K! Moving Bed Bio Filter

[BenDalat]

Hello everyone,

About K1 Moving Bed Bio Filter, is the more K1, the better?

Thank you,

[aquaholic]

I aim for about 60% of a filter chamber to be K1 but it's guestimate.
There isn't a downside to having excess K1 apart from cost and space but having excess K1 will not make your bio filtration work better.
You may need a few weeks for all the K1 to submerge properly. You have added too much if K1 gets pushed out periodically or unable to move easily.

There is a lot of biological filtration occuring elsewhere in the pond besides the actual filter itself.

EDIT: On my larger MBBR filters, I need a re-gassing stage before going back to high density livestock tanks as the K1 can deplete dissolved oxygen levels despite the aeration and tumbling. Shouldn't be an issue on a pond situation.

[BenDalat]

I aim for about 60% of a filter chamber to be K1 but it's guestimate.
There isn't a downside to having excess K1 apart from cost and space but having excess K1 will not make your bio filtration work better.
You may need a few weeks for all the K1 to submerge properly. You have added too much if K1 gets pushed out periodically or unable to move easily.

There is a lot of biological filtration occuring elsewhere in the pond besides the actual filter itself.

EDIT: On my larger MBBR filters, I need a re-gassing stage before going back to high density livestock tanks as the K1 can deplete dissolved oxygen levels despite the aeration and tumbling. Shouldn't be an issue on a pond situation.

Thank you aquaholic!

[aquaholic]

Most of my MBBR filters are pump fed, above water level.
I have a 4mm hole at bottom of K1 chamber with a 6mm hose going back to pond that constantly drains out. If there is a lengthy power outage, the K1 chamber will drain out over several hours to preserve beneficial biofilm bacteria from oxygen depletion. This simple implementation has saved me several times already. With lids on, the K1 media remains moist for over 2 weeks.

It's surprising how much muck accumulates at bottom of K1 chamber. I will eventually add a 40mm valved drain on side with a 90 degree elbow to the bottom (seived to stop K1 media).

My water loses hardness due to biofiltration so I add crushed coral rubble, whole oyster shell, linestone gravel etc in nylon mesh bags at base of K1 chambers.

My water used to go cloudy after heavy feeds before I switched to MBBR filters. I use them redundantly now. Separate filters with separate pumps on separate electrical circuits but I have heavy stocking densities.

[BenDalat]

Most of my MBBR filters are pump fed, above water level.
I have a 4mm hole at bottom of K1 chamber with a 6mm hose going back to pond that constantly drains out. If there is a lengthy power outage, the K1 chamber will drain out over several hours to preserve beneficial biofilm bacteria from oxygen depletion. This simple implementation has saved me several times already. With lids on, the K1 media remains moist for over 2 weeks.

It's surprising how much muck accumulates at bottom of K1 chamber. I will eventually add a 40mm valved drain on side with a 90 degree elbow to the bottom (seived to stop K1 media).

My water loses hardness due to biofiltration so I add crushed coral rubble, whole oyster shell, linestone gravel etc in nylon mesh bags at base of K1 chambers.

My water used to go cloudy after heavy feeds before I switched to MBBR filters. I use them redundantly now. Separate filters with separate pumps on separate electrical circuits but I have heavy stocking densities.

Thank you