BioFilter Media

[palsan]

What is the best biofilter media?
Criteria:
- large surface area
- water should flow through it - not around
- durable
- relatively easy to clean at the end of the season
- CHEAP! :wink:

I need about 3 to 4 cubic feet of media for a rubbermaid 70 gallon stock tank. What should I use - without breaking the bank? :grin:

I've read about:
- Springflo (the early favourite cost-wise),
- Scour pads (no name version of 3M brand),
- Nylon scrubbies,
- Bird netting,
- Drinking straws,
- Bioballs (more expensive but does durability trump lower cost of other alternatives),
- others?

[Terri]

Well, you know what I would recommend but it's not on your list... :grin:

Will you be aerating the stock tank?

I cleaned out several $ stores years ago,.. nylon scrubbies... and I can tell you that while they make good bio media they also need to be cleaned (banging collected debris out of them)- how often depends on the pond.

[palsan]

Well, you know what I would recommend but it's not on your list...
Do tell ...


Will you be aerating the stock tank?
I don't think it's in the budget. I'm hoping the stream will be enough aeration for the first year. Maybe I can set up the underground plumbing to be able to easily hook up next year?


I cleaned out several $ stores years ago,.. nylon scrubbies... and I can tell you that while they make good bio media they also need to be cleaned (banging collected debris out of them)- how often depends on the pond.
I checked out the local $store ... found 6 small scrubbies for $1. A rough calculation suggests I would need ~100 of them. For $70-80 I could get a roll of springflo.

p.s. Just received the first mastercard statement since beginning my pond shopping spree ... :shock: :frisbee: :roll: :(

[Terri]

Pal, it never seems to end my friend :twisted: ...

I asked about the aerated bio chamber because I believe that is the best way to run one - fluidize bed, moving media and water, no chance of settlement(no mucking about with cleaning it)... wasn't thinking about the over all O2 saturation for the pond, not that it wouldn't hurt when the temps climb over 30C

Ok, since you did the math on the scubbies & Springflo let me suggest what I think you should use.. and I know you won't regret it ;-) ... for a bit more kaldnes. You'll get more bang for your buck and won't need much to start with (50Lt = 1.766cuft), will 'over' do you this year with the fish stock you have currently (that I am aware of??).

Am I biased... ummm yes, but not because of the reason's one might think... over the past several years we've converted all our filter bio media to K-1... because less is more and it works like a charm - not just for bio but mechanical too. (all those scrubbies are in a bag somewhere...? and all those mats are in the garbage... :grin: )

If you want to save a few bucks then by all means go with Springflo or generic bio-balls...

Don't forget, not ALL the bio action will be happening in the 'bio-chamber'... it's on the pond walls, in the pipework, rocks, plant pots,... as they say "if you build it they will come".

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd be a willing experiment if terri wanted me to test the kaldness for you :grin:

I am thinkingof it truly.

In the meantime I am using bird netting and bioballs. a step way up over lava rock! :smile:

[palsan]

Terri,

I'm comming around ... If "less is more" then maybe a few extra bucks is the way to go? :grin:

My concern with K1, bioballs, etc. was that I would need the same amount as the cheaper alternatives. With K1 costing about three times more than springflo (one roll costs about the same as one cubic foot of K1 but yields about 3 cubic feet), plus the cost of the tank and air pump, I would be spending more for the DIY filter than one off the shelf!!!

One other question ... the "easy clean" aspect of the K1 is attractive but if it requires aeration, will I be able to put plants on top? Since the tank will serve as the source of water for the falls how else can I disguise the "overlly excited moving ping pong balls" floating around the top of the tank???

I'm so confused ... this project is stressing me out like no other before. :(

No wonder most people opt for the aquascapes ... doing it "right" requires so much hardware and equipment that one's backyard ends up looking like a war zone. The AS model may not be the ideal for the fish, it may require alot of upkeep in terms of cleaning but it sure LOOKS GOOD - no massive tanks, pump boxes, and farming equipment to hide. It's SIMPLE and in the end probably CHEAPER. :roll:

If it weren't for all back breaking labour and money I've put in so far, I'd be covering the hole and planting over it - plants don't need filters and skimmers and bioballs and .... add water and compost and nature does the rest. If one dies, just plant another one ... no stressing out over the death of a beloved pet!

[Terri]

quick response..
One other question ... the "easy clean" aspect of the K1 is attractive but if it requires aeration, will I be able to put plants on top? Since the tank will serve as the source of water for the falls how else can I disguise the "overlly excited moving ping pong balls" floating around the top of the tank??? No plants on top... and as for a cover, there should be a bit of ventilation happening - you can use slate, or a false bottom planter, or a garbage can lid, or or the possibilities are endless - use your imagination to fit in with your landscape ideas.

"Doing it right" comes in may ways, no two ponds are alike. You are on the right track - so far the plan has come together nicely... yes it costs money, what 'hobby' doesn't do a certian extent.... would you like to see my MC bill :grin: ;-)

[luke frisbee]

go find it grasshopper...plastic shotgun waddings

i would look under Shotgun reloading supplies
I am so Brilliant

[Jackie Ramo]

When it comes to cheap Luke, you are the King

[luke frisbee]

yeah but was I right...i don't know they are cheaper..it just seems in bulk the cheaper ones would be well....cheap

[Louis]

one of the cheapest i found was pallet strapping, $35 for a large box. put it in 3 large laundry bags from Wally-World. Almost fills a 45 gallon barrel.

p.s. happy b-day palsan

[palsan]

one of the cheapest i found was pallet strapping
Where did you find it?

[Ian]

You fill 10 barrels of plastic strapping and I can get more from one barrel and $100 of kaldnes/ k-1 any day. If I tried our fish load on plastic bits or strapping we would have lots of sushi :-? Lot to the design of the little noodle like plastic called K-1 and many uses too!

[Louis]

I searched for packaging suppliers, Canada411
Ians right, so depending what your load is going to be
why not start with a smaller amount of K1?
I use the 3 bags in 1 barrel, more of a mechnical filter, but
it still provides area for bacteria (the strapping is nylon/plastic and rough to the touch)

[dcny]

I'm with Ian and Terri. Try out K1 or K1-like media. There's a company called Rauschert that produces something called Bioflow 9. It's very very similar to K1 except it's a little bit larger. The nice part is that it only costs $20 per cubic foot. I don't know how much shipping would but I'd bet it'll still be cheaper than K1. http://www.rauschertus.com/process_technologies/biological.html. (I'm not sure if commercial links are allowed; feel free to remove if it's not allowed)

Strapping will work too but it has much less surface area than K1, so it'll do less bio filtration. Add the fact that K1-type media is "self cleaning" thru it's tumbling action, I think it offers a significant advantage. Shotgun wad would probably tumble too but K1 would still have more surface area.

-Dan

[reptar15]

would it be possible/recommended to switch the media in a bubble bead filter to k1 instead?

thanks

[dcny]

would it be possible/recommended to switch the media in a bubble bead filter to k1 instead?

thanks
You could, but you wouldn't see a big difference. You would probably gain some bio filtration and lose some mechanical fitration in the switch.

The best application for k1 in in a moving bed. It's an open aerated system that gives the nitrifying bacteria plenty of oxygen for bio filtration. Plus the tumbling action caused by the aeration makes the moving bed "self-cleaning".

Since, the bubble bead filter is a closed pressurized system, you lose both of those advantages. The nitrifying bacteria needs to take oxygen out of the water column for bio filtration. The media is also static in a pressurized filter so it's doesn't get cleaned until you do your backwash. You would gain bio because, the greater surface area and voids in k1 will allow more bacteria growth. You would lose mechanical filtration because the k1 won't pack as tightly as beads.

-Dan

[palsan]

I asked about the aerated bio chamber because I believe that is the best way to run one - fluidize bed, moving media and water, no chance of settlement(no mucking about with cleaning it)... wasn't thinking about the over all O2 saturation for the pond, not that it wouldn't hurt when the temps climb over 30C

Ok, since you did the math on the scubbies & Springflo let me suggest what I think you should use.. and I know you won't regret it ;-) ... for a bit more kaldnes. You'll get more bang for your buck and won't need much to start with (50Lt = 1.766cuft), will 'over' do you this year with the fish stock you have currently (that I am aware of??).


If I were to add the air pump for the aeration later would the following work in the meantime?
- for 70 gallon stock tank with water pumped from mechanical barrel filters:
- place the K1 inside laundry-type mesh bag(s),
- cover with egg crate (to keep from rising to surface),
- place water hyacinth on surface
- water spills onto 15' stream back to pond.

[Terri]

It will work, as a temporary solution... you might find the cleaning a bit messy ;-), but it will work.

[dcny]

If I were to add the air pump for the aeration later would the following work in the meantime?
- for 70 gallon stock tank with water pumped from mechanical barrel filters:
- place the K1 inside laundry-type mesh bag(s),
- cover with egg crate (to keep from rising to surface),
- place water hyacinth on surface
- water spills onto 15' stream back to pond.
That'll work, but in the same way as any other biomedia with the same surface area would. One of the main benefits of K1 type media is that when you aerate it, the media boils and rolls which makes it "self-cleaning" where all you really need to to id flush the drain. Another advantage is because of the aeration, you're creating an oxygen rich environment for the nitifying bacteria need making it much more effective. Otherwise, the bacteria will need to pull oxygen from the water column.

[Mississauga Ponder]

hi palsan,

i hope things are well with you and your pond :)

i'm hoping you can share your experience with the filter you built by answering the questions below. thanks in advance.

1. how is your filter holding up? how's the water quality/clarity of you r pond?2. how many times do you have to drain it in a month without aeration?
3. how big (in gallons) is your pond? i just want to know if the 2 X 55 gallons bio/mechanical filter I plan would be good for a 3500 gallon pond.
4. how many cubic feet of K1 did you use?
5. how much is a cubic foot of K1?
6. where did you buy them?

for those who have filters with areation, how do you do that? i suppose you have an air pump connected to the bottom of the filter? would venturi work for this application?

If I were to add the air pump for the aeration later would the following work in the meantime?
- for 70 gallon stock tank with water pumped from mechanical barrel filters:
- place the K1 inside laundry-type mesh bag(s),
- cover with egg crate (to keep from rising to surface),
- place water hyacinth on surface
- water spills onto 15' stream back to pond.

[palsan]

1. how is your filter holding up? how's the water quality/clarity of you r pond?2. how many times do you have to drain it in a month without aeration?
3. how big (in gallons) is your pond? i just want to know if the 2 X 55 gallons bio/mechanical filter I plan would be good for a 3500 gallon pond.
4. how many cubic feet of K1 did you use?
5. how much is a cubic foot of K1?
6. where did you buy them?


I still have alot of work to do landscape-wise but I'm very happy with the results so far. I shut down the pump and stopped feeding the fish 2 weeks ago. The fish have slowed down considerably but for some reason are still near the surface - I was expecting them to find their way to the bottom by now.

Before I answer your questions I must caution that my fish load was VERY LOW this year with only 4 wakins at the moment (started with 6 but somehow lost 2). Therefore, next year I may have to make modifications when I add more fish.

1. The water quality was great after a few weeks. Very clear. I could see right to the bottom - close to 4 feet at the bottom drain. The nice thing is that the algae bloom I was so concerned about (clouded the water like pea soup) actually resulted in coating the liner so that it looks less "artificial" now.

2. Based on the low fish load I probably only need to drain the 2 filter barrels and stock tank bio-filter monthly. Once I add more fish next year, I'm anticipating weekly water changes in the order of 200 gallons.

3. My total system is just under 2,000 gallons. From my limited experience, it's not the # gallons of water in the pond that determines the required amount of filtration and water changes, but, the NUMBER and SIZE of fish.

4. I have not used any K1. So far all I have is: 8 24" brushes installed vertically in the second barrel and pot scrubbers placed in laundry bags in the bio-filter. Next year I will probably add some type of course filter media in the first barrel (haven't decided what and how yet), and a second row of brushes to the second filter. The bio is probably good as is.

5 & 6 not applicable.

If you haven't already, check out my other thread "New DIY Pond" for further info.

[Jackie Ramo]

Terri can answer 5 & 6 she sells it, but would never post that fact here.

[Terri]

:) been asked and answered, but you're right Jackie I wouldn't offer up the info with out someone twisting my arm.

[Jackie Ramo]

And certainly would not be so bold as to share the information with any petty little lurker here..... :lol: