Bio-wheel or not?

  • Get the NEW AquariaCentral iOS app --> http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1227181058 // Android version will be out soon!

bettaman

AC Members
Nov 27, 2002
101
0
0
NY
Visit site
I'm in the market for a new filter for my 20 gallon aquarium. I've heard that the filters with bio-wheels tend to be better, is this true? Why or why not? I've been looking at purchasing the filter online but by the time you factor in shipping I might as well go to the pet store.
 

fishbrain

PROUD TO BE AMERICAN
Originally posted by bettaman
I'm in the market for a new filter for my 20 gallon aquarium. I've heard that the filters with bio-wheels tend to be better, is this true? Why or why not? I've been looking at purchasing the filter online but by the time you factor in shipping I might as well go to the pet store.
bio-wheel provide exellent bio filtration,for your 20 gal you could put a emp.280.it will cost you32$ at bigals,at your lfs it could cost ya as much as 75$. I have a emp280 on my 20,i use a cell-pore cartridge and fiber floss in the media basket ,and have had great results.hth:D
 

rjl420

AC Members
May 13, 2002
209
0
0
49
Temecula, CA
photos.yahoo.com
I don't have a problem with bio wheels, however IIRC they aren't the best choice on planted tanks because they can compete with the plants for nutrients.

what are the inhabitants of the tank?
 

wetmanNY

AC Members
planted or unplanted, that is the question...

because in a planted tank (Diana Walstad tells) plants and nitrifying bacteria are in direct competition for the ammonia. Biowheels are great in unplanted, hardwater tanks where pH is alkaline and NH3 is an issue. Not so great in softwater planted tanks where plants are scoffing up the ionized nontoxic NH4.
 

bettaman

AC Members
Nov 27, 2002
101
0
0
NY
Visit site
Originally posted by rjl420
I don't have a problem with bio wheels, however IIRC they aren't the best choice on planted tanks because they can compete with the plants for nutrients.

what are the inhabitants of the tank?
At present, I'll just be moving the habitants from my 10 gallon which are 7 white clouds, 2 neon tetra's and 3 panda cories. I'll also add 2 clown loaches.
 

Serrateeth_2002

Godzilla
Nov 3, 2002
346
1
0
35
Singapore
Too little neons,if u already have enough neons,about 6,it will take about 3 or 4 years till you need to get a new tank,the clown loaches will out grow it by then.
 

carfey

AC Members
Nov 27, 2002
31
0
0
Visit site
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a planted 55 gallon tank. Right now it's being filtered by an Emperor 400. It provides a bit less filtration than I'd like but it'll do. I wasn't aware that the bio-wheels could compete with the plants. Should I remove one? or both? If I remove one, can I use it to help establish a tank?
 

RTR

AC Members
Oct 5, 1998
5,806
0
0
Braddock Heights, MD
My personal experience is exactly the opposite of the position taken by Ms. Waldstad. My experience is that healthy plants compete quite successfully with biofilters, in fact out-compete them hands down. There are several other experienced hobbyists who report the same finding, so this is not just a peculiarity of my moderately lighted low CO2 tanks. My guess that the plants would compete even better with more light and CO2 available to them.

But re biowheels as biofilters, they are perfectly good and useful devices, a specialized W/D which separates the biofiltration from the mechanical filtration - a division I strongly support personally. I don't use biowheels myself because they make more noise than I like, and excessively agitate the surface (part of their function) which blows off my low CO2.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store