Bio-wheel

Just wanting some opinions on the use of combined carbon and bio-wheel filters. I have had several people tell me that bio-wheels are like bio-balls in a fuge, and they just make nitrates worse. Is this true? I really like my emperor biowheel filter because I can change the carbon out of the refillable media cartrage and use poly pad for the filter pad. Plus I always thought the bio-wheel was a plus. Just wanted some of you guys to weigh in on this one, cause I haven't had any measurable nitrates since the initial cycle.

 

Yes well it all depends on how you look at it. The simple fact that Nitrates are then end of the de nitrification process and if they are high that should tell all who condemn the wheels and bio balls that they are super efficient at doing the deed of De-nitrification . They are and anyone who would say that either are a NO3 factory just tells me they are talking through their hat .

I'd rather have more dissolved oxygen and some nitrates and find a means that you prefer to turn the NO3's into a food /energy source for another bacteria its an anaerobic strain unlike the Nitrobacters that oxidize the nitrites to nitrates they require lots of oxygen. By employing the anaerobic strains that use nitrates as an alternative to oxygen for the final electron acceptor in their respiration like I do in my nitrate coil then I have them consuming the no3's and I keep elevated oxygen levels unlike those who try to use rock and sand beds and lower bio loads .. People just don't know and read and repeater keep doing their work NO3's are a given must to have a live aquarium or earth .

I myself would leave the wheels and bio balls put the rocks in a box and deal with the Nitrates on their level for true and complete nitrification cycle in-place of just a half of the cycle.and keep healthier and happier fish and corals ,

 

Thanks Tangster, I was hoping I would hear from you on this one. The "NO3 Factory" was exactly the response I had been hearing. So I'm not gonna run to the tank and chuck the bio-wheel. I think I understand that the bio-wheels are very effective in their step in the de-nitrification process, but only a step. They will convert the NO2 to NO3 via the use of aerobic bacteria. Following this I need some way to eliminate the NO3 from the system (anerobic bacteria). Is this where the LR and sand bed fit in?

 

Tangster, you knocked out two birds with ones stone as I was wondering the same thing. Someone told me that yesterday in my DIY frag tank post and left me wondering!

 

Sorry this started out in the wrong place. Could Tangster or someone else briefly explain to me where the anaerobic bacteria live that use the nitrates up.

 

O.K I'll assume all understand the de nitrification process up to the NO3 , Then unless you arrive at that point you are not doing anything really. Here is a fast explanation of where it all started , NO3 have never been problem for me and many others as I have lots of rock (all started as Base rock) but inside of them are some pockets that are anaerobic and they produce some benefits as do the areas under the rock where they set on the sand .. I ran my tanks just like this for near to 45 yrs plus and never a NO3 problem and no deep sand beds and a wet dry . I never fed my systems to death this is where many mess up they feel their fish and corals in the last 25 yrs are starving to death , And the wet dry alone could not handle all the waste sewerage and then they started t notice NO3's appearing more and more ..


I once long ago installing a sewer treatment plant in a factory in Hopewell Va at Allied Chemical they built a denitrater .. about 1974 or so when they where under the EPA's thumb . I thought Huuuum why not took some scrap pipe and made me one just a lot smaller it worked so I have never since then never had a NO3. problem nor have my friends

But then along came the DSB to take care of all the problems problem is you are very limited to the amount of bio load you can place on them and a real PITA to maintain . And short lived on average and it did not work thats why to do they are dosing Vodka and other sugar carbons to produce the needed bacteria to handle the NO3 But like with the old black denitrater drip box , it had to be fed and then there always the worry of to much or not enough its a slippery razor blade . I still used my simple coils low tech and not much to write about or brag on a idiot like myself can safely us them and get the same results as the DSB and Vodka and the Old black boxes and then even older sulfur reactors . But all have to be monitored and fed and maintained unlike my simple old coil



The bacteria in the coils anaerobic area are called Obligate anaerobes and they can not live in the presence of any traces of oxygen and inside the chamber they use the nitrate as a food source to keep it simple . This type deal can go on and on for ever But basically the water entering the chamber run down a long coil to the bottom in moving down that coil it is deprived off all oxygen and when it exits to coil at the chambers base the area is full of the bacteria and as the water perks back up through the bio media inside the chamber the water is totally striped of all NO3 and the by product is simple nitrogen gas that is totally eliminated as it is exposed to the air no worries no maintiance no nitrates all done by little microbes just like those found all in nature from dirt to water.

 

Thanks Tangster for taking the time to type all that out for me. I like to understand what is going on in my tank. I am trying to set up as low maintenance as possible for my reef. I may be interested in one of your coils in the future, I am going to add another emperor to the back of my 55g so That I can run one with carbon, and the other with either more carbon or some kind of phosphate media, The refillable media cartrige allows me to change it up and go back and forth. If I start seeing a NO3 problem I may add the coil denitrater. This will allow me to not worry about an overflow/flood/sump/skimmer/fuge. I purchased the sun coral on a whim and see now that feeding it is gonna be too much demand and too much wasted frozen mysis for my liking. I may just trade it with someone local for some zoa's. This would let me feed only flake and some seeweed for my tang. I'll let my param's dictate the show from there on out.

Thanks again, I know it takes time to give a thorough reply but I appreciate the effort.

Dave