Filter Help

[flyhawk]

i have a 5 year old penguin bio wheel 350, and i havnt changed the bio wheels all 5 years. there was a time when the dried out to, when the tank wasnt up. now im using them again but the tanks really cloudy. im wondering if i need new bio wheels( and please dont total scream at me if this is an obvious ansewr!

 

[drobbyb]

Never replace the bio-wheels unless they are falling apart.

 

[OldMan47]

The wheel part won't help you clear up cloudy water. That is the job of mechanical filtration. The wheel is intended to become a home for beneficial bacteria to process fish wastes in the form of ammonia and nitrites. If the wheel has been sitting dry and you are just getting ready to cycle the tank, there is probably no better time to replace a messed up wheel. At least it would give you a long run for the new one. If you already have your filter cycled, much of the beneficial bacteria will be in the wheel so leave it in place.

 

[flyhawk]

well i know about the bacteria that it holds, but its full of crud and stuff, and i dont think the bio wheels are working good after being used out of the box, then dried out, then used again, then dried againg, then used again, without ever being used. i really think this is a problem. i just dont think its holding the beneficial bacteria anymore, that eat the nitrates that the algae thats clouding my tank is feeding off.

 

[OldMan47]

If your wheel is beyond all hope, get a new one. They are fairly cheap to replace but we generally don't replace wheels that are working right.

 

[Schmill]

well i know about the bacteria that it holds, but its full of crud and stuff, and i dont think the bio wheels are working good after being used out of the box, then dried out, then used again, then dried againg, then used again, without ever being used. i really think this is a problem. i just dont think its holding the beneficial bacteria anymore, that eat the nitrates that the algae thats clouding my tank is feeding off.

Incidently, unless I am VERY MUCH mistaken and bio-wheels hold a different sort of bacteria to the other various filters, there is no bacteria on them that will 'eat the nitrAtes that the algae is feeding off'. The bacteria convert ammonia to nitrIte, and nitrIte to nitrAte, and then waterchanges remove the nitrates.