Dead Bacteria On Bio-wheel

[celaeno]

when bacteria die off on the bio-wheel, do they stay on the bio-wheel or disappear with time?

i'm asking because if they remain on the bio-wheel after dying, they are taking up space where other beneficial bacteria can grow, limiting the amount of bacteria that can colonize.

this is the only other reason i can think of for my bio-spira having so little effect on eliminating the mini-cycle, other than that it was shipped improperly.

also, there's brownish muck on the edges of the bio-wheel. is this beneficial bacteria?

 

[bren2820]

Bacteria stays on the biowheel. My first filter was a biowheel and unless cleaned off, the bacteria grows on the wheel. However, i believe that most bacteria that grows on the wheel is beneficial.