How to do a K1 Moving Bed?

[Pazzoman]

Hey Everyone,


I still feel a sump with just filter socks and pond matrix is still not over kill enough! The tank will be a 210 or 72x24x30 and the sump will be a 75 gallon tank. I've been recommended to do the "kiss" method so basically no baffles I thought it was very beneficial with baffles but I assume it more in saltwater. Here are some questions about the k1

What does the k1 actually do and benefit?

Can it be incorporated in a "kiss" method sump or does it require its own section (baffled/eggcrated) if so how big of a section?

Can I still use media like pond matrix to go along with it, probably wouldn't hurt?

Any other great media to go in the sump with the filter socks, pond matrix and k1?

 

[David R]

I'd pick either K1 or matrix and build your sump accordingly. K1 needs approx 50:50 water:K1 (so say 20L of K1 in a 40L chamber) with enough air or water movement to make it "boil". The big advantage over typical media is that it won't ever need to be cleaned as no debris can accumulate on it. There are calculations out there so you can work out how much you need for the amount of fish (or food) you have.

 

[rbarn]

The big advantage over typical media is that it won't ever need to be cleaned as no debris can accumulate on it. .

Actually that is not correct.

The big advantage with K1 is how the bio-bacteria grow on it. It has outer surfaces and inner surfaces. The outer surfaces are constantly rubbing against each other in the moving bed and scraping off old bacteria and allowing new bacteria to grow. This is why the moving bed part of it is important. While the inner surfaces allow old established bacteria live. Supposedly new and old bacteria are better at breaking down certain types of waste, so the K1 gives you a good constant source of both, where traditional non-moving bio beds just allow the old bacteria to live, which is not as efficient at eating waste.

[video=youtube;cFQBMDQIdwQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFQBMDQIdwQ[/video]

 

[hulk181]

That's pretty intetesting. How would you set up the k1 bed?

 

[rbarn]

Mine is being made out of Pur-Flo 2 high canisters plumbed off a close loop off of returning to the sump.
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=FI-MF2C-V-G
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=FI-MF2416

I had to modify the filter housing a little by putting a grate at the top and bottom, but it was easy to do. No feedback yet since they aren't done, but it should work.

There are cheaper and easier ways of making a moving bed reactor though.

 

[dxdx]

I use egg crate to section off part of my sump (also a 75 gallon tank), dump in K2 which is bigger than K1 and won't slip through the egg crate and use a powerful air pump from Jemco running two airstones for the movement. Works great, and it's very simple. I also use ceramic rings and filter socks.

 

[DIDYSIS]

Look in the stingray area for the reactor thread I created and you will find all the information you could dream of. I think you have been given about a million options by people and you still keep creating more threads, you really could look around a bit and see what is already out there, at this point I think you are getting so little responce as people know it does not matter as you are just making another thread each week with more or less the same question. Search, Read, Learn and then just go for it. And then if you feel you want to or need to later change your filtration again go for it and understand its a part of learning and trying different things. Go back and reference all your other threads with great information and good advice given by many and stop starting new threads each week.

 

[David R]

Look in the stingray area for the reactor thread I created and you will find all the information you could dream of.

Interesting read, shame it's hidden away in the Stingray forum!

 

[rodger]

I use a 100 gal stock tank. Water comes in via filter socks. I have 3 cheap 1000 GPH pond pumps on their sides moving water / K1 and numerous air stones. I have 2 4300 GPH Laguna pond pumps going into a manifold. I took PVC and cut lots of slots in pipe and attached to the pump intakes. I have 100 liters of K1. It filters only a 240 currently but will filter my 700 when it is ready in a few months.

Sent from my SCH-S960L using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Pazzoman]

Thanks everyone for your descriptions I will check out the older k1 threads as well, also this should be my last thread just so worried that my filtration system won't be good enough...however I just try to get things to perfect which is probably why Ive been making so many threads lol. I won't make any threads referring to filtration any longer, but the next one will be "Check out my Sump" or something like that lol after I get everything together...thanks again for all your help.