bio wheels

So i have been doing some reading and was wondering what you amazing folks think. I have a emperor 400 with dual wheels. Leave them on or take them of and just run the cartridges and reasons why please. Thanks in advance.

 

You can use the wheels if you want; however, if you have sufficient live rock, they're basically redundant and something more to maintain. Also, the filter pads will require frequent cleaning/changing as trapped detritus breaks down into DOCs, fueling Nitrate production.

I, too, use a power filter, but it's mostly for surface agitation and a place to hang media bags of carbon (no wheels or pads).

 

Leave the wheels......8)

 

Well mr bill i am sitting with about 40 to 45 pounds live rock and close to 30 pounds sandon top of the bio.i guess i also should have said that it is apparently old school because it has metal turn pin that is rusting.

 

FWIW, I use a Penguin 330 in my 10 gallon QT (overkill much?!). I use the cartridge filters except when using copper or Prazi-pro, but do not use the Bio-wheels. There is no live rock obviously. I do use a sponge filter driven by an air pump. And I have my Coralife SS-65 in there for basically air exchange. With these, my nitrates stay undetectable (using API, so there is likely a low level). So I did not see a good reason to use them. I feed lightly and change the cartridges every month on average.

Moral of the story? I haven't seen a need to use them in my QT. But if you are using them already and do not have nitrate issues, then by all means continue to use them.

 

I used them in my old 55gal and never had an issue with parameters

 

Thanks i was just worried about the rust in the tank from the rod that gets cradled.didn't want it to mess anything up ya know

 

Not sure about that part.. Didn't see that part of your post. Mine were plastic

 

Vinny, you're saying USE them?

?