Is the Bio-wheel filter that much better at cleaning the tank then a regular filter?

Question

It doesnt seem like the filter is cleaning the tank enough. lots of small stuff floating around.

Answer 1

Angie covered pretty much everything, except the possibility that you're seeing cloudy water from your tank cycling. If your tank is less than 2 months old, and you've got fish in it, the ammonia they're producing doesn't have enough bacteria yet to convert it through nitrite and nitrate to make it less toxic for your fish. As long as you've got excess ammonia and nitrite in the tank, your bacteria involded in the nutrient cycling are going to be multiplying rapidly and this will make your water appear cloudy. That's okay, because you want to have these bacteria in the tank - that's what the corrugated pad on the biowheel is for - to give them additional surface area to live. As long as the filter is the proper size for your tank, the cloudiness in this case will go away on its own.

Answer 2

The purpose of the Bio-wheel is to hold bacteria so that when you change your filter cartridge or do a partial water change there is less of a strain on the bacteria levels. Thus, less stress on the fish. Stuff floating isn't always caused by poor filtration. If you have large fish they can stir up particles easily, if you don't keep your hands out of the tank, of if you didn't purchase a filter that cycles enough gallons per hour. that's the indicator of power. you should cycle the tank at least 5 times and up to 10 times an hour depending on your fish load.

Answer 3

Make sure your filter is rated for your tank size - a filter should be able to turn over your entire tank about 3 times an hour - a 30 gallon tank should have a 90 gph filter. You might also consider getting a second filter; you can't over filtrate your tank, and many powerheads have an attachment that filters while creating currents in your tank for extra oxygenation.

Answer 4

I have had two tanks with the bio-wheel filter and it never worked good at all, I suggest aqua clear filters, they are wonderful! This filter includes biological, chemical,and mechanical filtration and your filter media lasts a lot longer than others, also easy to clean! Hope this helps!

Answer 5

you may run 2 filters in case you like, yet i could nonetheless advise retaining basically a pair of hardy fish till after the nitrogen cycle is done. Then upload the coach fish on the fee of approximately 2 fish a week. carry on with each and all the favored do's and don't's of solid fish retaining and take a look into for ammonia and nitrites daily till the the levels are the two 0! solid success.

Answer 6

To me, it is more marketing. I think Hagen AquaClear filters are the best. You can pack them in a variety of ways. The larger ones can use a surface skimmer too.
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