More Q & A's from the UK.

Hi Kevin,

 

  I heard about your anoxic filter, from Syd Mitchel Aka: Manky Sanke.

I live in the UK and have loads of questions for you, but to start, I have an existing 2000 gallon pond.

 

Q1: If I take it right, for this system to work well; you must have a very good pre mechanical filter. To stop the baskets from clogging up. This will also aid pond clarity.

 

Q2: My filter will be 84" long x 30" deep. X 28" wide. Can you give me an idea how to set this filter up?

 

Q3: What sizes pump will I need? The filter will be gravity fed from a 4" bottom drain.

 

Q4: I’ve seen some of these filters on internet; they all seem to be filled with plants. I know plants in a filter system, will lower nitrates. Can your anoxic filter lower nitrates, without the use of plants?

 

 That’s all for now, please email me back,

 

Thank you,

 

Name withheld from internet

 

 

 

Question one: Okay, you are half right and wrong at the same time. The Biocenosis Baskets will not clog because water is not being forced through the substrate and the bacteria don’t have to make polymers, not because the filter in which they sit in is dirty. The turbidity of the waters mass has nothing (which by the why is what a good prefilter will accomplished is clean Gin clear water)  to do with performance of the biochemical pathways of the Biocenosis baskets.

 

Good to excellent prefertilization will raise redox and aid in the lessening of the filters maintenance. There is nothing new in what I’m saying here far over the years there are many anecdotal and scientific accounts of such. It just makes for good pond husbandry to have the best possible water obtainable for our animals’, don’t you think? A good prefilter will give the hobbyist an élan attitude on their water chemistry without much outlay for its services.

 

Question two: You can have one layer or two but the aesthetics of the filter will totally be up to you. The size you mentioned sounds good and its geographical location will not have any influence on its performance, too. I show such a filter in my book where a 3” pipe underground goes to the pond and the filters 15-20’ away from the pond.

 

Question three: This is a good question but it is also a tricky question to answer because of too many variables that I don’t know of. However, I can say this: Get the best a biggest pump (output that is) your budget will allow. You can always slow down a pumps output [Ed: Which will also save on electricity by making the pump use less amps.] when needed but you can never make it pump more when expanding your pond or when you realize more is better. I have a garage full of old pumps that are too slow (GPM) or electrically challenge. Koi love fast moving waters and the Anoxic Filter reliance on water flow is not a limiting factor like other filtration systems are governed by. A 2000-gal pond will need to be turned over at least once an hour and the more the better if you can.

 

Question four: The Anoxic filter is not plant or geographically dependant. The misnomer is that aquatic plants love Nitrates, but Ammonia (NH3)/ammonium (NH4+) is really the preferred food or ion. Nitrates are chemical work for plants and must be reduced back into ammonia hindering photosynthesis. Therefore, plants only take Nitrates during peak photosynthesis and shutdown the uptake of that ion when peak photosynthesis stops at night. Ammonia is more readily available and will be taken 24/7. The Anoxic filter will reduce Nitrates and Phosphates through chemical and biological processes and turn Nitrates into Dinitrogen gas (N2) which is already 78% of earth atmosphere anyway. For the hobbyist, it’s a win, win situation!

 

I think the questions you asked merit for more people to see the answers than yourself. They are good question and are asked repetitively to myself so maybe you can help others with their pond modifications or builds especially in the UK.