Canister with Biowheel

[Meredith]

I remember seeing a canister filter that had the option of a biowheel but I don't remember which it was, and is that a good idea?

 

[critter905]

I think you saw a Magnum 350. I currently have a Magnum 350 but don't run the bio-wheel as of yet. I have always heard good things about them though.
My guess is that it surely wouldn't hurt matters to have it.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Maybe the H.O.T. Magnum?

 

[xray]

Magnum has a canister with a biowheel.

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=2532339/search=magnum%20filter

But I bet you DIY it. As a mater of fact I think I saw a DIY biowheel somewhere here.

 

[Drake]

It is the HOT Magnum filter that has the bio-wheel attachment. Its the one that hangs on the back and pumps 250gph.

 

[poppab02]

The Magnum 350 also has an optional biowheel attachment

 

[SerLunchbox]

i got the magnum pro HOT w/ biowheel ... awesome filter

 

[TankGirl]

Biowheels (IMO) are great portable biomedia, but any established tank is going to have plenty of biobugs all over it and the filter, so if you have a healthy adequately filtered tank with a canister you will not see any change if you add a biowheel.

If you have other tanks and you experience a mini-cycle, or you are trying to jump-start a new tank cycle you can put the biowheel on the other tank, or even just toss the wheel itself into the water to float around, but otherwise I don't see a need for them. I have some tanks with them and some without, and there is no difference in terms of water quality.

 

[Meredith]

Thanks TG! I really needed to hear that!

 

[loganj]

The Bio Wheels available are the Pro 30 (one wheel) and the Pro 60 (two wheels). You can add them to any canister or run them with a powerhead. I like Bio Wheels in FW because they give you a good biofilter that isn't disturbed no matter what you do to the filter or tank...as long as they don't dry out. You can remove the filter,clean it , trash all the media and replace it with new and you'll never see a trace of ammonia/nitrite buildup. I'm not saying they are necessary of course, just that they have worked for me for years without the slightest problem.

 

[TomK2]

wouldn't the splashing of a bio-wheel negate the quietness of a canister?

 

[SerLunchbox]

not the magnum hot one that i am using .... the noise is reduced because it is like a slide that ends about 1" beneath the surface of my water line in the tank.