K1

[mike]

thanks for the info kiky, thats good enough for me. ill just search for a hiblow 190watts to check for the lpm

arthur, thanks for that info. it'll really help me in my filter design

[swordfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by GazKoi If you like i will try to sort out some pictures for you when i get back later.

Gazza,

That is very nice of you but I do not think that is neccessary as you have already given me a clear pic. of what its look like. Thank you.

SF

[swordfish]

[quote=kiky]Swordfish,

My K1 took almost a year to mature! During these 12 months, the water will got clear for a month, only to become green for two months before getting clear again - and the cyles went on and on.
QUOTE]

Kiky,

That is a very long time to get it mature.

Gazza,

How long does it takes for your K1 to become mature? Just doing a comparision amount different users.

SF

[swordfish]

Arthur,

Very informative input from you as usual. I'm just begining to understand more about pros & cons of K1.
Yes it will be wonderful if JR can post his expertise on biofilms.
I'm always looking for better media & ways to make my bio-filter more efficient. How lond does it takes for your K1 to become mature?

SF

[jjkon]

Hi everyone,



Is it a good idea to add k1 to my waterfalls(2 round cement containers)? There are nothing in them now.
Thanks for your opinion.


John

[Ryan S.]

Mechanical filtration - Dispite others apparently posstive results, static K1 has been a average to poor mechanical filter in the tests I have ran. "Static tubular-media filters" have a shaky tract record. Other filters that provide results similar to static K1, like these bead filters that use tubular plastic media (Like the Ultima) have worked for some, but a lot of unhappy campers also, go into a koi shop in the US and you probably will see a stack of used ones. I ran service intervals up to 2 months on static K1 with no noticable clogging, any filter that got many fines would have clogged way before then. My "real" bead noticably slows in a week's time if left by itself (no microstrainers in front), a much better mechanical filter.

Biological - I think I've had decent results, but the setup has always been a overkill for me with other TTs or Showers, I assume they are working well. Here is my 55gal drum filter, can run in static k1 mode or as aerated moving bed. Not running currently. I also run K1 in a moving bed that is part of a moving bed/shower combo filter. K1 has mades a fairly good TT/Shower media also, my goldfish pond has been running k1 for a over a year this way and has not required servicing yet.

May pics are here
Moving Bed - http://www.koiboard.com/koi/biofiltration/movingbed.htm
Combo filter - http://www.koiboard.com/koi/biofiltration/combo.htm

[simon]

Hi all,
A effective way of reducing the time of Maturation of K1 is to when the K1 is new add to a closed nexus or a seperate container large enough to contain 50 litre's of k1 then add approx 5 grams of pottasium to 15 gallons and airate for around 48 hours. This has an effect of stripping the K1 of its film when it is new, and enable's the bacteria to bind and colonise the K1 surface quicker. Also when added after the treatment to a nexus as new media it almost fluidises instantly, not like untreated brandnew K1. Softer water can also help, in many cases alot shorter maturation time. Dont be tempted to maximise the amount of K1 straight away in a Nexus, for example max it can take is 200 litres of K1 start with 100 litre's and dont add more until the 100l is mature, doubling the surface area for bacteria wont help mature the K1 quicker if the food amount is not changed Match the K1 to your feed rate. 50 litres - 250 gram of food when mature. A perfect amount of air is around 40 lpm to 50- 100 litre's of K1 and 150 - 200 litre's of k1 80 lpm of air. hope this helps.

[swordfish]

Ryan & Simon,

Thank you for your input.
It seem that the main issue with K1 is that it takes a longer time to become mature.

For those who have been using K1, how would you rate this media for the role it performed in mechanical & biological filtration from 1-10. 1 being the lowest & 10 highest.

SF

[GazKoi]

SF,


I would say the time it takes the K1 to mature would be dependent on how much you have,how big the system is,stocking rates,feeding and so on.

I do not know how long mine has taken to mature as it was added to my old multi-bay filter on the old pond which also had mature media in it so i did not notice any spikes.

I have also added more since the new build and i do clean and soak it in PP before it goes into the filters as Simon has posted above.

So far mechanical is working very well and i think you will find biological most will say very good.

[kiky]

SF,

I think I should add that, when I used K1, my whole setting was brand new - new concrete pond, new K1, new water, new everything! Also, my pond is not covered, exposing it to both direct sunlight and rain.

T would rate it as 8 in a scale of 1 to 10.