Post by carlrs on Jan 3, 2007 19:50:35 GMT -5
Does the bio wheel really work?
There is a lot of information about bio wheels and their importance
in
bio filtration in aquariums. In theory they are great idea and bought
into this idea for years without testing the results to see if the
hype was true. In theory the wheel turns into the air where oxygen the
aerobic bacteria need to remove ammonia and nitrites is much more
abundant. But after many a wheel stalling with the many customers I
serviced aquariums for I decided to start testing these wheels vs.
other bio filter methods.
I removed the bio wheel on penguin filters on comparable aquariums
with comparable bio loads and fish and found no discernable ammonia spike.
Yet when HOB filters that had running pre filters attached to their
intakes were removed, there were discernable ammonia spikes. This is
not to say a bio wheel does not work at all, especially there is less
build up deposits on the bio wheel fiber.
What is much more important is to have an adequate amount of
dissolved oxygen through agitation of the water surface which is where oxygen and other gasses are exchanged from the atmosphere and the aquarium. This is also important for the aquarium Redox not just the aerobic bacteria.
I have found a porous sponge filter media to maintain more bacteria
inwell oxygenated water.
Here are a few reasons behind the poor results of bio wheels:
[1] Hard water buildup; although not as much a problem in soft water
aquariums, this is a major problem with hard water aquariums and
especially marine aquariums (where these bio wheels are a total waste
of money). What happens is the calcium, salts and other deposits form
in the pores of the bio wheel fiber, not allowing bacteria to form
there. This is the main reason for the lack of effectiveness for bio
wheels. My tests in Discus aquariums (which are soft water) showed
better results for bio wheels (although not as well as sponge or
other porous media).
[2] Lack of surface area; a bio wheel does not have the surface are
of many other bio media products from sponge media to the very porous
pumice media used by Eheim and others.
[3] Bio wheel stalls; bio wheels have a bad habit of stalling. This is
only a minor reason to not have these bio wheels as this is a
correctable problem.
Here is a way correct this problem (this will be an on going
maintenance problem). Make sure the Teflon ends on the bio wheel axle
are clean and have no build ups of calcium you can replace these with
Teflon tape in a pinch. Also make sure the bio wheel assembly is not
to tight, simply remove the bio wheel and gently stretch the assembly
apart so the wheel can spin more freely.
Carl
Aquarium maintenance since 1978
aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/
americanaquariumproducts.com/PreFilter.html
There is a lot of information about bio wheels and their importance
in
bio filtration in aquariums. In theory they are great idea and bought
into this idea for years without testing the results to see if the
hype was true. In theory the wheel turns into the air where oxygen the
aerobic bacteria need to remove ammonia and nitrites is much more
abundant. But after many a wheel stalling with the many customers I
serviced aquariums for I decided to start testing these wheels vs.
other bio filter methods.
I removed the bio wheel on penguin filters on comparable aquariums
with comparable bio loads and fish and found no discernable ammonia spike.
Yet when HOB filters that had running pre filters attached to their
intakes were removed, there were discernable ammonia spikes. This is
not to say a bio wheel does not work at all, especially there is less
build up deposits on the bio wheel fiber.
What is much more important is to have an adequate amount of
dissolved oxygen through agitation of the water surface which is where oxygen and other gasses are exchanged from the atmosphere and the aquarium. This is also important for the aquarium Redox not just the aerobic bacteria.
I have found a porous sponge filter media to maintain more bacteria
inwell oxygenated water.
Here are a few reasons behind the poor results of bio wheels:
[1] Hard water buildup; although not as much a problem in soft water
aquariums, this is a major problem with hard water aquariums and
especially marine aquariums (where these bio wheels are a total waste
of money). What happens is the calcium, salts and other deposits form
in the pores of the bio wheel fiber, not allowing bacteria to form
there. This is the main reason for the lack of effectiveness for bio
wheels. My tests in Discus aquariums (which are soft water) showed
better results for bio wheels (although not as well as sponge or
other porous media).
[2] Lack of surface area; a bio wheel does not have the surface are
of many other bio media products from sponge media to the very porous
pumice media used by Eheim and others.
[3] Bio wheel stalls; bio wheels have a bad habit of stalling. This is
only a minor reason to not have these bio wheels as this is a
correctable problem.
Here is a way correct this problem (this will be an on going
maintenance problem). Make sure the Teflon ends on the bio wheel axle
are clean and have no build ups of calcium you can replace these with
Teflon tape in a pinch. Also make sure the bio wheel assembly is not
to tight, simply remove the bio wheel and gently stretch the assembly
apart so the wheel can spin more freely.
Carl
Aquarium maintenance since 1978
aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/
americanaquariumproducts.com/PreFilter.html
