filter

[sly2kusa]

The decomposing of wastes causes ammonia. If the particles itself were ammonia (food, feces, ect.), the fish wouldn't be able to live at all cause it cant eat ammonia as it would kill them. Try drinking a bottle of clear ammonia from the cleaning section at wally world. Does it kill you? It sure will. Also, if that was the case, wouldn't a bio wheel come BEFORE the mechanical cartridge?

I understand all of that, but my question was based around the way a Biowheel works as opposed to a canister filter. My filters in my Emperors are saturated with all kinds of stuff (from fecal matter to God only knows what).

This is the bacteria bed that I understood was good bacteria for the biowheels themselves to maintain (on a smaller level of course).

And yes - I could see where a Biowheel in a canister setup would be beneficial, but I do not believe such an option either exists, nor is needed with the FX5.