Penguin 100 Bio-wheel

[pto]

At petsmart, the 'expert' claimed that I did not need to fishless cycle with ammonia or anything if I got this marineland bio-wheel filter. it was the same price as the other one I was considering so I saw no harm in getting this. He says I only need to cycle for like 36-48 hours before I stock my first 3-4 fish. is this true?
Thanks

 

[Dong]

Your "expert" doen't know what he is talking about... It is impossible to completely cycle within 36-48 hours by any means! The cycle does not start until you add the fish or some ammonia, so running a filter without fish or ammonia will not cycle the tank.

 

[onemisterchristian]

Precisely dong. Take a look at the pinned articles on cycling. It will make much more sense. Although a bio-wheel is nice...it's not going to speed up the cycle.

 

[1800higgins]

With that filter I could see the process speeding up as Bio Wheel's pump at a much higher rate... But without ammonia or fish does not sound right.

 

[onemisterchristian]

How so do biowheels pump at a higher rate? They pump at whatever gph they are rated for. If a bio wheel pumps 100 gph, you could just buy a plain hob filter that also achieves 100 gph and the only difference would be that there is a bio wheel on one that is meant to culture benneficial bacteria.

 

[pto]

So I could put 3-4 tetras or something in after 24 hours to begin the cycling?
I read the sticky, but i'm just wondering if I can get around it since I have a bio-wheel.

 

[1800higgins]

How so do biowheels pump at a higher rate? They pump at whatever gph they are rated for. If a bio wheel pumps 100 gph, you could just buy a plain hob filter that also achieves 100 gph and the only difference would be that there is a bio wheel on one that is meant to culture benneficial bacteria.

It's not so much that the wheel pumps faster... It's how it pumps. Thankfully I searched and someone else made a post about it so that I don't have to try and explain it (I'm bad with it)... But the way a bio wheel is set up is made to break down ammonia much faster then any standard filter... Which would in turn cycle your tank much faster then normal.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=4076

Also, PTO... I'd suggest you read that thread. It'll help you better understand how Penguin filters work. You'll see why those filters are rated with such high regard in any pet store you go into.

 

[pto]

I read it and suprisingly, everything was old material. I knew what the wheel did, but I'm jsut going to experiment with it for a fishless cycle for about a day, then get about 3-4 fish.
I'll keep a diary of some sorts if anyone is curious.

 

[1800higgins]

I plan on grabbing a Penguin Bio-Wheel 330 for my 55 gallon tank... And most likely another smaller tank (I like a clean tank).

 

[onemisterchristian]

pto- What do you mean by saying you're going to experiment with fishless cycling for a day? It wouldn't be benneficial to start into a fishless cycle and then add fish. A fishless cycle requires that you add a source of ammonia. If you added fish the day after adding ammonia, then it would just do more harm to the fish, seeing as none of the ammonia would have been broken down yet. If you're going to do a fishless cycle then stick to it. Otherwise if you jump the gun, then you're fish will be in worse shape than if you cycled it with fish.

1800higgins- I know the penguin line is great, I have one myself.... (a bit noisy though) But I don't think you should give pto the impression that it's going to speed up the cycle. The part that takes so long for a cycle is developing a healthy amount of bacteria to process the waste. A biowheel doesn't provide any extra bacteria it just does a better job of oxygenating the bacteria to aid in breaking down the ammonia. Once the bacteria is established and the tank is cycled then yes it will indeed more effectively process ammonia.

 

[pto]

pto- What do you mean by saying you're going to experiment with fishless cycling for a day? It wouldn't be benneficial to start into a fishless cycle and then add fish. A fishless cycle requires that you add a source of ammonia. If you added fish the day after adding ammonia, then it would just do more harm to the fish, seeing as none of the ammonia would have been broken down yet. If you're going to do a fishless cycle then stick to it. Otherwise if you jump the gun, then you're fish will be in worse shape than if you cycled it with fish.

No, I meant let the water filter for a day then add fish to build up the ammonia/whatever else.

 

[Dong]

There is no point to let the filter run for a day in my opinion. I think you might be confused about what "fishless cycle" really means. It does not mean that you don't put in anything and let the filter run for a few days. Your tank won't be cycled even if you run your filter for a year. You have to add source of ammonia into your tank to trigger the cycle. Usually for fishless cycle, people use ammonia cleanser (have to be pure or clear) normally found in a local hardware store (a lot of people got it from Walmart).

Please go to http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365 for a detailed version of fishless cycle.

If possible, you should always do the fishless cycle. Why? Ammonia Cleanser usually costs around 95 cents, a lot cheaper than the cost of a single fish. Plus your will save some fish's life by doing a fishless cycle.

 

[pto]

I understand what a fishless cycle is, but i'm going to talk to the guy at petsmart today because according to him, i can stock fish immediatly, once my water has been cleared and this aquasafe has been filtered for 18 hours.

 

[Katana]

I wouldn't trust Petsmart employee's as knowing more about fish than the people on this forum, you need to take these people's advice and run the fishless cycle IMO.

 

[ajbettle]

on our jewel, all we did was left it running with filter for a weeks, then added 3 danios after a week and there still alive and healthy ....we didnt knwo about fishless cycle then!