NO3 Removal and the Anoxic Filter.

  As we explore the different filtration systems for our ponds we soon find out that… “No one kind of filtration system, fits all”. The quote from the website koiVista is proof that no matter how much ones pays for a filtration system (Nexus filter will set you back about $3000-5000 USD) for our animals,’ nothing is perfect. Over in the UK most water comes out of the tap at 20-30 ppm Nitrates (NO3) and that’s on a good day. On another website hobbyist have stated: “That the Anoxic Filter has brought down their Nitrates from 80 ppm to 40 ppm- with replacement water already coming out of the tap at 20-30 ppm of NO3”. Some may say that’s good, but it could be better! However, what’s missing in the information given are the parameters of the system, animal load, feeding requirements and last but not least pond husbandry of the system.

A Nexus 200 filter is only rated at about 2800 US gph and no more. As you can see by the post from  the hobbyist, he had to throttle down the amount of water going into the Nexus filter in order to get more and/or better performance out of it. So what’s a hobbyist to do when they need to turn their ponds volume over at least once an hour if their ponds bigger than 2800 US gals? I have to admit I have never seen a Nexus of any size, as a stand-alone filter without being supplemented with a helper filtration system. However, the Anoxic Filtration system really has no limit on the amount of water that can go through it on an hourly basis. The more times you can turn your pond water over in an hour through the filter, the better the system works.

The cover of my book, shows a waterfall spilling out 12,000 gph from an Anoxic Filtration Filter with about 45 biocenosis baskets. The pond is 14,000 US gal.

  The point being made here is that nothing is absolute, and no matter how much a system cost it is only as good as its weakest link. The Anoxic Filtration System is not perfect, but for the price of admission, it’s as close as you can get to a natural system with 100% organic ingredients, where chemical and biological pathways remain open to chemical mediators for the life of the Biocenosis baskets. Most of the Koi I started testing with back in 1989 are still alive today in ponds using exclusively the Anoxic Filtration System, believe it or not! For example: I have a Chagoi that three years ago was only 15-16” (406.4 mm) and today it’s 25” (635mm) long and with Chicago’s very short growing season in 1200-gals (4,543 l ) of water, that’s not bad. The Beta testing pond using the Anoxic Filtration System has Koi/s 30” long in it at the same size as my pond is.

  Bakki Shower filters are also in discussion on forums because the water is impregnated with oxygen but also Nitrogen, too. The fact is 78% of our atmosphere is Nitrogen gas that Cyanobacteria can utilize by taking it out of the atmosphere if they have to. Think about it, you’re taking water and impregnating it not only with oxygen, but Nitrogen as well that is a food source for Algae. Some say the Nitrogen and Ammonia is gassed off, but still some of that Nitrogen will mix with solution and that them becomes a problem.

Quote: from KoiVista forum

“I have a Nexus 200 Easy that I purchased around 4 years ago; I have had the unit running for approximately just over two years. Recently I have struggled with water parameters that I’m unable to correct.
I have added an additional 50 Liters of K1 media with the majority going into the Biological chamber and topping up the mechanical chamber early this year, around March time. I also placed a pond Bomb in the Biological chamber at the same time. Last year I used the Pure Pond Balls and I can still see them in the filter now, the filter has never really achieved desired water quality.

Pond Equipment
2,800 Gallons Fiberglass Block Pond with Aerated Bottom Drain.
Nexus Easy 200 (With additional 50 Liters of K1 media above the standard issue).
Airtech 40 x2 (One feeding Filter and one feeding bottom drain).
55Watt UV Pond Clear
6000 Liter Pump – This was changed last year from a 9000 as again I was struggling with poor water parameters and needed to slow the flow through the filter.

Has anyone else experienced problems with the nexus as they don't seem to perform as well as they are marketed!

Any advice would be much appreciated as I have contacted Evolution Aqua who are yet to give me any feedback or advice on the situation.

Cheers

Dave.

These were used with a Kockney Koi Yamitsu Pond Test Kit:

Ammonia: 0.00
Nitrite: 0.4
Nitrate: 40
PH: 7.4


And I have used a NT Labs Test Kit today for the first time and the readings are as follows:

PH(Acidity) 8
GH (General Hardness) 7
KH (Alkalinity) 3
No2(Nitrite) 2.0
No3*(Nitrate) 10.0
NH4(Ammonia) 0

Having really bad problems, lost another Koi on Tuesday.”

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Anoxic Filtration Book... Still free on Apple's iBook store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ano...04698627?mt=11