Bio-Wheel

[Guest clownfish4]

Are bio-wheels really as bad for saltwater aquariums as they are made out to be?  I've heard that the main problem is high nitrates....So if you do monthly water changes, will they be ok?  Or is it more beneficial just to do without?

[Aquariareview]

I have used them on small (30 gal or less) Fish only and Live rock fish only tanks with some success. They operate as a wet dry type filter and they do it better than most other styles.

I ran a 29 gal system in my office for 3 years it had a emperor 400 and a prizm skimmer. I kept live rock and 6 small fish. I only had NO lighting (3 20 watt bulbs with 2 10,000k and 1 Actinic)

After about 8 months mushroms and zo's appeared and grew until there was no uncovered rock.

 

I changed 5 gal every mon morning. and had no problems with nitrates. at one year I took the wheels out and just used the filter for media and current.

 

I guess the answer is bio wheels work for saltwater if you are good at water changes and if you are not trying to do a reef.

[Guest clownfish4]

This is a fish-only with live rock tank.  I have the eclips system so I have 2 18w bulbs and the filter with carbon and a bio-wheel.  I am trying to decide whether or not to use the bio-wheel.  I am probably going to keep seahorses in this tank, so the water quality needs to be prestine.