Best Bio Filter??

[koihaku]

Dear Larry,
how big is your pond now?
May I know how much Lithaqua you used in term of Kgs instead of cubic( i'm very bad in maths)?
I read brochure from bactapur but they don't say how much the minimum quantity usage..
Off course we know the more the better but i think some people have limitation with the money.
I plan to use max 50 kg of BH (about $1,200) in my TT (replacement of bioball that would be put in submerged chambers)
I need to know how much minimum efective use of LIthaqua so I can calculate the cost

I heard soft water good for growth, can lithaqua make the water hard since I hear It can increase the KH. Does high KH means harder water?

Has Anybody used BH with low turn over rate?
Mine about 1/2 ..

Quote: Originally Posted by PapaBear We've been doing some upgrading on ours to accommodate the enlarged pond and higher fish population, so our original setup is less accurate these days. We have added 2 vortex (1 for bottom drain, 1 for skimmer circuit), the main waterfall is now being converted to 2 diy moving beds (55gallon drums) and the trashcan shower towers are now replaced with bakki showers filled with a combination of Lithaqua and Lava Rock. I plan to replace the lava rock with feather rock at the first opportunity. I have become a devote' of Bakki showers, but I just can't make myself pay the BH price tag. We've had outstanding results using a smallish bakki for our outside qt, temp pond (pool), and hatchery tanks. Water quality couldn't be better. Even when spawning in a 600 gallon hard-side tank the mini-bakki restores the water quality within less than 24 hrs of a spawn.

[PapaBear]

Our pond is roughly 6,000 gallons (23,000 litres) and the lithaqua is only a small part of our total filtration at 100 lb (25 kg). It is incorporated into trays with lava rock, which as I said we plan to replace with feather rock to improve performance and reduce weight.
In our experience Lithaqua does not raise kh in the pond enough to notice. What it does to is stabilize the kh within the filter itself, which is where most of the acids are produced by bacterial action and in my opinion that is one of its greatest assets in a filtration system as it promotes a stable and healthy environment for the bacterial colony.
BH should work reasonably well in a TT application, but I've not used it so I'll leave it to others to speak specifically to that issue. Our turnover rate in the pond is about 1 1/2 times per hr, with roughly 1/2 going through the showers and the other half in submerged media.

[koiczar]

Larry

Based on your last post, it sounds like you aren't quite satisfied with the lava rock in the showers. Is it due to the weight factor or something else, even more important?

Mike

[PapaBear]

The weight is a big factor, so that is a lot of it. We really haven't had problems with plugging off or anything and the performance has been mighty fine. The light weight of feather rock is very attractive, but the open cell structure of the rock itself is another thing I really find appealing. More surface area is always a good thing, and the fact that water flows through it just as readily as it does over it is hard to resist. I've encountered several people on the web who've been using it and gotten great results, so I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl.

[koiczar]

Larry

I agree with your philosophy about the feather rock vs lava. So far though, I've only been able to find it in rather large pieces - definitely too big for a shower filter's use. Any ideas?

Mike

[KoiCCAPW]

A hammer, chisel and safety glasses?

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Larry I agree with your philosophy about the feather rock vs lava. So far though, I've only been able to find it in rather large pieces - definitely too big for a shower filter's use. Any ideas? Mike

My plan is to get my hand on a REALLY large chunk or two and do some carving.
My ulterior motive is to try my hand at chiseling out some carvings for the gardens and use the remnant pieces in the showers. It might be a goofy way to go about it, but I've had a picture in my head for a year or two I want to "set in stone" so to speak

[CarolinaGirl]

I sure wish I could get feather rock around here. No one has it.