bio wheel removal?

[ouchia]

does anyone know how important it is/is not to remove the bio-wheel on a filter? i was told this was of utmost importance in a planted tank, anyone else? thanks...

 

[Bol]

Many aquatic plant enthusiasts that use CO2 injection with Penguin or Emperor filters remove their BioWheels, to reduce the surface disturbance (such disturbance can let dissolved CO2 escape the water).

If you are injecting CO2, and are having trouble keeping the CO2 concentration high enough (or feel you are using too much CO2 to get to desireable levels), then you should probably remove the wheel to see if it helps.

 

[ouchia]

thanks for the tip... that's exactly what i heard, but i haven't talked with anyone about whether or not the biowheel is necessary for controlling ammonia levels and what not... have any idea?

 

[Bol]

It's not necessary. Especially in an established tank, which already has plenty of nitrifying bacteria growing on the substrate, ornaments, filter media, etc.

Again, the wheel can help, but it's not necessary -- look at all the other similar HOB filters out there that work just fine without BioWheels.