biowheels?

[nodoubt471]

first, let me start off by saying how aquarium advice is SO much better than reef central-this site is graphically superior, more user-friendly, loads much faster, has far better content, and the overall feel of the members is far more positive.

but back to the biowheels. while on reef central (which i vow to never visit again!!!!) i read a post that said that biowheels decrease the effectivity of LR to export nitrates. is this true? i have a biowheel on my 20g FOWLR, 20lbs LR+20lbs LS. last few testings, my nitrates have been high despite water changes, and i have an ugly algae bloom.

what is your guy's take on this? to biowheel or not to biowheel?

 

[reefrunner69]

i read a post that said that biowheels decrease the effectivity of LR to export nitrates. is this true?

Hmmm, yes and no. It really doesn't decrease it's effectivity as much as prevent it from happening. The thing about these anoxic areas that denitrify, is that the nitrates have to be in proximity to them when they are produced. Think of an aerobic bacteria bucket brigade carrying nitrates to the anoxic areas with the denitrifying bacterias. Once the nitrate is produced away from the LR, the aerobic bacteria have no use for it, so it is not passed along to the anoxic areas.

what is your guy's take on this? to biowheel or not to biowheel?

If you have 1.5 lbs per gallon of LR, I recommend removing the biowheel and just using the filter for water movement and carbon filtration.