Tidepool II, not a good idea?

brooke · 10-04-2005, 03:31 PM

I have a Tidepool II on my 55 gal. The more I read, the more I see that the wet/dry trickle filters are becoming a thing of the past. Can I eliminate the biowheel on it and be okay? I don't want to replace the whole thing, I like the media trays. Is the biowheel a nitrate factory?

55gal, @60lbs live rock, skimmer, Aquafuge hang on refugium with chaeto (sp?) It's been up for about 6 months.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 20
pH - 8.0

Thanks

***Reefland*** · 10-04-2005, 04:52 PM

I would remove it. The bio-media in the wet/dry filters if not properly maintained can become nitrate problems. To maintain them they require frequent cleanings which is counter productive to their cause so it's just best to remove them.

brooke · 10-05-2005, 08:13 AM

Just remove the biowheel, or biowheel and media tray pads? I thought the whole point of the biowheel was for beneficial bacteria? What happens when that is removed? I guess my question is, if you don't need the biowheel, why is it there?

***Reefland*** · 10-05-2005, 10:31 AM

I would remove all of the bio-media in the system. If you have a wheel and a try with media then remove them at different times approximately 1 week apart.

Beneficial bacteria can grow on media but as I explained above they also usually trap waste which cannot be processed and therefore leads to excessive nitrates. These types of systems are excellent for FO tanks that do not incorporate liverock or and type of sand bed since in these instances, the bacteria doesn't have a place to grow. However most all systems today do (and should) incorporate liverock which provides a more suitable substrate for the bacteria to colonize. With this biological filtration in place, the mechanical filtration is no longer needed.

brooke · 10-05-2005, 10:42 AM

Okay, so if I pull all of that stuff out, I needn't not worry about it crashing?

***Reefland*** · 10-05-2005, 11:02 AM

Pull it out slowly (over the course of a couple of weeks) and as long as you have good liverock you will be fine. Not only fine but better in the long term.

brooke · 10-05-2005, 11:08 AM

Define "good" live rock.

***Reefland*** · 10-05-2005, 11:41 AM

Liverock that is cured and established. How long has your tank been up?

brooke · 10-05-2005, 02:55 PM

6 months

***Reefland*** · 10-05-2005, 06:05 PM

Yeah you'll be fine. You can remove them as I instructed above.

brooke · 10-05-2005, 06:07 PM

Thanks, You're the best

10-04-2005, 03:31 PM	#1
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	Tidepool II, not a good idea? I have a Tidepool II on my 55 gal. The more I read, the more I see that the wet/dry trickle filters are becoming a thing of the past. Can I eliminate the biowheel on it and be okay? I don't want to replace the whole thing, I like the media trays. Is the biowheel a nitrate factory? 55gal, @60lbs live rock, skimmer, Aquafuge hang on refugium with chaeto (sp?) It's been up for about 6 months. Ammonia - 0 Nitrites - 0 Nitrates - 20 pH - 8.0 Thanks __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

10-04-2005, 04:52 PM	#2
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	I would remove it. The bio-media in the wet/dry filters if not properly maintained can become nitrate problems. To maintain them they require frequent cleanings which is counter productive to their cause so it's just best to remove them. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-05-2005, 08:13 AM	#3
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	Just remove the biowheel, or biowheel and media tray pads? I thought the whole point of the biowheel was for beneficial bacteria? What happens when that is removed? I guess my question is, if you don't need the biowheel, why is it there? __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

10-05-2005, 10:31 AM	#4
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	I would remove all of the bio-media in the system. If you have a wheel and a try with media then remove them at different times approximately 1 week apart. Beneficial bacteria can grow on media but as I explained above they also usually trap waste which cannot be processed and therefore leads to excessive nitrates. These types of systems are excellent for FO tanks that do not incorporate liverock or and type of sand bed since in these instances, the bacteria doesn't have a place to grow. However most all systems today do (and should) incorporate liverock which provides a more suitable substrate for the bacteria to colonize. With this biological filtration in place, the mechanical filtration is no longer needed. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-05-2005, 10:42 AM	#5
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	Okay, so if I pull all of that stuff out, I needn't not worry about it crashing? __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

10-05-2005, 11:02 AM	#6
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	Pull it out slowly (over the course of a couple of weeks) and as long as you have good liverock you will be fine. Not only fine but better in the long term. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-05-2005, 11:08 AM	#7
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	Define "good" live rock. __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

10-05-2005, 11:41 AM	#8
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	Liverock that is cured and established. How long has your tank been up? __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-05-2005, 02:55 PM	#9
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	6 months __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

10-05-2005, 06:05 PM	#10
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	Yeah you'll be fine. You can remove them as I instructed above. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-05-2005, 06:07 PM	#11
brooke Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southcentral PA Posts: 121	Thanks, You're the best __________________ Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later.

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