The BIO-Wheel

NeonFlux

NeonFlux

Water agent
Oct 16, 2005
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Los Angeles, California
Real Name
William
Depending on what the marineland's explanation about the BIO-wheel,What do they mean when they say the beneficial bacteria culture will develop into peak operational efficiency within the BIO-wheel?Does that mean the bacteria will prove to help remove ammonia and nitrate?I've been cleaning the bio-wheel once in a while,but i just often happened to actually researched today about bio-wheel,and found out this bacteria thing which gets me kinda confused.I am still very not fond of theses scientific things...I plan not to use the carbon anymore,so you see,im trying to depend on the BIO-wheel to do the clear water and ammonia-free job;and also my 2 folded whisper polyster to pick up dirt and sorts ontop of the water flow area,and this black sponge that came with my dad's old whisper filter.I thought maybe it could also be in handy,so i cut them into squares and made this wall on the water flow ontop.And outta curiousity,does it make a difference when you use that AlgaeFIX to really stop the water maintenence?And is it nessesary i really need to change the water after like after 3 weeks?i mean i have all the things needed to take off the bad stuff (ammonia,dirt,nitrate,algae).Does it still really matter to change the water?Is it okay just to pour some new tap water in after the water has been slowly used up and after a like..4 or 5 weeks,perhaps?and pour 2 tsp of the water conditioners i have?This tank is 20 gallon,by the way.I have 3 blood red parrots,and 2 silver dollars(The ones that dont grow way too big!Especially the ones that look like big piranhas with big black spots and dark anal fins)They are living quite happy,having a very enthusiatic silver dollar..that little guy and loves to swim up to me when it's feedin time..The other silver dollar (a lil bit older) just follows up to him like he's happy.There's also one blood red parrot that is shy,one that is enthusiatic and a tiny bit aggressive,one that is just small and very happy..Im actually very suprised by how theses fish actually has great personalities :D

Okay,let's get straight to the point.

1.Whats this bacteria culture thing?And will the BIO-wheel be very dependable without the need-reach of carbon? :confused: Does it need to be cleaned once after a long while?
2.You like my idea of the 2 polyster bags and black square sponges ontop of the water flow? :thm:
3.The water changes.Should i? :dive2:
4.Like my fish personalities? :rolleyes:
 
Continue your research on the nitrogen cycle. The bacteria you are reading about are what converts ammonia to nitrites and others that convert nitrites to nitrates. You will be using water changes to remove the nitrates from the tank. If you are doing frequent water changes, not overstocking, not overfeeding and doing regular gravel vacumming, you will not need the carbon.

I do not clean my bio wheels, haven't seen a need to.

The only thing I would be adding is a dechlor for chlorine or chloramine. The tank can not be controlled by adding chemicals without causing instability.

How long have you had this tank operating? What are your water readings? (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH) Are you using a good liquid test kit? What are those same readings on your tap water?

Topping off the tank when the level is low IS NOT the subsitute for water changes. There are other waste products produced from the fish and decaying food that the mechanical and bio logical filters do not remove. You should be doing at least 30% water changes once a week.

You also need to read up on the fish you have. Especially adult size and temperment. IMO you are overstocked at a large scale.
 
The Bio-Wheel will start to change color after a few months (usually a brownish color). DO NOT clean it. This is the beneficial bacteria. Even if you don't get the chemistry of it, trust that "beneficial" bacteria will actually live up to its name. You can clean the meta; axels on the wheel; those sometimes get gunked up. In reality, the bulk of the nitrogen cycle will actually take place in the gravel, but having a filter like a Bio-Wheel will boost this cycle nicely. The other advantage of the wheel is that it disturbs the water further as it tumbles down the little slope, allowing the water to become very well aerated. Using a Bio-Wheel, I have never had to run an air stone with a pump ever to supplement aeration even when I fill the water up to the bottom lip of the filter to eliminate the splashing noise.
 
those fish will need about a 75 including the needed addition of a few more of the silver dollars since they are a schooling fish. for the best results in the growth and health of the fish 50% weekly water changes are the best thing. bio wheels shoudl never need to be replaced or even cleaned. im not sure what you mean by the double floss layer on the whisper or the black squares form the whisper's biological cartridge. did you cut up the whisper's black biological cartridge?
 
Bio Wheel

The reason bio wheel type filters work so well is because the paddle wheels are exposed to the air for much of the time. The number of facultative bacteria that can be supported in media exposed to air is enormously greater than submerged media. This is the same principle behind bio-ball trickle or "wet/dry" filters developed for marine aquaria. The bio wheels make the same technology available in a small, easy, hang-on package. I think they are excellent, better by far than any cannister or other constantly submerged media device at breaking down ammonia and nitrates.

Simplicity is always the best approach: natural processes, as few chemicals as possible, good circulation, water return that breaks the water surface, low bio-load, and keeping your hands off and out.
 
:dance2:

Ribishop,i guess i will do the water changes after all.Thanks for the time. :idea:

nerdyguy83,i wont clean the bio-wheel from now on.And i dont have any gravel on my tank at all,i have 2 rocks that are plugged with fake plants,just to make my tank a little more fancier,and giving my blood red parrots a little own areas.I know i bought this rock and plant at petco or something just cant remember the trademark.I think it could be tetra.Well,i set them up on the sides with a bridge on the middle.Heater corner left side.

reptileguy2727,about that cartridge,yeah i think so..it was spongeish but it's not like a sponge's texture though it was more like..a rusty feel to it.Annnd well about the fish,we'll see.I can either move them to my dad's 60 gal or sell them to a LFS(if thats possible) :sad: i'll miss'em.Thanks for the time.

agilis,thanks for the big BIO-wheel info.


Okay,so now,all i gotta do is just change the water every 3-4 weeks,clean the polyster and that black sponge every now and then,use the water conditioners,dont clean the bio-wheel,use a little bit of algaeFIX,and..im fine,right?
 
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WEEKLY water changes.

No algae fix.
 
No algaeFIx?why? :huh:

XD it works like a charm!i havent been seeing algae for days already~ :dance: I mean,it's not that BAD,really.Does it affect the fish?(If you overdose,yeah.)besides the overdose,what else would affect them?.But tell me,why not use it though? :huh: And one thing..they are not adult age yet.They are little boys.I had them for months,maybe even a year and they are still about 3 inches.And yes,it's a matter of time,they will,of course get larger,and I WILL move them to a larger tank(my dad's 60 gal).So no worries. :coffee2:
 
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Algae fix will probably do what it says and get rid of your algae and do little or no damage to the rest of the tank, but it is still something completely unnatural that you are adding to your tank. If there are more natural things to do (i.e. a blackout) then you should do that. Is there anything seriously wrong with using an algae remover? I don't know that for sure (other people on here could probably tell you a story or two), but in the end, a chemical is a chemical and if you wouldn't dump it in your local lake, then you shouldn't dump it in your tank.
 
Don't listen to these people.

Keep as many fish as you want in your aquarium. And if you ever have any water problems, just go to the local fish store and find a bottle of chemicals to fix the problem.

Regular water changes and carefully planned stocking levels are over-rated. People who keep fish like that don't hardly ever get to go to the fish store to buy new fish! :joke: :joke: :joke:
 
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