Fascinating! I need to add one or more of these baskets to my 29 gallon sump!! I am reading your blog, checking out your videos, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
Dr. Novak could you create a substrate using a UGFilter, a layer of lava rock and gravel, then a layer of kitty litter, a layer of laterite mixed with red fluorite, another layer of kitty litter, and a final layer of gravel. With the UGFilter would this create an anoxic filter effect throughout the entire substrate?
Mr. Novak: I am very grateful for the education you contribute to the hobby. Thank you for the great information. I have a question concerning my very mature fresh water tank. I have a 90 gallon, heavily planted tank with a heavy fish load (primarily Rainbows). The tank is set up with a sump. I have a flourite base covered by sand for the plants. I also have a pressurized co2 set up and more than sufficient light. Everything is on a timer. The sump is set up in a traditional way, with a large section for bio media. My water levels are very stable and I have gone 3 to 5 months without H20 changes, my nitrates fluctuate between 10-30 ppm on the API test kit, (I am using the test tube mix kit. Ammonia and Nitrite always are at 0. I just removed some of the bio media and made one Anoxic basket filter for the sump. I plan to make two more. My problem is installing a plenum. The plant bed is so mature that I will have to destroy half the plants in order to remove the sand to install the under gravel filter plate. Can I simply forgo the Plenum?
Hi Dr Novak I’m looking to do this to both my tank set ups one is planted with a sump is it better to have more smaller anoxic filters of one larger one? The other is a African cichlid tank with canisters I have an old canister filter and plan to do a set up like Luke. Also you state that this filter absorbs the ammonia in the aquarium does this mean it will basically starve the already existing beneficial bacteria rendering the existing biological media useless or not needed? Thanks for sharing this great filter set up 😊
Hi Dr Novak. Thanks for sharing all this job with the community. I'd like to understand a little more about your anoxic filter. I have a couple of questions.. Is it fair to say kitty layer is bentonite/zeolite type? if yes, I understand that these attract cations like NH4+. Should we have to take any consideration about depletion of Ca2+ that plants needs or any other substance ? Does this adsorbent effect stop at any time? Also i would like to understand how is this related to the fact that we need to remove NO3- . Finally should be feasible to implement this in a "nitrate reactor" type BCB for the ones that dont have sump implemented? thanks a lot!
This video answers a question I was wondering about, in my pond I have water lily baskets filled with dirt and capped with some rocks so the dirt doesnt come out and the fish don't dig it up, and I am thinking why then do these baskets not replicate the anoxic conditions Dr. Novak speaks about. Because they definitely don't at least not to an easily discernible degree if I want to keep my pond from being filled with Nitrates I have to do water changes. This video explains the reason it doesn't work with the lilys
Do you think another baked clay substrate could be used like Seachem Florite or Floramax could be used in place of kitty litter? I ask because all the special Kitty stuff raises my KH and GH and so I just put a plenum with Floramax and literite clay powder layered in into my aquarium a few weeks ago
Hi Dr Novak. Just thinking out aloud on the magnetic permeability, I may be wrong and it may not be necessary given the bcb basket already has a negative charge but would adding an electrode in the center of the bcb basket/bag & connected to the negative node of a battery and an electrode connected to the positive node in the water column increase the negative charge of the bcb basket and thus absorption of positive charged ammonia into the basket?
Hi Dr. Novak, Enjoying your insight in anoxic filtration. I noticed in your videio that the tank is heavily planted. Question please; does the anoxic filter out compete the plants for nutrients? How is ammonium/nitogen available for the plants if the anoxic filter is efficiently converting these combounds to N2 and O2 gas?
anoxicfiltrationsystem.blogspot.com/ Click on the link above and look at the photos of ponds and then you will see plants are not in competition with an Anoxic Filter. If a BCB has a plant in it , it will bring in nutrients into the BCB for the [plants to use just like Laterite does.
I wish I had found your wealth of knowledge before dropping my life savings on biohome. Nevertheless, it will be invaluable in the future, and I thank you.
Wouldn’t ionized ammonia filter pads work the same way? I’ve been thinking a lot lately how this entire nitrification process is all wrong and if we just simply remove ammonia then there is no need for further filtration. I’ve even been looking into water treatment filtration at the ionized ammonia, nitrite and nitrate filters used for drinking water thinking how it would make a lot more sense to hook those to a pump then an actual typical filter or sump.
I have so many questions Sir. so are they in RO water to begin with ? what is the tds ? and what do plants eat if there is no amonia or nitrates ? you have column feeding plants in there . thanks a lot.
bonjour docteur Novac , je suis fasciné par vos experiences et vos conseils ... je voudrais utiliser cette filtration dans un bac de 450 litres que je prepare ,je vais installer un filtre sous gravier avec litiere et laterite pour maintenir des discus mais je suis dans une region ou l'eau a un ph de 7.3 à 7.5...ma question concerne le fait que visiblement la litiere ferait monter le ph ! comment faire pour le maintenir à un niveau neutre ? avez vous un moyen de garder le controle sur ce phenomene ? filtrer sur tourbe dans un filtre externe peut il modifier le fonctionnement du systheme anoxic et est il suffisant pour baiser le ph ? j'ai miles questions tant cette technique est une revelation pour moi ,lol ... merci 🙏🙏🙏
Amazing, how fast the tank is ready for fish? I made a mistake on get fish after 3 days of getting the 10gal tank. Now I have lost 3 of my 7 Guppies. The remaining fish are suffering for the past 5 weeks with more than 8 ppm of ammonia. I want to use that anoxic filter but I want to know how long does it take to have the tank ready with this filter. I hope you can answer my question. Thanks for sharing.
I have a a few questions about using Biocenosis Clarification Baskets in a vertical container verses a horizontal, ex 55 gallon drum. How best to bring water in to the vessel? Would bringing the water in through the bottom or top provide an advantage worth considering. Lastly, what would be the best way to stack baskets in a vertical space to insure proper flow?
Just make sure that the water is not forced through the medium (BCB) at all but made to go around and under. The BCB’s can be stacked if you like and a good to great prefilter is all that is needed. Once they(BCB) have cycled then the magic will begin.
water in the aquarium is positively through compounds such ammonium NH4+ baked kitty litter with a crystalline structure is negatively charged therefore through magnetic attraction it forces the water around the bcab
Can you put the anoxic filter on an aquaponics set up or will it strip the nitrates before the hydroponics plants can consume it? And how long is the break-in period?
yes you can add it to a aquaponic set up. However, if your plants are suppose to be the workhorse of the system then why would you want to? The break-in period would still be the same as if in an aquarium or pond 45-60 days.
Would the API canister filter work for this?? It comes with several baskets already, just put the mesh and substrate inside them. Also can you explain crystalline structure? Why does it attract, what is it etc?
Should there be a separate aerobic filter to take care of nitrification? I heard that you refer to an "external canister filter". I suppose that means you do need a separate aerobic filter for nitrification. Or does the anoxic filter take care of both aerobic nitrification and anaerobic (less aerobic) denitrification?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks. You are an inspiration that suddenly came from nowhere. For many years I had experimented with the concept of anoxic filtration without using that name. What did you say about the newer package of Special Kitty Natural clay at Walmart that is different from the original package? I heard that there are different and the new package is less good for this purpose, even though both say "natural clay no fragrance". I've been looking for the original package but I don't know what I will get.
@@woodensurfer Walmart admits that they have change vendors in their sale of kitty litter. they now sell it’s natural Clay kitty litter but it is not the same as it was several years ago.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsThanks. I am having problem finding the original Walmart Special Kitty Cat Litter. Do you think other baked clay non-fragrance cat litter will work? What is wrong with the new Walmart stuff? Thanks
Interesting topic, I have a 450 g reef system but when it comes down to Nitrates & Phosphates it's fairly similar. DO you think the amount of plants reduce the Nitrates too. We are carbon dosing in the Reefing community to reduce Nitrates/Phosphates these days down to NO3
Great video doc! I was wondering if an anoxic filter can be achieved at a much smaller scale. I have a 40 gallon planted tank in my living room and there’s no sump system. I’m using a HOB and canister filter. Also, I don’t have the best city water so if I can do less water changes, that would really benefit me and my fish. Thanks
Unfortunately it will not work, you really need to stick to what I say for it to work. If you vary from the formula then you make it different results than what you expect.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks you so much for the reply. I managed to find the special kitty litter and mixed it with Seachem Flourite Red. Kitty litter turned to mush/mud, I then mixed in more Flourite to give it more structure and just finished putting 4 plastic containers in my sump with this mix about an hour ago. Tank is extemely milky but fingers crossed it will filter out soon and baskets stop leaching the 'mud'. I drilled the plastic containers with lots of small holes but it feels that there is not enough flow into the baskets? Will small micro holes be enough or is it important to have more flow capability? I took some video, will try and put something together soon. If you are interested I would love to send it to you somehow?
I am about to set up Malawi Cichlid tank and going to go with plenum and bcbs. I've understood that pH of cley/kitty litter is slightly acidic? If this is correct will it bring my tank pH down as I am aiming to keep it closer to 8? Also when the beneficial bacteria grow in the substrate and bcbs will they use carbon from biocarbonates lower ing pH? Many thanks!
The only Person I know who also had a 2227 :D It still worked without the Interval until last week, when I finally threw it away. Must have been 20+ years old.
You don't need to set up a magnetic field to remove ammonia from the water column, the plants are more than capable of doing this, thats what they do, you are looking far to deep into this.
Not really, there are other ions that you are forgetting and don't forget one ion is exchange for another ion in the BCB because that is how it works. This is how a natural system works , so don't blame me for the science blame GOD.
I do understand that the info I give is more at a collage level and Lab base level than what most hobbiest are used to. But nevertheless, the info is factual and has been tested to work 90-95% of the time. It is the art of setting up a long term aquarium that will last for decades.
Okay, so what if you don't have a sump? Plenums seem to be an easy enough concept for any tank, but you show your BC baskets added to a sump. Can it be add to any size tank that doesn't have a sump system? If I understand it, you should be able to put an anoxic filter system even in a hang on back style filter - right? It's just that the water has to pass through the system? - Also, if you've answered this question previously, I haven't made it through all your videos yet...
I'm currently experimenting with a plenum with a BC basket in the center of it, using a shortened- two inch lift tube to draw water slowly through the substrate, I'm currently 40 days into the tank set up and 20 days of fish, and am show zero nitrates, ammonia and nitrites after initial cycle dropping to zero, the water conditions are very stable with no water changes so far. I'm using canister filter with a pre filter canister as the primary filter
Fascinating! I need to add one or more of these baskets to my 29 gallon sump!! I am reading your blog, checking out your videos, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
... I'm grateful I found this channel, it quenches the thirst for something new to me lol...
Dr. Novak could you create a substrate using a UGFilter, a layer of lava rock and gravel, then a layer of kitty litter, a layer of laterite mixed with red fluorite, another layer of kitty litter, and a final
layer of gravel. With the UGFilter would this create an anoxic filter effect throughout the entire substrate?
Hi Dr Kevin Novak
A question on you Discus tank setup. What was the water temperature of the Discus and plant setup.
Thank you
Sok
Mr. Novak: I am very grateful for the education you contribute to the hobby. Thank you for the great information. I have a question concerning my very mature fresh water tank. I have a 90 gallon, heavily planted tank with a heavy fish load (primarily Rainbows). The tank is set up with a sump. I have a flourite base covered by sand for the plants. I also have a pressurized co2 set up and more than sufficient light. Everything is on a timer. The sump is set up in a traditional way, with a large section for bio media. My water levels are very stable and I have gone 3 to 5 months without H20 changes, my nitrates fluctuate between 10-30 ppm on the API test kit, (I am using the test tube mix kit. Ammonia and Nitrite always are at 0. I just removed some of the bio media and made one Anoxic basket filter for the sump. I plan to make two more. My problem is installing a plenum. The plant bed is so mature that I will have to destroy half the plants in order to remove the sand to install the under gravel filter plate. Can I simply forgo the Plenum?
Love the videos keep It up man
Thanks! Will do!
Hi Dr Novak I’m looking to do this to both my tank set ups one is planted with a sump is it better to have more smaller anoxic filters of one larger one? The other is a African cichlid tank with canisters I have an old canister filter and plan to do a set up like Luke. Also you state that this filter absorbs the ammonia in the aquarium does this mean it will basically starve the already existing beneficial bacteria rendering the existing biological media useless or not needed? Thanks for sharing this great filter set up 😊
Hi Dr Novak. Thanks for sharing all this job with the community. I'd like to understand a little more about your anoxic filter. I have a couple of questions.. Is it fair to say kitty layer is bentonite/zeolite type? if yes, I understand that these attract cations like NH4+. Should we have to take any consideration about depletion of Ca2+ that plants needs or any other substance ? Does this adsorbent effect stop at any time? Also i would like to understand how is this related to the fact that we need to remove NO3- . Finally should be feasible to implement this in a "nitrate reactor" type BCB for the ones that dont have sump implemented? thanks a lot!
Do I need to have a plenum system as well as the basket system? If I doubled the amount baskets in the sump?
What size tank is this? What size sump do you have? And where did you purchase your sump?
This video answers a question I was wondering about, in my pond I have water lily baskets filled with dirt and capped with some rocks so the dirt doesnt come out and the fish don't dig it up, and I am thinking why then do these baskets not replicate the anoxic conditions Dr. Novak speaks about. Because they definitely don't at least not to an easily discernible degree if I want to keep my pond from being filled with Nitrates I have to do water changes. This video explains the reason it doesn't work with the lilys
Can I use just one large basket or is several smaller ones better ?
Thanks
Do you think another baked clay substrate could be used like Seachem Florite or Floramax could be used in place of kitty litter? I ask because all the special Kitty stuff raises my KH and GH and so I just put a plenum with Floramax and literite clay powder layered in into my aquarium a few weeks ago
Hi Dr Novak. Just thinking out aloud on the magnetic permeability, I may be wrong and it may not be necessary given the bcb basket already has a negative charge but would adding an electrode in the center of the bcb basket/bag & connected to the negative node of a battery and an electrode connected to the positive node in the water column increase the negative charge of the bcb basket and thus absorption of positive charged ammonia into the basket?
no don't do that.
Can we add one of these to a sump without a plenum in the tank? I’m not sure I would want to dig it all up.
Yes, it will work just fine without a Plenum.
Hi Dr. Novak,
Enjoying your insight in anoxic filtration. I noticed in your videio that the tank is heavily planted. Question please; does the anoxic filter out compete the plants for nutrients? How is ammonium/nitogen available for the plants if the anoxic filter is efficiently converting these combounds to N2 and O2 gas?
anoxicfiltrationsystem.blogspot.com/
Click on the link above and look at the photos of ponds and then you will see plants are not in competition with an Anoxic Filter. If a BCB has a plant in it , it will bring in nutrients into the BCB for the [plants to use just like Laterite does.
I wish I had found your wealth of knowledge before dropping my life savings on biohome. Nevertheless, it will be invaluable in the future, and I thank you.
Wouldn’t ionized ammonia filter pads work the same way? I’ve been thinking a lot lately how this entire nitrification process is all wrong and if we just simply remove ammonia then there is no need for further filtration. I’ve even been looking into water treatment filtration at the ionized ammonia, nitrite and nitrate filters used for drinking water thinking how it would make a lot more sense to hook those to a pump then an actual typical filter or sump.
I have so many questions Sir.
so are they in RO water to begin with ? what is the tds ? and what do plants eat if there is no amonia or nitrates ? you have column feeding plants in there .
thanks a lot.
Very useful. Question. What ‘type’ of clay is this? Is it Attapulgite?
bonjour docteur Novac , je suis fasciné par vos experiences et vos conseils ... je voudrais utiliser cette filtration dans un bac de 450 litres que je prepare ,je vais installer un filtre sous gravier avec litiere et laterite pour maintenir des discus mais je suis dans une region ou l'eau a un ph de 7.3 à 7.5...ma question concerne le fait que visiblement la litiere ferait monter le ph ! comment faire pour le maintenir à un niveau neutre ? avez vous un moyen de garder le controle sur ce phenomene ? filtrer sur tourbe dans un filtre externe peut il modifier le fonctionnement du systheme anoxic et est il suffisant pour baiser le ph ? j'ai miles questions tant cette technique est une revelation pour moi ,lol ... merci 🙏🙏🙏
Amazing, how fast the tank is ready for fish? I made a mistake on get fish after 3 days of getting the 10gal tank. Now I have lost 3 of my 7 Guppies. The remaining fish are suffering for the past 5 weeks with more than 8 ppm of ammonia. I want to use that anoxic filter but I want to know how long does it take to have the tank ready with this filter. I hope you can answer my question. Thanks for sharing.
I have a a few questions about using Biocenosis Clarification Baskets in a vertical container verses a horizontal, ex 55 gallon drum. How best to bring water in to the vessel? Would bringing the water in through the bottom or top provide an advantage worth considering. Lastly, what would be the best way to stack baskets in a vertical space to insure proper flow?
Just make sure that the water is not forced through the medium (BCB) at all but made to go around and under. The BCB’s can be stacked if you like and a good to great prefilter is all that is needed. Once they(BCB) have cycled then the magic will begin.
water in the aquarium is positively through compounds such ammonium NH4+
baked kitty litter with a crystalline structure is negatively charged therefore through magnetic attraction it forces the water around the bcab
Can you put the anoxic filter on an aquaponics set up or will it strip the nitrates before the hydroponics plants can consume it? And how long is the break-in period?
yes you can add it to a aquaponic set up. However, if your plants are suppose to be the workhorse of the system then why would you want to? The break-in period would still be the same as if in an aquarium or pond 45-60 days.
Doing some reading and it looks like nitrate and nitrite are anions. This filter repels fish waste. Am I wrong?
No it does not repel fish waste. It attracs ions from the water.
Hi Dr Novak, with an anoxic filter and plant setup, how often do you have to change water.
Water changes are going to depend on your stocking level and how much you’re feeding your fish. That is what’s going to govern everything.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks!
Why don't you just use an under gravel filter with a fine mesh?
Would the API canister filter work for this?? It comes with several baskets already, just put the mesh and substrate inside them.
Also can you explain crystalline structure? Why does it attract, what is it etc?
The only way you can colonize anaerobic bacteria is in very low flow situations...canister filters are not good for that.
Should there be a separate aerobic filter to take care of nitrification? I heard that you refer to an "external canister filter". I suppose that means you do need a separate aerobic filter for nitrification.
Or does the anoxic filter take care of both aerobic nitrification and anaerobic (less aerobic) denitrification?
Anoxic filter will take care of both aerobic and anaerobic activities.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks. You are an inspiration that suddenly came from nowhere. For many years I had experimented with the concept of anoxic filtration without using that name.
What did you say about the newer package of Special Kitty Natural clay at Walmart that is different from the original package? I heard that there are different and the new package is less good for this purpose, even though both say "natural clay no fragrance". I've been looking for the original package but I don't know what I will get.
@@woodensurfer Walmart admits that they have change vendors in their sale of kitty litter. they now sell it’s natural Clay kitty litter but it is not the same as it was several years ago.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenumsThanks. I am having problem finding the original Walmart Special Kitty Cat Litter. Do you think other baked clay non-fragrance cat litter will work? What is wrong with the new Walmart stuff? Thanks
Great video. Does Seachem Flourite Red work instead of latterite
Yes , that will work too.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thanks. Great!
Interesting topic, I have a 450 g reef system but when it comes down to Nitrates & Phosphates it's fairly similar. DO you think the amount of plants reduce the Nitrates too. We are carbon dosing in the Reefing community to reduce Nitrates/Phosphates these days down to NO3
I want to know the same thing!
@@jakedunne4606 it's basically just denitrification zones
Can a Anoxia filter be made on a under gravel filter in the tank ✌️🇨🇦
yes it can
Isn't Nitrate and Phosphates negatively charged? These are the two that you want the BCB to remove...
The bacteria steals its oxygen molecule from both nitrates and phosphates.
Great video doc! I was wondering if an anoxic filter can be achieved at a much smaller scale. I have a 40 gallon planted tank in my living room and there’s no sump system. I’m using a HOB and canister filter. Also, I don’t have the best city water so if I can do less water changes, that would really benefit me and my fish. Thanks
yes very cool
Hi, thanks for all your info. Would it work if I put a basket in my sump with Seachem Matrix in it instead of cat litter?
Unfortunately it will not work, you really need to stick to what I say for it to work. If you vary from the formula then you make it different results than what you expect.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks you so much for the reply. I managed to find the special kitty litter and mixed it with Seachem Flourite Red. Kitty litter turned to mush/mud, I then mixed in more Flourite to give it more structure and just finished putting 4 plastic containers in my sump with this mix about an hour ago. Tank is extemely milky but fingers crossed it will filter out soon and baskets stop leaching the 'mud'. I drilled the plastic containers with lots of small holes but it feels that there is not enough flow into the baskets? Will small micro holes be enough or is it important to have more flow capability? I took some video, will try and put something together soon. If you are interested I would love to send it to you somehow?
I don,t have kitty litter, can i use ordinary aquarium gravel ?
Flourite Red will do
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thank you Dr. Novak.
I am about to set up Malawi Cichlid tank and going to go with plenum and bcbs. I've understood that pH of cley/kitty litter is slightly acidic? If this is correct will it bring my tank pH down as I am aiming to keep it closer to 8? Also when the beneficial bacteria grow in the substrate and bcbs will they use carbon from biocarbonates lower ing pH? Many thanks!
Some say it may make you water acidic and some say it will not.
Does this filtration work with brackish or saltwater set ups?
yes, it can be used in brackish and saltwater systems.
Can this be built with a separate top filter using an Aquaclear 110?
Good question , I really don’t know, Never tried it.
The only Person I know who also had a 2227 :D It still worked without the Interval until last week, when I finally threw it away. Must have been 20+ years old.
Fantastic
hi doc, how often do you replace the kitty litter? and do you have a video how to make or install the plenum/under gravel filter
yes he dose have a video on making a plenum click on his name ( Kevin Novak below his video and you will see all of his video.
then click on video
could zeolite clay be the same thing?
Some have tried it and say it works.
I wonder if the inventor of the nitrogen cycle ever imagined it could be used like this. Very neat.
1:15 OH! That's what I've been doing wrong! I've been putting my substrate at the top. Silly me. ;)
You don't need to set up a magnetic field to remove ammonia from the water column, the plants are more than capable of doing this, thats what they do, you are looking far to deep into this.
Not really, there are other ions that you are forgetting and don't forget one ion is exchange for another ion in the BCB because that is how it works. This is how a natural system works , so don't blame me for the science blame GOD.
I too am wondering if there’s a way to setup in a hang on back filter? What do you think ? And thank you for your videos and explaination
flow would have to be diminished/restricted somehow
subbed
The advice here in this video and on this channel in general are so far removed from mainstream established practices. I'll give it a miss.
I do understand that the info I give is more at a collage level and Lab base level than what most hobbiest are used to. But nevertheless, the info is factual and has been tested to work 90-95% of the time. It is the art of setting up a long term aquarium that will last for decades.
That's because noone can money out of the things needed to set this up. If you don't understand this you're very naive.
only Dr and Ph.D. can talking and understand about deeper water chemistry LOL
Okay, so what if you don't have a sump? Plenums seem to be an easy enough concept for any tank, but you show your BC baskets added to a sump. Can it be add to any size tank that doesn't have a sump system? If I understand it, you should be able to put an anoxic filter system even in a hang on back style filter - right? It's just that the water has to pass through the system? - Also, if you've answered this question previously, I haven't made it through all your videos yet...
I'm currently experimenting with a plenum with a BC basket in the center of it, using a shortened- two inch lift tube to draw water slowly through the substrate, I'm currently 40 days into the tank set up and 20 days of fish, and am show zero nitrates, ammonia and nitrites after initial cycle dropping to zero, the water conditions are very stable with no water changes so far. I'm using canister filter with a pre filter canister as the primary filter
@@jonferris8039 Hi Jon, do you have an update as to how your system worked out?