Need help understanding the Bio-wheel

[Lauren B.]

I inquired with aquarium personnel today about some desktop tank kits. Little did I realize there were so many choices out there...I figured there'd be one or two companies, but boy was I wrong. As well, all of them had different types of filters and mechanisms. One tank had a Whisper filter that hung over and attached by suction on the back of the tank. Another (the one I was contemplating), had a square scrubbery-textured replaceable filter, and it had a Bio-wheel mechanism as well. I thought the Bio-wheel was for aeration, but the lady told me that it was used for growing beneficial bacteria. Maybe I misunderstood her, but now I'm confused. Can someone explain this a little better to me?....What does the Bio-wheel do? Does it work in conjunction with the filter?....and why did she think the Bio-wheel was so superior to the Whisper?

Lauren B. :1luvu:

[Drumachine09]

The bio wheel acts as a fliter floss in most HOB filters. The beneficial bacteria is stored in the wheel. The bacteria helps keep your levels stable, among a plethera of other things.

[Nautilus29]

the biowheel is a really good enviorment for the good bacteria, They like alot of air and they get alot of it when the wheel turns out of the water. These bacteria in return break down ammonia, and nitrites.

[Drumachine09]

If you are going to get a filter, DEFINATLY shoot for the biowheel.

[Sasquatch]

I've had a lot of success with the various sizes of Marineland Filters that have BioWheels. So much so that I plan on getting one for just about any aquarium I have.

They're well built, not very noisy and the BioWheel mechanism is really great for maintaining beneficial bacteria.

[jeffs99dime]

they even make canister filters with a biowheel built-in!

[Drumachine09]

they even make canister filters with a biowheel built-in!

Now thats something i havent heard of yet!

[Chrona]

they even make canister filters with a biowheel built-in!

It's actually built into the canister? That'd be pretty cool. I thought the bio wheel just attached at the end of the output hose and hung on the back of the tank, like with the Magnum 350's

[jeffs99dime]

Now thats something i havent heard of yet!
i believe the magnum pro has a canister and biowheel in one

[jeffs99dime]

It's actually built into the canister? That'd be pretty cool. I thought the bio wheel just attached at the end of the output hose and hung on the back of the tank, like with the Magnum 350's

ah. you're right. i meant to say combined, not in the same unit! lol
forgive me eveyone! lol

[Drumachine09]

Oh, now i get it. Mistake forgiven!:hmm3grin2orange:

[Chrona]

ah. you're right. i meant to say combined, not in the same unit! lol
forgive me eveyone! lol

haha, yeah I was starting to wonder how that would work. You would either need an open top canister filter or an air pump to continuously pump air into the filter :O

Lauren - As for the Biowheel, more bacteria will be found in more surface area, so it's basically just a rotating pleated cylinder sitting partly in the flowing water. This gives alot more surface area than, say the flat piece of biofoam in a Whisper filter. And because nitrifying bacteria needs oxygen to survive, the additional advantage of a biowheel as compared to submerged biological filtering media is that it exposes a much greater surface area to the air, putting more oxygen into the water for the bacteria. Bacteria on submerged media take their oxygen mostly from the water, which means less for the fish. The only time you wouldn't want to use a biowheel is for a planted aquarium, because it disturbs the water alot and lets it release the CO2 the plants need.

[Drumachine09]

haha, yeah I was starting to wonder how that would work. You would either need an open top canister filter or an air pump to continuously pump air into the filter :O

Lauren - As for the Biowheel, more bacteria will be found in more surface area, so it's basically just a rotating pleated cylinder sitting partly in the flowing water. This gives alot more surface area than, say the flat piece of biofoam in a Whisper filter. And because nitrifying bacteria needs oxygen to survive, the additional advantage of a biowheel as compared to submerged biological filtering media is that it exposes a much greater surface area to the air, putting more oxygen into the water for the bacteria. Bacteria on submerged media take their oxygen mostly from the water, which means less for the fish. The only time you wouldn't want to use a biowheel is for a planted aquarium, because it disturbs the water alot and lets it release the CO2 the plants need.

Couldnt have put it better myself. Probobly because i didnt know that much. but i do now. Thanks for the info:thumb:

[cocoa_pleco]

i liked my bio-wheel. well worth it

[Lauren B.]

The bio wheel acts as a fliter floss in most HOB filters. The beneficial bacteria is stored in the wheel. The bacteria helps keep your levels stable, among a plethera of other things.

Not meaning to sound like a total moron....but what is "filter floss" and "HOB"?

I am however familiar with the purpose of beneficial bacteria and its importance. I read that in the free e-book <-- (Lauren sticks out her chest and straightens her posture proudly while she says that!). I know publications can't always keep up with the new technology and mechanisms that come out every day, so I don't think the bio-wheel was mentioned in the e-book, making it a new subject for me.

So does the bio-wheel require cleaning or any maintenance? Or do I just replace the square scrubbery-like filter and leave the wheel alone?

[Chrona]

Not meaning to sound like a total moron....but what is "filter floss" and "HOB"?

So does the bio-wheel require cleaning or any maintenance? Or do I just replace the square scrubbery-like filter and leave the wheel alone?

Filter floss is the white foamy/stringy stuff (not sure how to describe it) that you stuff into a filter to provide mechanical filtration, ie a strainer for the water. HOB is short for hang on back, which the setup for many types of filters. It hangs on the back lip of your aquarium

Eventually, the biowheel slows down and stutters as it gets clogged up. If it gets too bad, shake it in some warm dechlorinated water (or a small container of aquarium water) to clean off some of the gunk and still keep the beneficial bacteria. Make sure it doesn't dry out at anytime though

[Nautilus29]

If I where you I would get a marineland penguin bio wheel filter. I got 2 for my 55g. Then I got one for my sisters tank my g/f tank and then one in my 29g.

[Lauren B.]

I went to the Marineland website and printed out and read a bunch of info on the Bio-wheel. That, along with everyone's advice, helped me understand pretty well how it works.

One more question out of curiosity though....Does the beneficial bacteria flow throughout the tank? Or does it sit stagnant in one place? I guess because of all the talk of using gravel from an established tank (of which the bacteria is attached), and the bacteria growing on the bio-wheel, I've kind of been thinking that the bacteria just sits stagnant and stuck in one place, like barnacles. Once it starts growing on a surface host, does it then leave its host and travel and swim throughout the water?

Just curious...trying to learn a little and not be such an ignoramus about aquarium workings! :1luvu:

[Chrona]

The vast majority of the bacteria is found on the surfaces in an aquarium, such as gravel and in the filter. The bacterias that convert ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate are aerobic, meaning that they won't survive well in stagnant water, since they need fresh water for the oxygen. The bacteria that converts nitrates to harmless free nitrogen, however, is completely anaerobic, and so is pretty hard to cultivate unless you have some special equipment.