For bio you also want to know KH is high enough. The bacteria consume it. Common and cheap test.
Filtration
- Thread starter AnthonyRibis
- Start date
Good post Waterbug. I thought you didn't think biofiltration was needed in a garden pond. I may remember incorrectly.
This ^^^ was very helpful info. Thanks!Waterbug said:Hehehe
That's weird, our last couple of winters were hard. Some days it barely got above 70F. Hehehe
Couldn't resist.
You're welcome.
I think the best bio filter, converting ammonia, for a Water Garden for most people is called a Trickle Tower.
A Trickle Tower is just a pile of rocks with water flowing over the top. Exactly the same as a stream, but more compact and vertical, so much smaller foot print. The increased ammonia conversion comes from increased O2. The thinner the water going over bio media (rocks) the higher (until maxed) the gas exchange (higher O2, lower CO2...and other gases).
It's really that simple, pile of rocks. People will debate different kinds of rocks, but to me, that might be over thinking the problem. Any rock will work well. There's rock with more surface area for growing more bacteria, but to me it clogs pretty fast. I've never seen comparisons to smooth vs feather or lava rock.
The 30x figure was compared to submerged media...basically Skippy type...maybe the drum filter you were referring to. IMO Skippy was the best filter before Trickle Tower, so that's what TT was compared to. After TT came Bakki Shower or just Shower. Basically the same type of filter, but even better conversion. Expensive (lots of water and pretty high head) noisy, large and difficult to scale down and get the same results. You may find some sites mixing up the terms Shower and TT unfortunately. I don't think most Water Gardeners would like a Shower filter.
The 30 times figure is of course not going to be true for all cases, but even 10x would be pretty good. It's hard to mess up and not beat static submerged media.
I just did a search of "Trickle Tower" and holy crap they're almost all Shower filters. I guess people like the term "Trickle Tower" better. Unfortunate. So let's do this the hard way (for me)...here are some picture as examples.
Here's what I consider a standard Trickle Tower. Rocks inside a wire cage (I think). From 2001.
I say rocks, but it can be lots of stuff. Plastic bio balls are popular but then you're back to trying to hide stuff. Rocks don't have to be hidden.
That was scaled down for Water Gardens by some unknown inventor.This picture is suppose to be in this forum, but I couldn't find the thread. Someone can hopefully point you to the thread. This is called a Strawberry Pot Trickle Tower. A strawberry pot is attractive and not too expensive, easy to find. Fill with rock and run water over it...done. Just has to be above water.
Next up shows where Trickle Towers started to become Shower filters. Terms start to get a little confusing.
Google will find lots of info on Shower filters of many kinds. They started being used when the masses started using the web in a big way. Don't think they sound like a good choice for you, but you can decide. Maybe something in between.
Wall of water is another type of Trickle Tower. Basically a waterfall but the water trickles down the face instead of falling.
The bottom line, the big difference, is just raising the media up out of standing water. The bacteria need O2 as well as ammonia and nitrites and O2 is a limiting factor in static submerged media. Just moving a static submerged media filter above the pond and draining water from the bottom instead of the top should get a big increase in conversion.
The other nice side effect is a Trickle Tower is pretty much self cleaning. They certainly can get covered in bio film and algae on the outside, but people use them for years with no cleaning. Algae growing on the outside seem to go hand in hand with green ponds clearing, but no guarantee. The algae can also consume ammonia directly so it would help with bio but that has not been tested how helpful as far as I know.
The question of course is whether you have an ammonia problem. A bio filter doesn't really do anything if your ammonia levels are already near zero. Can't lower what isn't there. Which goes back to...you choose a filter for a specific reason. Otherwise you're just spinning your wheels.
Moving bed is another great bio filter, lots of O2 (but less than Shower, maybe TT), and it's best feature is self cleaning like TT and Shower. These are used in ponds today but their use in aquariums I think have a lot more data. Those guys love data. Here's a guy I love watching, great inventor, showing that a moving bed can be scaled down and pretty simple. TT is simpler imo and easier to hide in plain sight. He has a bunch of videos and filter tweaks. You can scale size to exactly what you need.
See, now that's where you're messing yourself up. A mechanical filter is used to remove small bits of suspended stuff, or to filter out bigger stuff (leaves, poo) from the bottom or surface. Not really much to do with bio. Mechanical filters are more tricky, more options. Without focusing on a specific need it gets confusing.
The only mechanical benefit I can see you getting this close to winter is just getting crap off the bottom. That should help fish over winter. For a 1600 gal pond that can be as simple as using a leaf rake to scoop stuff. It'll stir up the water but should settle pretty fast (1-24 hours). Or a vacuum. My page on vacuums. A vacuum would be considered a mechanical filter even when waste water is removed.
That reminds me...I have to start getting ready for winter...time to start wearing shoes.
It's all about the details. I don't think bio filters need to be added to most Water Garden type ponds.dieselplower said:
...and...Waterbug said:
Waterbug said: