposed filtration are bad for planted tanks, which is why most of the people with large tanks don't do planted because they prefer large fish and the large filtration and oxygen levels that go with it.

Apparantly overgassing can be bad, but that will not happen where it is water exposed toa ir, if you have compressed water in an enclosed area with a supply of gas the gas can over-saturate the water, but that will not take place in a wet dry or bio wheel fitler.

 

[andywg]

With no experience of bio wheels, I can't really say. If there are lots of particles floating you probably want better meachincal filtration. If the biowheels has a prefilter (such as sponge) try changing it out for filter floss. Beware though: you will have to rinse the filter floss more often (a couple of minutes under the tap should get everything out.

 

[brynneth]

In response to the original poster, the pinned topic said that there was 200,000 ppm available on the biowheel for the bacteria, not that the biowheel put that concentration of 02 in the tank water. If that were true all our plants and fishes would be dead.

Jolaf, you are not supposed to change the biowheels. Thats whats so great about them, you never change them. The idea is that they can build a colony of beneficial bacteria that would never have to be removed like sponge filters, which loose pretty much all their bacteria when you replace them, leading to unstable tank conditions.