Kevin,
I hope you don't mind this
lengthy email. I want to apply the anoxic filter to my 1300 gallon multi
tank system Here is some background. It dumps into a 180-gallon sump run by a
3600-gallon per hour pump. Using a fluidized filter and a pond filter with
kaldness media that dumps into 3 25-micron bag filters for mechanical removal
of solids into the sump and recirculated. My local water north of Orlando
is hard at times getting to 250 tds.
So, because I keep South American
catfish I have to soften the water with an R/O filter while closely monitoring
the pH. pH is 6.4 and tds is 65-ppm which generally be optimal for the
fish I keep. The water is clear with zero ammonia and nitrite via test kit but
I cant get the nitrates below 30-ppm as measured by a LaMotte test kit despite
balancing the pH and hardness with an automatic water changer. The downside of
the R/O is the wastewater generated [Ed: This is as much as 3-gals of
wastewater to make 1-gal of R/O water.] otherwise I could pass enough water
through the system to drop the nitrates lower. The Anoxic filter (AFS) is a
much better way.
My problem is that despite the above my Leiarius Pictus
catfish (Common name: Sailfin catfish or Sailfin pim and can reach a whopping
+24” (60cm) in size, other whys known as a ‘tank buster’ fish.) gets a slow
deterioration of its dorsal fin without ragged white or reddened areas on the
fin. I am assuming the nitrate level and other dissolved organics maybe
impairing the fish’s immune system. Despite excellent nutrition, dissolved
oxygen, water flow and space. I am hoping the Anoxic filter can help if
this is the issue. I have read your book and assoc articles but have some
questions regarding the applicability to my non-pond indoor system.
Would the build up of sediment in
the filter between the boxes be an issue with proliferation of pathogenic bacteria?
Can the boxes be briefly removed to clean under and around them I could do this
as soon as I see any buildup. Or would enough air get inside and kill the facultative
anaerobes? Most of the solids should be caught in the bags anyway.
Is the diffuser you use for the
ponds your prefilter as well?
For sediment removal would it be
better to have the boxes off the bottom for cleaning purposes as well as adding
more surface area for diffusion?
Should the water be entering the
anoxic filter be flowing up from the bottom or the top down or is this even an
issue?
Are the boxes from Aquatic Eco
strong enough to lay on PVC to keep it off the bottom?
What stones are best to use on
top of the boxes so the ph is not effected?
Will the clay initially cloud the
water when submersed?
Is there a disadvantage to using
no plants with my system? From what I gather there isn't just want to clarify
this.
Thank you for your time and
for making this info available,
Jeff
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Leiarius Pictus catfish. Photo taken from Internet.
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Hello Jeff,
Your email really wasn’t that lengthy and it
gave me enough information that now I can help you without asking you more
questions to give you a better answer to your questions.
When you say “boxes” I’m assuming you mean
the Biocenosis Clarification Baskets (BCB’) that make up the Anoxic Filter
itself. There will be some detritus and micro-settlement in-between the BCB’
but it will not be as much as you think because of your 25-micron prefilters
that you’re using to clean your water before the AFS. The BCB’ themselves will
not clog so that’s one thing you can check off your list of worries.
The building up of pathogenic bacteria that is associated with bacterial
infections is nothing to worry about because these bacteria will not exist with
proper husbandry of the filter. These bacteria that you mention exist in dirty
polluted waterways or stagnated waterways that which the Anoxic Filter will
become none of those scenarios unlike Bog filters or gravel filters that clog
very easily and can harbor such bacteria in a short time.
Two cleanouts a year in pond use seem to do the
trick for ponds and ponds are under attack by more pathogens than fish
aquariums are in most cases because of animal load and outside insults. If you
were worried about such then I would add a UV sterilizer to your system. In
fact at 1300-gallons of multi tank set ups, I would not even hesitate about
doing so.
In most cases the BCB’ will not have to be
removed from the filter at all during cleanout. However, removing them is not a
problem because they will stay wet inside the baskets for a long time.
Atmospheric air will not impregnate the BCB’ because of the pore structure is
too small. In your case using the black plastic canvas that I mention in my
blog would be a more appropriate covering for the BCB’, just click on the link
below for more info.
The diffuser is use so as not to blow any
detritus or cat litter around the AFS itself because of the high flow rates
that you can push though the filter. Conventional filters are governed by flow
rate but Anoxic filters can take better flows because water is not going
through the medium itself but around it. The BCB’ will just grab the ions out
of the water column by magnetic electrical charge through diffusion. Diffusers
really shouldn’t be playing the part of a prefilter too but some hobbyist use
BioBalls as a diffusion media then they will act like a prefilter to some extent.
Look at Brian Woodcock’s diffuser and you would probably use the same kind as
his along with his implementation of how he built his AFS and raising the BCB’
off the bottom of the filter bed with PVC pipe.
The inlet pipe can be coming in from the bottom
or top of the AFS but that would only be a preference you will have to decide
on. If you click on the top link that I have provided you will see most of your
answerers in Brian’s Anoxic build.
The clay or Zeolite cat clay that you use
may cloud the water initially just like activated carbon does from minute
particulate matter but that will be short lived once the filter gets running
and it will not harm the fish. The plants are an option that you may forgo because
you will not need to cosmetically hide the filter from onlookers.
If you go through my blog you will see that
a few people have used BCB’ for their Aquarium setups with great success. Your
water problems for your South American cats will be long behind you when your
AFS is up and running and you’ll be the envy of the tropical fish forums or
clubs then. Lets face facts, if the AFS can handle dirty carp that eat as much
as a small domestic cat, just think what it will do for you keeping your
Nitrates down and water parameters good too. Read about Yogas’s last pond
letter on low TDS, KH and GH:
I think your Leiarius Pictus will love those
water conditions with less cost to you in the long run. That’s why I say the
Anoxic filter is Eco-friendly because it can actually save hobbyist water instead
of wasting it down the drain.
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