Bio-Wheel dried out

S

sculpin

AC Members
Feb 24, 2006
5
0
0
I have a new tank I started recently and last night my ammonia levels finally got down to just trace amounts. Yeah! Nitrites about 5, and Nitrates about 10.

Then, I unplugged the filter w/the bio-wheel and didn't notice that I didn't plug it back in until this morning on my way to work. I didn't have time to test the water, I just plugged the filter back in. The bio-wheel dried out - arrgghhh! - but the filter/charcoal was still wet.

I'm headed out of town in 2 days for a week and my mother-in-law will be staying at the house to feed the fish, but water changes, testing the water, etc will be way beyond her.

Will I be starting over with a cycle? Should I run out and buy some bio-spira to dump in the tank tonight? Help!!!

Thanks!
 
In my opinion, Bio-Spira is never a bad thing. It helped me finally get my tank under control. Since it does not harm fish, invertabrates, rock, or plants.....you got nothing to lose..except a little money. But, I think it is well worth the price.

P.S. Make sure that the Bio-Spira was in a fridge!
 
i agree with waverider, it can't hurt. most of your bacteria live in the biowheel and if it went dry overnight, there's a good chance you lost most of your bacteria, not all, some will stay on the gravel, decor, filter media, etc....since water changes aren't an option and it sounds like you have access to bio-spira, imo, i wouldn't gamble with it.
 
i think the biowheel is a little more hardy than that, just test once you get home, if you see amonia-- then freak out, also i dont think that most of the bacteria would be in the bio wheel, most would probably be in the filter media...

also sculpin, do you keep sculpins? i used to have one in a 10gal native fish tank...
 
i'm going to have to disagree with you on this. but here is an article on the subject.

bio wheels
 
Thanks for the replies. I ran out at lunch and bought some bio-spira and came home to put it in. Better safe than sorry, I guess. I did just test the tank and all looks ok right now. I'm going to dump the Bio-Spira in anyway just to be safe.

Lobo, I don't keep sculpin but I got stung by one once. A sting I haven't forgotten!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom