Just starting out and looking to learn now before starting the tank. I have a 46 gallon with a penguin bio-wheel 350 filter. The filter can take 4 filters in it but everyone says that 2 is more then enough as the filter is rated for a 75 gallon tank. That leaves plenty of room in the filter for bio balls. That way when I change the filter, I still have the bacteria. Good idea or overkill?

No, bioballs are not designed for or efficient when used submerged. With the Biowheels you shouldn't need any other biomedia. They sell trays you can use that will hold any loose media (carbon, crushed coral, peat, biomedia, etc.) I think that or just doubling up on the usual filters would be a much better option.

__________________
Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine)

Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

Bio balls are designed for wet/dry filters, not HOB filters.

__________________
75 Gallon Planted

Thanks...

I forgot to mention that when you "clean" your filters don't actually clean them. What you want to do is rinse them in used tank water. If you decide that you need to change your filter media I would suggest placing the new media in the filter with the old media for a couple of weeks then toss the old media out. That way the BB from the old media will transfer to the new media and you won't have a mini cycle that way.

__________________
75 Gallon Planted

There's a difference between "bio balls" and "bio media". Bio balls are plastic thingies (fairly large) which are indeed intended for wet/dry sumps. Bio media, on the other hand, is a porous ceramic medium designed specifically to promote biological filtration in HOB, in-tank, and canister filters. THAT'S the stuff you want. I prefer the Eheim Substrat medium, but that's just me.

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!