Bio wheels

[Lindsikins00]

Ok I have had my tank set up for over a year now, and seems to be doing really well. My bf gave me a Penguin 400 from one of his tanks to put on my saltwater tank. I previously had a Penguin 170, i think. (I took the bio-wheels off). Before the filter switch, my nitrates hoovered around 0-10ppm. About 10 days after the filter switch I tested the water planning on doing a water change and the nitrates were 40+! I had forgotten to take the biowheels off the Penguin 400. Is this what caused the nitrate spike? No fish, snails, or shrimp were harmed though.

 

[sirfishmaster]

this is a good question, i hear so many different views about this, i have 2 emporor 400's with the wheels on..(thats 4 wheels spinning) and mine hover around 15ppm...but i get so many mixed info about this.....so i am curious to hear some answers



doug

 

[hisc1ay]

A lot of people say that the biowheel is a storehouse for nitrates because there aren't any bacteria that convert them to something esle. So, the bacteria grow on the biowheel and convert the nitrites to nitrates. Water changes are what will get rid of the nitrates. Also I hear plants do the trick. I by no means am an expert, but this is what I have picked up in my saltwater adventures.

-j