New EA Biochip

[tewa]

Hi guys

For those of you that are great at microbiology and filtration science, do you guys think that the micro bugs that grow in these protected zones that can filter 10000 times their volume for waste particles of up to 5 microns are capable of growing on any media that is not used in a fluidised manner ie chaotically rubbing against each other?

Can these microbes grow in static media in conventional submerge filtration and even porous media like bacteria house and lava rock?

Would the reason for developing the biochip be to add the benefits of normal non fluidised filtration in a fluidised environment where before, in K1 with the lower protected zone much of the microbes were unprotected and washed off when K1 brushed against each other.

Would these microbes have grown more prolifically in media that are used in a static manner like the eazy or DIY eazy and since the media when backflushed doesn move as chaotically as fluidise media and thus less of the microbes are washed off.

The aquaculture industry has found that most high surface plastic media when used in static manner can filter up to 50% of 5 micron particles, would this be due to these little microbes as well. Could the biochip basically just be increasing the size of the static media compartment in the nexus eazy or any DIY eazy and with a fluidised media filter.

How long does it take for these microbes to colonise the surfaces of protected zones in plastic medias?


TEWA

[kingkong]

I think like most organisms, a consistant stable environment that fits the needs of the organism the best, is the best home. Surface life for the aerobic and plenum life for the anaerobic bacteria. Then there is organism 'enhancement' with a facultative bacteria (switch hitters) design mix but this is where I tag out.

Now this chip thing. I can see the bio-chip as a filter function monitor for identifying bacteria counts or strains thus an environmental assessment... what other benefits you got me Tewa. My head hurts. Gees! I say back to basics, stone, water, fire and koi..just ogons by the way, please.

[tewa]

hey King Kong

How are you mate? haven spoken to you in a while. EA reports that these chips will help improve water clarity by housing millions of these guys as they eat waste particles up to 5 microns, this leads to a cleaner system overall and better water clarity.

I want to understand how all this works and whether it occurs in non fluidised filtration systems already.

Maybe the square shape of the holes helps these microbes to grow, which leads me to believe that porous media would be a favourable environment as well.

TEWA

[mrbradleybradley]

Maybe the square shape of the holes helps these microbes to grow
Hong, what logical reasoning would you apply to hypothesis on this?

BB

[tewa]

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbradleybradley Maybe the square shape of the holes helps these microbes to grow Hong, what logical reasoning would you apply to hypothesis on this? BB

Hey

BB The aim of the biochip is to provide larger protected zones which is on EA's brochures so whether its a square of round hole is irrelevant but just the fact that it is a protected zone which prevents large particles possibly hitting the colonies of microbes and knocking them off. In my opinion its more the size of the hole that will protect these colonies and hence a higher protected zone. What do you think?

tewa

[bekko]

I thought all the little ridges on K1 were to reduce shearing of the biofilm.

Part of the particle trapping effect in any media is the stickiness of the biofilm. Many types of bacteria have a sticky surface and/or exudate which make them clump together and trap all sorts of debris.



-stevehopkin s

[mrbradleybradley]

Quote: Originally Posted by tewa Hey BB The aim of the biochip is to provide larger protected zones which is on EA's brochures so whether its a square of round hole is irrelevant but just the fact that it is a protected zone which prevents large particles possibly hitting the colonies of microbes and knocking them off. In my opinion its more the size of the hole that will protect these colonies and hence a higher protected zone. What do you think? tewa

In theory, there is going to be certain amount of force, which when applied will wash or nudge off the colonies of bacteria. So, you assume that the design has reduced the applied force and therefore retained the colony. hmmmm....... I really do not know if the claim or your assumptions have any basis. I think it sounds a little simplistic. Part of the assumption is that the force is constant for the life of the filter media. I cannot see how this could be true, given that over time, there would be a build up of bio-film and detritus. Any media, with build-up would start to produce its "own protected zones" as it accumulates bio-film/debris.

Perhaps someone with more technical understanding can enlighten me further, or at least find the holes in my logic.

BB

[koiczar]

Tewa and BB

Sounds to me like the marketing dept. is getting a little carried away. However, IMHO, logically speaking, the biofilm accumulation is what causes most bead filters to clog if not properly maintained, thus creating these protective zones on it's own, much to our chagrin.

I can personally attest to the effectiveness of the biomedia in the Aqua Ultima as I have been running one for the past 4 years. It actually has backwashed more efficiently for the past year than at any time prior. Don't know for sure, but it seems to have stabilized or metabolized and become more efficient. As you might well know, their media has the ridges on the outside and are tubular in design with three ridge walls on the inside to house the media. Even when baackwashed weekly and sometimes more often, depending upon increased feeding/waste it seems to really be doing a nice job. I count on it for mostly mechanical duty with whatever bio as a bonus. I have a second system which is relied on for my main bio production

[GazKoi]

OK so has anyone tried these Bio-Chips yet and if so any thoughts????

What about the fact that most of us like to mix our media and in a Nexus you just have the one media,well not you can have two or even three types of media.To me this would mean better benefits all round and hopefully a bigger filtering capacity

Still this is just my opinion but what do you guys think??????

[mrbradleybradley]

Ok

Looking a little to the left for a minute, here we concentrate on a brochure that talks about increased "protected zones". How much of this stuff, new or original or any media for that matter has an "unprotected zone" where presumably there is no colony of bactria.

I wonder if there really is that much of it???

No expert here, but maybe someone knows.

BB