Filter media in HOB filter help

[Nate_Krohn]

Setting up a 29 gallon reef tank and I found a marineland penguin 200 biowheel hob filter. I took out the biowheel because I understand they’re just nitrate traps. Any recommendation on what media to run in it? I was thinking some phosguard, some filterfloss and maybe chemipure. Should I put any carbon pads in it? Any advice would be great! Thank you

 

[ahiggins]

If I was doing one, and I almost did on my 15gal, I would set it up to run poly pads until I saw higher nutrients (for whatever your keeping-it will vary) then chemipure elite (if you want to lower phosphates). I used to use blue but I didn’t like it that much. I only “treat” carbon when I notice a haze-I run it for a day then take it out because my coral seem to hate when it’s in there. Tbh, other than bio spheres (if you need more surface area), there wouldn’t be much I would add and certainly not right away. If you do it right away you risk bottoming out nutrients and having dino/cyano bloom. Plus, the more dissolves organics, the more sponges/feathers/biodiversity you will have. I attached a pic of the two poly pads I use. Thin is for fine particulates after a water change and the thick is an every day filter. I run a top down filter so for you, you’d have to run thick and thin together because the thin won’t stand up to the water flow.

On a side note, I also use the thick in all of our freshwater tanks too.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

If I was doing one, and I almost did on my 15gal, I would set it up to run poly pads until I saw higher nutrients (for whatever your keeping-it will vary) then chemipure elite (if you want to lower phosphates). I used to use blue but I didn’t like it that much. I only “treat” carbon when I notice a haze-I run it for a day then take it out because my coral seem to hate when it’s in there. Tbh, other than bio spheres (if you need more surface area), there wouldn’t be much I would add and certainly not right away. If you do it right away you risk bottoming out nutrients and having dino/cyano bloom. Plus, the more dissolves organics, the more sponges/feathers/biodiversity you will have. I attached a pic of the two poly pads I use. Thin is for fine particulates after a water change and the thick is an every day filter. I run a top down filter so for you, you’d have to run thick and thin together because the thin won’t stand up to the water flow.

On a side note, I also use the thick in all of our freshwater tanks too.
View attachment 1308351View attachment 1308352

Great thanks a lot!

 

[ahiggins]

No problem that’s how I run all my smaller tanks, 40 and under. For me, it’s more about particulates than nutrient export so this really works. You’ll have see if that works for you though, each tank is different. Good luck!

 

[Nate_Krohn]

No problem that’s how I run all my smaller tanks, 40 and under. For me, it’s more about particulates than nutrient export so this really works. You’ll have see if that works for you though, each tank is different. Good luck!

Makes sense. I currently have a 60g and a 10g running and I have carbon pads in both. Going to replace them with filter pads and see what happens.

 

[ahiggins]

For sure
I usually run carbon once a month and it suits me just fine.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

For sure
I usually run carbon once a month and it suits me just fine.

Great. Thanks again!

 

[krash7172]

I'm curious about the biowheel in saltwater. What makes them a nitrate trap? I've used them in freshwater tanks for years with success.

 

[ahiggins]

I'm curious about the biowheel in saltwater. What makes them a nitrate trap? I've used them in freshwater tanks for years with success.

It’s not that you can’t run them but the only thing they would be good for is increased surface area/bacteria haven and maybe increased aeration but...that comes with increased nitrates eventually because you never change it out.
Freshwater doesn’t matter, when’s the last time you checked your fw nitrates. I honestly never have on mine.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

It’s not that you can’t run them but the only thing they would be good for is increased surface area/bacteria haven and maybe increased aeration but...that comes with increased nitrates eventually because you never change it out.
Freshwater doesn’t matter, when’s the last time you checked your fw nitrates. I honestly never have on mine.

I agree. The surface area on the biowheel is absolutely nothing compared to the ratio of live rock to water volume you should have cycled in your display tank.

 

[krash7172]

I was just wondering if you didn't have an external sump if a biowheel would be a good thing.

Been years since I tested any FW. After starting reefing I just have 1 FW tank and next to no maintenance.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

I was just wondering if you didn't have an external sump if a biowheel would be a good thing.

Been years since I tested any FW. After starting reefing I just have 1 FW tank and next to no maintenance.

In my honest opinion a biowheel is useless and you should focus more on good waterflow and rock in the tank. I’m by no means an expert though.

 

[ahiggins]

In my honest opinion a biowheel is useless and you should focus more on good waterflow and rock in the tank. I’m by no means an expert though.

I agree, there is no upside that could outweigh the downside with those things. Plus, they encourage salt creep which makes your tank less stable.

 

[ahiggins]

I was just wondering if you didn't have an external sump if a biowheel would be a good thing.

Been years since I tested any FW. After starting reefing I just have 1 FW tank and next to no maintenance.

I run everything 40 gal and under sumpless at my house. Not by choice but that’s the way it is. You trying to equate a biowheel to a sump is like feed a piece of tiny mysis to a fish once a month and saying “ok now I don’t have to do water changes since there’s no waste”. There just no comparison there. It’s apples and oranges. They do 2 different things.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

I run everything 40 gal and under sumpless at my house. Not by choice but that’s the way it is. You trying to equate a biowheel to a sump is like feed a piece of tiny mysis to a fish once a month and saying “ok now I don’t have to do water changes since there’s no waste”. There just no comparison there. It’s apples and oranges. They do 2 different things.

Another question... do you run protein skimmers on your 40g and under tanks? I have one on my 60g that I run every other day but I don’t have one on my 10g and wasn’t planning on putting one on my 29g. Should I run one or just do weekly water changes?