Bio Wheel
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
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 Marineland sump model 1 acrylic water filtration system with bio wheel wet dry US $169.00 |
 Marineland Aquaria Bio Wheel Pro Barbed Elbow US $2.77 |
 Marineland Penguin 350 Bio Wheel US $15.00 |
 Penguin Mini Bio Wheel Aquarium Filter Fish Tank used US $14.99 |
 Marineland Bio Wheel 100 Filter Wheel PRBW100B 931 US $14.99 |
 Marineland Bio Wheel Pro 30 US $10.49 |
 BIO WHEEL PRO 30 2 from MAGNUM 350 PRO Marineland US $20.50 |
 Marineland HOT Magnum 250 canister filter with Bio Wheel Pro 30 US $31.00 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 150 FILTER 4 MONTHS OLD US $22.99 |
 Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel aquarium filter US $20.00 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL MINI 100 FILTER NEW US $22.50 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 200 FILTER NEW US $32.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 150 FILTER NEW US $28.50 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 100B FILTER POWER FILTERS US $24.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 150B FILTER POWER FILTERS US $26.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL 200B FILTER POWER FILTERS US $32.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 100B REPLACEMENT NEW US $8.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL COVER 150B REPLACEMENT NEW US $10.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY 99B SYS3 EXP REPLACE US $6.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 125 REPLACE US $8.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 170 REPLACE US $9.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 330 REPLACE US $8.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 100B REPLACE US $12.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL ASSY PENGUIN 150B REPLACE US $13.99 |
 MARINELAND BIO WHEEL PENGUIN POWER FILTER CARTRIDGE 1 PACK RITE SIZE C US $3.99 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN 200B BIO WHEEL FILTER NEW US $24.78 |
 Penguin 350 Bio wheel power filter US $27.99 |
 Replacement for Marineland 110 Bio Wheel Assembly Model PR1935 NEW US $4.99 |
 Marineland bio wheel fiilter US $20.00 |
 Marineland Aquaria Bio Wheel Cover For Penguin 350B US $18.81 |
 Penguin filter 1 PACK fits bio wheel 125 US $2.93 |
 MARINELAND PENGUIN BIO WHEEL BEARING FILTER ALL PFE US $7.99 |
 New Bio Wheel Penguin 100 Aquarium Power Filter US $16.95 |
Are two Bio-Wheel 70's enough filtration for a 100-gallon freshwater tank?
I've been losing fish and someone suggested that might be the problem. However, the water is very clear, the tank looks good.
The filtering sounds sensible, but the only way to know for sure is to get the water tested.
If you have any ammonia or nitrite in the water then you have a problem with the filtering. Either not enough (for the number of fish you have), or it's not cycled properly yet.
If you have high nitrate levels that can kill fish, but it's not a filter problem. You just need to change more water.
Lack of Oxygen can stress fish out and kill them, but that means you have too many fish.
Otherwise check the temperature and water pH / hardness. Thats not usually a problem, but if you are keeping soft water fish in very hard water, or vice versa it can stress them.
Also fish compatibility - Are you sure that an agressive fish is not killing your other fish?
Ian
Sponge Filters for Use in Betta Tanks or Bowls
Question:
I am looking for a filter for my small betta tank, it is about 3 gallons. I have been told that sponge filters are a good filter here, but I also was told about under gravel filters. Also are there differences in brands?
Answer:
Sponge filters excel as small tank or bowl filters, they fit nicely in small spaces and are cheap to own and maintain. For a betta, there is no better filter in my opinion. They are excellent bio filters and good mechanical filters in small aquaria.
In fact, a sponge filter is probably the best choice of filtration for breeding tanks, Betta tanks or bowls, hospital tanks, and even discus aquariums, due to the fact that they do not “suck” in baby or weak fish or attract noxious bacteria.
These are also simple filters to clean, simply remove the sponge, rinse in de-chlorinated tap water or used tank water (to throw out after cleaning), then squeeze the sponge several times until clean (usually takes less than a minute).
Sponge filters are one of the best biological (and unfortunately most under rated) filters in the hobby that is often driven by anecdotal evidence. One myth, Bio Wheels and Wet Dry filters are superior to sponge filters is not true when one moves from theory to actual tests and evidence.
In theory the added oxygen or bio wheels and wet dry filters is great, but in practicality the channeling of wet dry filters and the deposit build up of Bio Wheels lowers bacteria surface area, while the fact remains that with the proper dissolved oxygen levels your fish should have is more than adequate for a healthy sponge filter to maintain proper bio colonies. I have performed side by side tests with sponge filters in my service business and the sponge filters out performed the bio wheels when ammonia spikes were measured.
As for under gravel filters, there are small ones made for bowls or small tanks, but they take more maintenance than sponge filters (debris tends to collect under the plate). UGFs are more difficult to clean in small aquaria, as they are best maintained by vacuuming, which is difficult in bowls or small tanks.
The brand sponge filter I would recommend is the Hydro Sponge Filter by ATI (Lustar), they hold the best patents for sponge filters and have many patent infringements to prove it. The sponge material used by Hydro Sponge can trap vastly more aerobic nitrifying bacteria (for ammonia, nitrite removal) than their nearest rival. I have used many others (including homemade) and they are not the same.
A good place to purchase these filters is American Aquarium Products- Sponge Filters .
For a more in depth article about sponge filtration see: Sponge filtration; How sponge filters work and the benefits of using sponge filters in aquariums and ponds.
CONCLUSION:
Even though Bettas are Labyrinth fish (this organ enables bettas to get the oxygen they need from the air), they still do best with an environment where they can get the oxygen from the water. Also, Bettas are just as susceptible as other fish to water parameters such as high ammonia or nitrates, which is where a small sponge filter connected to an air pump comes in. I will also note from my experience that Bettas are MORE sensitive than many other fish to lack of electrolytes in the water (the Sponge Filter does nothing for this, however water changes and/or Wonder shells.
For my Full article with more links and information, please visit this article:
Sponge filter; Proper filter for a small betta tank or bowl.
About the Author
By Carl Stohmeyer
Marineland Penguin 350 BIO-Wheel Power Filter PT 1