Kind of meh. I think this can be helpful. But in bigger sizes. I had mixed results. Two tanks improved but the other two didn’t. Certainly not a well as a canister version.
@@pecktec im thinking about using one of those 2 little fishes phosphate reactors, placing a narrower cylinder inside with the substrate. I can place it so its center allowing water to pass around it, slowing the flow as much as i need to with the valve.
Feb, 2023, I just re-watched this video. I used knee high stockings to make little bags, then cut them down to size. One stocking can give you several small bags. Just use zip ties to close each section off.
Aren't you auppose to "rinse off" the kitty litter before addiny laterite/powered iron to those custom BCB /baskets, containers? How did it work out in your tanks? Did the tanka have a mess r cloudy grey water for hours/ days?
no it did fine as far as cloudy water. I'm not sure it helped very much though. Its like there are so many other factors its really hard to tell. I still have one in my big Fluval Flex.
Why can't you use a mesh bag instead of making a basket? Or lay the mesh bag in the back of the tank on the bottom and make sure it has constant flow over the bag?
Please keep us posted how this works with your algae! I may try this in my own algae farm, Er, tank. Most important: best wishes to KP and her recovery!
Just thought of something- could one use the toe- part of pantyhose or a thin nylon sock fill it with the litter/red clay and knot it. Water would sweep through it, it would be somewhat squishable to fit the space. I have used cut up black nylons as outflow covers/ elastic bands/ and gentle scrubbies for broad plant leaves. They are effective and cheap. (Hey, that’s a video idea, too!)
Hi Pecktec, I tried to build a small BCB for a canister filter based on the videos of Dr N using a plastic box I made from a ice cream container. There was no improvement or any change (positive or negative) despite trying to adjust a few times. I went back to the videos and determined that the flow of the canister pump was much too fast. I could not turn down the pump volume or get a canister with a weak pump. I have designed a small PLENUM embedded in a sump filter using a plastic tub. Busy building it at the moment. I managed to get a small pump from TEMU and hopefully that would make the BCB work as it should.
I sewed together a basket just like the one you made with plastic mesh and fish line the other day and placed it in my algae farm. You're right, that was a huge pain! ...don't know about you, but I have cats which exponentially increased the difficulty level.
@@pecktec Hey, BTW, thanks for highlighting Dr. Novak's work. I had heard of him before, and was even surprisingly already subscribed to his channel, but never really followed through on the bcb basket until you featured it. I'm excited and hopeful it will perform as advertised.
For the BCBs to work, you probably need more and larger ones. . I have four 6x6 bcbs in my 100 gal. it had a blasting sand bottom. I still had very high nitrates after 4 months. after the tank had cycled. I contacted Doc Novak and he told me the sand was the issue. It kept producing high nitrates. I had no plenum. I took everything out a got some UGFs. I hope it will finally turn the tank around
Oh also, two helpful tips.... soldering iron for plastic containers...or a hot knife (and respirator.) Also those needle point baskets... I've made moss and fry-pen structures from the same stuff. And if you cut the cube from only 2 pieces, each folded 3 times...it'll save you have the stitching.
By the end of the video I had so many better ways to do this lol. It really came down to alright I've spent hours making these and dang it I'm using it. Even if it was the hardest way to do it.
Great video, I was thinking about making one of these with a small box/corner filter that runs really slow water through it and have it on a Clay dish tray with gravel around it only in the dish. Do you think it would work?
Another thing to consider for alternative containers is sewing a box using landscape fabric. It's porous enough to allow water in, but won't let the cat litter out.
That's actually a really interesting idea because in theory you could also just throw them in the bottom of a pond and they'd be virtually invisible just chilling on the bottom.
Big fan of Dr Novak, anoxic filtration, and DIY projects like this video. I searched for an update on whether these mini bcb did anything worthwhile or not. If you did an update can you tell me which episode to watch or maybe just say whether they work or waste of time. Thanks so much!
It was an awesome long video!!! Thank you for it =) the meeting of the minds =) Thank you for this video I am excited to get to mines =) I was thinking of modifying the InTank products since I have one in my BioCube =) they make them for aqua clears if one was looking to get a very solid design... I love that you raided the candy isle for the lil containers =) As always stay awesome!!!
Thanks for the video. I've been watching Kyle Novak for a little while and wanting to attempt it myself. I'm kinda thinking an aquarium sock may be a good idea for a container like you're making. For the sump I'm thinking the full plenum may be a good way to go. That said I'm glad to see other people doing it as I'm still researching myself. :) Thanks again.
Thank you for a Visual representation of the BCB filter. I would like to try this for my new 5 gallon tank just to learn this type of filter, again thank you!!
You could simply integrate the bcb into the substrate if you wanted. Just put fkourite red at the very bottom of the tank, then put the rinsed kitty litter on top of that and then finally whatever substrate you want on top of that...the water will move very slowly across the substrate so as long as you don't have fish that like to go digging down into the substrate, you will have anoxic conditions within 4-6 weeks.
@@GSP-76 Hey. If you're in India and trying to make these bcbs give me some leads as I can't find kitty litter and laterite or ironite here. Although I got a yes from Dr. Novak on using red soul "laal mitti" readily available in NCR. Thanks.
I'll have to try this, you know, because- I LOVE orange TicTacs I've made box filters out of API test strip tubes, and Fluval Bug Bites or Sera fish flake containers too. Thanks Sean!
Recently Dr Novak put out vids on BCB Bags... Great idea! One video shows bags put around the aquarium behind decorations... Although litter Absorbs minerals for quite awhile, you can always change the plastic zipper bags, whenever you want. They also contain laterite. Cheers! I always enjoy your channel!
Thank you for the video! I've been trying to research this type of filtration. I want to set up a goldfish tank 125 gallon, without an undergravel filter . My question is can I just use the plenum to do the same thing? To get rid of nitrates does that require bcb baskets?
The plenum method will host the denitrifying bacteria that convert the nitrates to nitrogen gas. You don't need bcb baskets unless you want to add extra denitrifying capacity. The easiest way to set up a plenum is by using an undergravel filter. However, you can DIY your own plenum using the plastic knitting meshes and making your own cylindrical standoff risers to keep the mesh elevated. You would need to cut your own holes and glue your own upwell tubes before you add the substrate on top of the mesh. Nitrate levels may still rise albeit more slowly depending on the bioload vs dentrifying capacity of your plenum.
If you read Novaks book, he had some pretty set rules to the bcb size back in 2013. but he seems to contradict alot of what was in his book now, so maybe his initial assumptions were wrong. these things do seem like a cost effective version of those marine pure blocks. I was messaging the Guy Novak made a video about in Australia, "Shaun's fish tanks". He has commented after over two years of using BCBs in sumps for his oscars and breeding discus. He said that after a year the BCB's quit absorbing phosphate and levels kept rising between water changes. And after two years of use, he still wasn't seeing noticeable denitrification, and he had to continue weekly water changes to keep levels at 10-15ppm, and eventually ended up having to install a drip system. He said that the kitty litter seems to absorb the pollutants, but it just acts like a sponge, and over overtime cant take any more. I think this is why the majority of pond keepers on the koi forums only seemed to have success with denitrification when the bcbs were filled with pond plants. could probably use this to grow something out the top of the HOB
@@rockfella27 exactly. There are a lot of variables that can go wrong. Yet Novak continues to say his system has easily repeatable results. He’ll cite reading numerous forum posts saying deep substrate tanks failed, to make the claim that deep substrate tanks aren’t any good. Yet he ignores the numerous forum posts about “BCB”’s failing, and always claims that any failures in his system are from user error. It doesn’t lead me to believe he’s the expert he always claims to be. His ichthyology PHD and education required to get it don’t even have any relevance in filtration application. Yet he has claimed what he says holds more weight than other you tubers due to his education in one of his rants. He’s got some good advice, but he tries to hard to present himself as the authority on aquarium knowledge. When really if you listen to what he’s been saying, he’s just doing things the only way that’s ever worked for him. When things don’t work for him, such as growing plants, he states they are just unreliable and don’t work. He claims plants are just simply unreliable, yet I know aquarists who have been growing the same plant for over 10 years. He has projected his limited skills as everyone’s limits, and tries to assert that his method is superior to all other methods. He got some great advice. His attitude, and attempt to deny his arrogance is what rubs me the wrong way. I’ve messaged Shaun. He followed all Novak’s guidelines. The system just isn’t the magic bullet Novak claims it is. It’s a static substrate bed using porus clay substrate, it’s going to provide great biofiltration. But if it actually removed phosphates and nitrates effectively, then I can’t see why the man would be having to make home made chemi pure in massive bulk batches.
@@rockfella27 sometimes* everywhere? Just on TH-cam bud. It’s the only place to find any recent info about this system of static substrate beds. He wrote a “book” years ago about his filter, he’s changed half the rules he said had to be followed since then , but he’s never published a revised copy. And, If you could see all the comment section arguments he deleted from his videos from a few years ago, you’d get it. There’s a reason there is a year gap in his uploads. He was getting in huge comment section arguments with people. He quit uploading videos 3 years ago, made all his uploads private, scrubbed the comment arguments, and then made his video public again a while later. I was just excited to find a new filter that did would do what he said it would. I had tried asking him about plants in his systems around 3 years ago, and he was super hostile and condescending. I realize now it’s probably because prior to that he had been arguing with hobbyists on UK koi forums about the same issues I wanted some answers on. But yeah, he was a condescending dick and I took it personal. So I pushed him to back up his claims. To paraphrase, His answer was something thing like “everything I say is backed up in the textbooks they teach you this stuff in” and he still uses a line like that. But ask him which textbooks to look for, or where he received his PhD and he’ll never respond. So the guy just took a filtration system that was already widely used in filtration applications (static substrate beds), and instead of using the common substrates like gravel or lava rock, used kitty litter and some iron because he read in a textbook that nitrifying bacteria need iron. And the same kitty litter was used a lot in planted aquariums in North America back before plant substrates were even sold in stores. But he made a a silly name to make it sound super technical like the marketing department for men’s razors. Meanwhile he has to buy chemi pure ingredients in bulk cause his basket of kitty litter needs the support of DI resins and Phosphate absorbing media. Guess he missed that in his first book too
Thank you for your videos, this was fascinating, I'd be interested to know the Chem readings before insertion of these and at intervals after? I'm sorry about KP and I hope she continues to improve... My Aunt got it, and she is coming along but it's a long road for some. Love to you both as you endure this. 💕
That’s cool I bet it would work fine as it’s not being forced into it. I haven’t noticed anything lose in there yet in my little ones. But they are so small it probably wouldn’t show much.
Sure it may be more practical in most scenarios. I had and idea in my head and I kind of went with it. After I had filmed it all i decided just to go forward. But if I did it again I would probably do that for some of them.
pecktec, what would you do if you had a new Mega flex, re: filtration madness? Also, ever thought of dividing the Mega in twain, with right-hand side outflow poking into a separate, mini-tank?
had to tune in to see what your talking about, cool learned the technical term for a veggie filter, they are pretty common with the really really big tanks so they dont have to change water
@pecktec I see someone commented using special kitty, I see that walmart carries this, but it doesn't specify baked . Is that what you use? I'm going to try to make a plenum
It was the brand I used but there’s a few products under that name. I used the big bag I had for years and haven’t refilled. So I’m not sure what’s around now.
Can nitrate be too low for plant growth if anoxic (denitrification) is too vigorous? I have learned that in denitrification nitrate is the oxidizing agent and some food source such as a sugar or alcohol is needed so that No3 can become N2. How is such food not needed in this case?
Any update on this? I've been wanting to do the same with a aqueon hob. But I'm understanding the water shouldn't go through the basket, but around it. Not sure how to pull that off in a small space
Cool video I'm just curious if they are big enough to develop an anoxic area in them though. I'll probably make one for my 5g marineland portrait tank which has a built in filter and just put the clay in a panty hose
Even if not the magnetic permeability from the crystaline structure of the kitty litter should still draw in the positively charged ammonia ions, right, or no?
@@VinylUnboxings Yeah I believe so, but I would think if the bcb isn't big enough to become anoxic deep in the basket then it would only be doing aerobic nitrification, not denitrification. But don't take my word for it cause I'm not a scientist haha
@@VinylUnboxings that being said the expensive medias that claim to do some denitrification like biohome and marine pure are also small size but I'm not sure if they have any magnetic permeability like the baked clay does.
As far as the aquaclear in the thumbnail goes. (This was my main objective the rest was just because I was doing one so why not more.) The basket I made was about the same size as the carbon insert or the bio media insert. In the rigid frame I could pack it densely. You may be right it is very small. I thought at the very least I would have a better bio media from it. I'll follow up later and see if I notice a difference.
Video idea for us for us hobbyists...putting filter media in HOB's what goes first??? Sponges, carbon then bio rings? If one wants to use carbon or phosphate pads where would that go on the layers ?
My experience with yoyo loaches is: there is no shrimp that is safe. Bamboo, amano, ghost, dwarf... All lunch. They do help sustain the MTS colony quite well.
I'm interested to see efficacy of the little biocenosis containers. I think I read or heard somewhere, there needs to be 1.5"-2" bacteria host media before the iron element.(or surrounding, if you're thinking in the round) I live in an iron rich state, so the smell of that bacteria is very familiar. If these small baskets do nothing else, your red plants should color up very nicely👍🦐
Probably to some degree. I don’t think it’s the same type of clay and may not bet the empty vessel the other one is. Another product with the same clay is oil dri. For cleaning oil spills.
Check out my playlist. I do all aquarium updates where I talk a little about each tanks progress. Although the tank is doing well I didn’t see anything remarkable from this.
You should try to interview that guy in LA who has that fishtank store where he does no waterchanges. Let me know if you want more info if you're not already familiar with him and I can try to dig up his name
Having tanks that don't require water changes isn't new...I have a 10 gallon that has one betta in it and a lot of plants that I never do water changes on...I just add as water evaporates over time. Doing a setup with a heavy stock of fish is a different story though.
@@pecktec no idea what that is but somehow I doubt it'll be found in my country (Israel). Zeolite is what's used in ammonia absorber medias. It's also called clinoptilolite.
hi Sean, your mini BCBs are indeed very creative. I am looking forward in updates on how they are performing. Imao your tanks are too big, maybe you could use the filters for smaller tanks. Let them run first, test for nitrates, and then run on smaller tanks. Compare the results. Btw , inspired by your video I am trying capping my 2yrs old substrate with a plenum with zeolites powder! I am waiting for my zeolites gravel to load on my 3 BCBs in my companion filter.
Hello... That was a very informative video. What size tank are you using the large BCB basket for ..? I am building a 75 gallon planted discus tank with a sump , should my BCB basket be larger than the one that you have in the video ? ... Many thanks ...
Thank you so much for this video. I have a quick question. I just finished my 1st attempt at a bcb basket. I had to use 2 media bags because I have little room. I put in a layer of clay then a layer of laterite and then topped it off with clay again. In all the videos I've watched the laterite is covered on all sides by the clay. My laterite runs all the way to the edges. Will this still work? Or must I completely cover the laterite with clay? Thank you and I'm sorry if this is a stupid question.
I'm trying putting mesh bags of Eheim Substrat Pro 2 in low-flow areas, in theory the interior of these balls should become oxygen-starved to allow bacteria use the oxygen present in the nitrate. But I expect it'll take months for these to develop.
hmm, i assume the mini basket is a tad to tiny. from viewing different tanks with blackened substrate i think it is about 3 cm of depth when the substrate is getting anaerobic. when the basket is getting the flow from both side the minimum width is about 6 cm. no underlaying science - just my experience from viewing blackened substrate. but you my give us an excel sheet with the measured nitrate over time.
@@KoiRun50 sure but a densely packed cube of cat litter could also mimic those conditions. I’m not saying he’s wrong. But I don’t think completely anaerobic conditions are the goal. Otherwise the plenum (another way to go) wouldn’t make sense.
How is this different from using SafT-sorb as a substrate? Those little vials seem too small to make a difference. Would love to see NO2 & NO3 values over time. Best wishes to you and yours this Holiday Season.
I’ve had mixed results. Nothing definitive. A bunch of the tanks are doing great. One or two aren’t. But they are all different. And so much of what makes a tank work is a mix of things. I don’t think they hurt at all. But maybe more effective in larger sizes.
I'm think you could use akadama for the iron layer it is a baked red volcanic clay available in various sizes used for bonsai I have some that looks like small pebbles about 3 to 4mm
I have yet to see any controlled comparisons with and without these baskets, and the affect on nitrates. Regarding their use in ponds, I have a heavily populated 2,000 gallon pond with big goldfish and koi. I have had zero nitrates for years using only marginal pond plants in baskets. If you have positive results I hope they are dependable. So far, and including Dr. Novak's videos, it all looks theoretical with no conclusive evidence.
Results?
Kind of meh. I think this can be helpful. But in bigger sizes. I had mixed results. Two tanks improved but the other two didn’t. Certainly not a well as a canister version.
@@pecktec im thinking about using one of those 2 little fishes phosphate reactors, placing a narrower cylinder inside with the substrate. I can place it so its center allowing water to pass around it, slowing the flow as much as i need to with the valve.
(pecktec) Interesting Kitty Litter vids by The Other Guy. Over a four year period.. His 135 gallon tank. Special Kitty brand, like you use here.
iron is iron oxide?
Feb, 2023, I just re-watched this video. I used knee high stockings to make little bags, then cut them down to size. One stocking can give you several small bags. Just use zip ties to close each section off.
Aren't you auppose to "rinse off" the kitty litter before addiny laterite/powered iron to those custom BCB /baskets, containers?
How did it work out in your tanks?
Did the tanka have a mess r cloudy grey water for hours/ days?
no it did fine as far as cloudy water. I'm not sure it helped very much though. Its like there are so many other factors its really hard to tell. I still have one in my big Fluval Flex.
Would you not want to completely mix the iron and the kitty litter because it would offset the negative charge?
Why can't you use a mesh bag instead of making a basket? Or lay the mesh bag in the back of the tank on the bottom and make sure it has constant flow over the bag?
That would have been easier. But I discovered that towards the end when I mentioned it.
@@pecktec someone didn't watch the whole video ;)
Great video! Hugs and prayers to you and your family.
How do I buy stock in the Anoxic Filtration wave lol
😂😂👍👍👍
Any update on how well this is working?
Please keep us posted how this works with your algae! I may try this in my own algae farm, Er, tank. Most important: best wishes to KP and her recovery!
Will do!
Just thought of something- could one use the toe- part of pantyhose or a thin nylon sock fill it with the litter/red clay and knot it. Water would sweep through it, it would be somewhat squishable to fit the space. I have used cut up black nylons as outflow covers/ elastic bands/ and gentle scrubbies for broad plant leaves. They are effective and cheap. (Hey, that’s a video idea, too!)
@@jrob8071 sure that would work. But no candy!! Lol
LOL
Hi Pecktec, I tried to build a small BCB for a canister filter based on the videos of Dr N using a plastic box I made from a ice cream container. There was no improvement or any change (positive or negative) despite trying to adjust a few times. I went back to the videos and determined that the flow of the canister pump was much too fast. I could not turn down the pump volume or get a canister with a weak pump. I have designed a small PLENUM embedded in a sump filter using a plastic tub. Busy building it at the moment. I managed to get a small pump from TEMU and hopefully that would make the BCB work as it should.
I sewed together a basket just like the one you made with plastic mesh and fish line the other day and placed it in my algae farm. You're right, that was a huge pain! ...don't know about you, but I have cats which exponentially increased the difficulty level.
Lol they are great for that. Luckily mine was preoccupied.
@@pecktec Hey, BTW, thanks for highlighting Dr. Novak's work. I had heard of him before, and was even surprisingly already subscribed to his channel, but never really followed through on the bcb basket until you featured it. I'm excited and hopeful it will perform as advertised.
Great Channel man. This is what the hobby is about. Trying new things.
Protip: use a soldering iron to make holes next time.
P.s. What is the shirt?
i really would like to see updates on the capped sand tank. Once you put in the baskets.
For the BCBs to work, you probably need more and larger ones. . I have four 6x6 bcbs in my 100 gal. it had a blasting sand bottom. I still had very high nitrates after 4 months. after the tank had cycled. I contacted Doc Novak and he told me the sand was the issue. It kept producing high nitrates. I had no plenum. I took everything out a got some UGFs. I hope it will finally turn the tank around
Any update??
Really cool video. Lots of love to KP, I hope she is better very soon.
Oh also, two helpful tips.... soldering iron for plastic containers...or a hot knife (and respirator.)
Also those needle point baskets... I've made moss and fry-pen structures from the same stuff. And if you cut the cube from only 2 pieces, each folded 3 times...it'll save you have the stitching.
By the end of the video I had so many better ways to do this lol. It really came down to alright I've spent hours making these and dang it I'm using it. Even if it was the hardest way to do it.
@@pecktec I'm trying this with knitting mesh and high temp narrow tip hot glue gun.
Thank you!
Great video, I was thinking about making one of these with a small box/corner filter that runs really slow water through it and have it on a Clay dish tray with gravel around it only in the dish. Do you think it would work?
I’ve been thinking of using a low flow box filter too.
Another thing to consider for alternative containers is sewing a box using landscape fabric. It's porous enough to allow water in, but won't let the cat litter out.
That's actually a really interesting idea because in theory you could also just throw them in the bottom of a pond and they'd be virtually invisible just chilling on the bottom.
Big fan of Dr Novak, anoxic filtration, and DIY projects like this video. I searched for an update on whether these mini bcb did anything worthwhile or not. If you did an update can you tell me which episode to watch or maybe just say whether they work or waste of time. Thanks so much!
In the pinned comment, @pecktec said that the mini bags are meh compared to canister based bcb.
It was an awesome long video!!! Thank you for it =) the meeting of the minds =) Thank you for this video I am excited to get to mines =) I was thinking of modifying the InTank products since I have one in my BioCube =) they make them for aqua clears if one was looking to get a very solid design... I love that you raided the candy isle for the lil containers =) As always stay awesome!!!
Lol superglue or hotglue the stitching mesh instead?
Lol I know it’s like I lost a bet or something so I chose the hardest way possible.
Thanks for the video. I've been watching Kyle Novak for a little while and wanting to attempt it myself. I'm kinda thinking an aquarium sock may be a good idea for a container like you're making. For the sump I'm thinking the full plenum may be a good way to go. That said I'm glad to see other people doing it as I'm still researching myself. :) Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing the nano BCB experiments. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to KP. Warm regards, Paul
Best informative and creative and quality video and thats enough ands
Thank you for a Visual representation of the BCB filter. I would like to try this for my new 5 gallon tank just to learn this type of filter, again thank you!!
Wow, wising your loved one, couldn’t hear which one, a safe complete recovery. 🙏💜🙏
You need a break. Sending hugs.
For my 20gal tanks I got small baskets from the dollar general store 2"W x 2"H x 6"L cut the plastic mesh to fit in them and made the BCB
You could simply integrate the bcb into the substrate if you wanted. Just put fkourite red at the very bottom of the tank, then put the rinsed kitty litter on top of that and then finally whatever substrate you want on top of that...the water will move very slowly across the substrate so as long as you don't have fish that like to go digging down into the substrate, you will have anoxic conditions within 4-6 weeks.
@@GSP-76 good idea!
@@GSP-76 Hey. If you're in India and trying to make these bcbs give me some leads as I can't find kitty litter and laterite or ironite here. Although I got a yes from Dr. Novak on using red soul "laal mitti" readily available in NCR. Thanks.
I'll have to try this, you know, because- I LOVE orange TicTacs
I've made box filters out of API test strip tubes, and Fluval Bug Bites or Sera fish flake containers too. Thanks Sean!
Have these mini BCBs worked? I've thought about making some for my Aquaclear filters.
Well I’m not sure. The water it nice and clear. I still get algae on the hard scape a lot. It’s fun as a project though.
@@pecktec Increase basket size 😀
Recently Dr Novak put out vids on BCB Bags...
Great idea! One video shows bags put around the aquarium behind decorations... Although litter Absorbs minerals for quite awhile, you can always change the plastic zipper bags, whenever you want. They also contain laterite.
Cheers! I always enjoy your channel!
Would a fine mesh filter bag work ?
You can heat the plastic mesh to shape it and also melt em to stick together. Would be a lot faster than fishing line. 👍
I think any other method would be easier that what I did.😂 thanks for the suggestion.
I wonder what the cashier was thinking when you bought all those mints😂 Great video as always. Interested in the long term results.
Lol
Long term review definitely needed.
Hi. What cat litter do you use? I got the Spicial Kitty and they made a new version with is very muddy...
What nitrate readings were you getting in the tanks with algae problems?
Probably zero, algae is probably just uptaking straight ammonia.
Do they work if i have a small 2 gall Walmart tanks for a red claw crab that is own by my son. ?
Thank you for the video! I've been trying to research this type of filtration. I want to set up a goldfish tank 125 gallon, without an undergravel filter . My question is can I just use the plenum to do the same thing? To get rid of nitrates does that require bcb baskets?
The plenum method will host the denitrifying bacteria that convert the nitrates to nitrogen gas. You don't need bcb baskets unless you want to add extra denitrifying capacity. The easiest way to set up a plenum is by using an undergravel filter. However, you can DIY your own plenum using the plastic knitting meshes and making your own cylindrical standoff risers to keep the mesh elevated. You would need to cut your own holes and glue your own upwell tubes before you add the substrate on top of the mesh. Nitrate levels may still rise albeit more slowly depending on the bioload vs dentrifying capacity of your plenum.
I'd use tiny zap straps on those baskets having the bumpy parts inside.
If you read Novaks book, he had some pretty set rules to the bcb size back in 2013. but he seems to contradict alot of what was in his book now, so maybe his initial assumptions were wrong. these things do seem like a cost effective version of those marine pure blocks.
I was messaging the Guy Novak made a video about in Australia, "Shaun's fish tanks". He has commented after over two years of using BCBs in sumps for his oscars and breeding discus. He said that after a year the BCB's quit absorbing phosphate and levels kept rising between water changes. And after two years of use, he still wasn't seeing noticeable denitrification, and he had to continue weekly water changes to keep levels at 10-15ppm, and eventually ended up having to install a drip system. He said that the kitty litter seems to absorb the pollutants, but it just acts like a sponge, and over overtime cant take any more. I think this is why the majority of pond keepers on the koi forums only seemed to have success with denitrification when the bcbs were filled with pond plants. could probably use this to grow something out the top of the HOB
There are a lot of variables that can go wrong with Shaun' BCBs. We don't know the full story.
@@rockfella27 exactly. There are a lot of variables that can go wrong. Yet Novak continues to say his system has easily repeatable results.
He’ll cite reading numerous forum posts saying deep substrate tanks failed, to make the claim that deep substrate tanks aren’t any good.
Yet he ignores the numerous forum posts about “BCB”’s failing, and always claims that any failures in his system are from user error.
It doesn’t lead me to believe he’s the expert he always claims to be.
His ichthyology PHD and education required to get it don’t even have any relevance in filtration application. Yet he has claimed what he says holds more weight than other you tubers due to his education in one of his rants.
He’s got some good advice, but he tries to hard to present himself as the authority on aquarium knowledge. When really if you listen to what he’s been saying, he’s just doing things the only way that’s ever worked for him. When things don’t work for him, such as growing plants, he states they are just unreliable and don’t work. He claims plants are just simply unreliable, yet I know aquarists who have been growing the same plant for over 10 years.
He has projected his limited skills as everyone’s limits, and tries to assert that his method is superior to all other methods.
He got some great advice. His attitude, and attempt to deny his arrogance is what rubs me the wrong way.
I’ve messaged Shaun. He followed all Novak’s guidelines. The system just isn’t the magic bullet Novak claims it is.
It’s a static substrate bed using porus clay substrate, it’s going to provide great biofiltration. But if it actually removed phosphates and nitrates effectively, then I can’t see why the man would be having to make home made chemi pure in massive bulk batches.
@@Baffi_ Anoxic system works. Please deal with it. You seem to be everywhere lashing out at this system like it's personal 😂
@@rockfella27 sometimes*
everywhere? Just on TH-cam bud. It’s the only place to find any recent info about this system of static substrate beds. He wrote a “book” years ago about his filter, he’s changed half the rules he said had to be followed since then , but he’s never published a revised copy.
And, If you could see all the comment section arguments he deleted from his videos from a few years ago, you’d get it. There’s a reason there is a year gap in his uploads. He was getting in huge comment section arguments with people. He quit uploading videos 3 years ago, made all his uploads private, scrubbed the comment arguments, and then made his video public again a while later.
I was just excited to find a new filter that did would do what he said it would. I had tried asking him about plants in his systems around 3 years ago, and he was super hostile and condescending. I realize now it’s probably because prior to that he had been arguing with hobbyists on UK koi forums about the same issues I wanted some answers on. But yeah, he was a condescending dick and I took it personal.
So I pushed him to back up his claims. To paraphrase, His answer was something thing like “everything I say is backed up in the textbooks they teach you this stuff in” and he still uses a line like that. But ask him which textbooks to look for, or where he received his PhD and he’ll never respond.
So the guy just took a filtration system that was already widely used in filtration applications (static substrate beds), and instead of using the common substrates like gravel or lava rock, used kitty litter and some iron because he read in a textbook that nitrifying bacteria need iron. And the same kitty litter was used a lot in planted aquariums in North America back before plant substrates were even sold in stores.
But he made a a silly name to make it sound super technical like the marketing department for men’s razors.
Meanwhile he has to buy chemi pure ingredients in bulk cause his basket of kitty litter needs the support of DI resins and Phosphate absorbing media. Guess he missed that in his first book too
Thank you for your videos, this was fascinating, I'd be interested to know the Chem readings before insertion of these and at intervals after? I'm sorry about KP and I hope she continues to improve... My Aunt got it, and she is coming along but it's a long road for some. Love to you both as you endure this. 💕
I had trouble with hair algea. I added a bunch of red root floater plants and the algea is 90% better after only a couple of weeks.
I have lots of those too. I tried that but they got blown around by the filter i cold probably build a damn to keep them out of the flow though.
I have 10lbs of laterite powder but haven't used it because I'm afraid it will simply leech out of the bcb basket as it's so thin.
That’s cool I bet it would work fine as it’s not being forced into it. I haven’t noticed anything lose in there yet in my little ones. But they are so small it probably wouldn’t show much.
love your T-shirt
Gracias! I have learned a lot! I love your videos! 👍🐳🐬🐟🐠😊
Thank you
tiny cable ties work great for making baskets out of knitting mesh. cut the tails with flush cutters and your away. much faster and easier.
Wouldn’t the metal inside rust?
@@pecktec no metal in cable ties. I dont mean the bread tie things, I think you guys call them zip ties?
@@FaenumVena ahhhh yeah ok
Can you use a mesh bag instead of building a basket?
Sure it may be more practical in most scenarios. I had and idea in my head and I kind of went with it. After I had filmed it all i decided just to go forward. But if I did it again I would probably do that for some of them.
pecktec, what would you do if you had a new Mega flex, re: filtration madness? Also, ever thought of dividing the Mega in twain, with right-hand side outflow poking into a separate, mini-tank?
had to tune in to see what your talking about, cool learned the technical term for a veggie filter, they are pretty common with the really really big tanks so they dont have to change water
I don't see on any of the kitty litter that is baked. What brand do you use 🤔
@@reneesnugent3358 you can use a product called oil dry to do the same thing. These little ones didn’t do much though.
@pecktec I see someone commented using special kitty, I see that walmart carries this, but it doesn't specify baked . Is that what you use? I'm going to try to make a plenum
It was the brand I used but there’s a few products under that name. I used the big bag I had for years and haven’t refilled. So I’m not sure what’s around now.
Can nitrate be too low for plant growth if anoxic (denitrification) is too vigorous?
I have learned that in denitrification nitrate is the oxidizing agent and some food source such as a sugar or alcohol is needed so that No3 can become N2. How is such food not needed in this case?
Any update on this?
I've been wanting to do the same with a aqueon hob. But I'm understanding the water shouldn't go through the basket, but around it. Not sure how to pull that off in a small space
Any updates on these?
Yeah I'd love to hear what ended up happening too
I have some Hydro Clay Pebbles from my hydroponic grow kit so I threw some in with my matrix bag in my hob
Do the Clay Pebbles have high iron like Laterite, since the anoxic bacteria apparently benefits from a lot of iron?
@@VinylUnboxings I'd say being a red clay it should contain iron. I am currently trying the clay balls slightly crushed
Cool video I'm just curious if they are big enough to develop an anoxic area in them though. I'll probably make one for my 5g marineland portrait tank which has a built in filter and just put the clay in a panty hose
Even if not the magnetic permeability from the crystaline structure of the kitty litter should still draw in the positively charged ammonia ions, right, or no?
@@VinylUnboxings Yeah I believe so, but I would think if the bcb isn't big enough to become anoxic deep in the basket then it would only be doing aerobic nitrification, not denitrification. But don't take my word for it cause I'm not a scientist haha
@@VinylUnboxings that being said the expensive medias that claim to do some denitrification like biohome and marine pure are also small size but I'm not sure if they have any magnetic permeability like the baked clay does.
As far as the aquaclear in the thumbnail goes. (This was my main objective the rest was just because I was doing one so why not more.) The basket I made was about the same size as the carbon insert or the bio media insert. In the rigid frame I could pack it densely. You may be right it is very small. I thought at the very least I would have a better bio media from it. I'll follow up later and see if I notice a difference.
Video idea for us for us hobbyists...putting filter media in HOB's what goes first??? Sponges, carbon then bio rings? If one wants to use carbon or phosphate pads where would that go on the layers ?
Thanks
Im brazilian, its very good
My experience with yoyo loaches is: there is no shrimp that is safe. Bamboo, amano, ghost, dwarf... All lunch. They do help sustain the MTS colony quite well.
I'm interested to see efficacy of the little biocenosis containers. I think I read or heard somewhere, there needs to be 1.5"-2" bacteria host media before the iron element.(or surrounding, if you're thinking in the round) I live in an iron rich state, so the smell of that bacteria is very familiar. If these small baskets do nothing else, your red plants should color up very nicely👍🦐
I would love to see how it work. Or if it work very interested. Thanks for the video
I'll follow up in a few weeks.
Maybe use an old fashioned box filter and fill it with kitty litter/oil dry and iron source and connect to a low flow air pump?
Could you use seachem fluorite red with no kitty litter? I believe it’s a clay substrate with a high iron content
Probably to some degree. I don’t think it’s the same type of clay and may not bet the empty vessel the other one is. Another product with the same clay is oil dri. For cleaning oil spills.
Anyone have the link to the interview with the good doctor?
It’s only a few videos behind this one if you want to check out my uploads.
Thanks man!
Maybe I’m missing it, do you have an update to this video?
I quickly looked through you videos have you done an update video?
Check out my playlist. I do all aquarium updates where I talk a little about each tanks progress. Although the tank is doing well I didn’t see anything remarkable from this.
Use small zip ties to attach the mesh knitting screen. Easier than fishing line.
Ok, now i have to go to put "The night watch" audiobooks on my phone to listen to.
You should try to interview that guy in LA who has that fishtank store where he does no waterchanges. Let me know if you want more info if you're not already familiar with him and I can try to dig up his name
Having tanks that don't require water changes isn't new...I have a 10 gallon that has one betta in it and a lot of plants that I never do water changes on...I just add as water evaporates over time. Doing a setup with a heavy stock of fish is a different story though.
Would zeolite be a good substitute for cat litter? It also has a very good CEC value.
Something called Oil Dry (spelled funky) ouldri or something. Is also used a lot.
@@pecktec no idea what that is but somehow I doubt it'll be found in my country (Israel). Zeolite is what's used in ammonia absorber medias. It's also called clinoptilolite.
hi Sean, your mini BCBs are indeed very creative. I am looking forward in updates on how they are performing. Imao your tanks are too big, maybe you could use the filters for smaller tanks. Let them run first, test for nitrates, and then run on smaller tanks. Compare the results. Btw , inspired by your video I am trying capping my 2yrs old substrate with a plenum with zeolites powder! I am waiting for my zeolites gravel to load on my 3 BCBs in my companion filter.
Hi great content,
Zip ties would have been the go for putting together your little baskets.
Regards Duzzy🇦🇺
Ahhhhhhh you’re so right.
@@pecktec I realized after I’d sent that message the video was years old. I guess it mattered not 😜 great content never the less
Regards Duzzy 🇦🇺
Is it necessary to put clay. Any substitute to clay or maybe don't put clay.
A question to you from 10,000 miles far away. How long does the service life bcb basket in koi pond or fish tank sir?
I think they go for many many years. I can’t remember if the Dr brought that up in our interview. But it’s got a lot of that info.
Hello... That was a very informative video. What size tank are you using the large BCB basket for ..? I am building a 75 gallon planted discus tank with a sump , should my BCB basket be larger than the one that you have in the video ? ... Many thanks ...
Thank you so much for this video. I have a quick question. I just finished my 1st attempt at a bcb basket. I had to use 2 media bags because I have little room. I put in a layer of clay then a layer of laterite and then topped it off with clay again. In all the videos I've watched the laterite is covered on all sides by the clay. My laterite runs all the way to the edges. Will this still work? Or must I completely cover the laterite with clay? Thank you and I'm sorry if this is a stupid question.
I'm trying putting mesh bags of Eheim Substrat Pro 2 in low-flow areas, in theory the interior of these balls should become oxygen-starved to allow bacteria use the oxygen present in the nitrate. But I expect it'll take months for these to develop.
Would Ironite work as an iron source. The packaging states it is 20% iron.
hmm, i assume the mini basket is a tad to tiny.
from viewing different tanks with blackened substrate i think it is about 3 cm of depth when the substrate is getting anaerobic.
when the basket is getting the flow from both side the minimum width is about 6 cm.
no underlaying science - just my experience from viewing blackened substrate.
but you my give us an excel sheet with the measured nitrate over time.
Maybe but you never know till you try.
@@pecktec So true. But Robert made a very good point.
@@KoiRun50 sure but a densely packed cube of cat litter could also mimic those conditions. I’m not saying he’s wrong. But I don’t think completely anaerobic conditions are the goal. Otherwise the plenum (another way to go) wouldn’t make sense.
@@pecktec It goes down to hydrogen sulphide and methane production (?) which are oxygen scavengers? Really bad if there is a power failure, I guess.
If you bake the semi mushi cat litter in your Owen 275c for a couple hours it holds upp it's integrity And looks much more like the old cat litter.
Interesting
You can use oil dri instead of clay
Can anybody please advise the brand and product name for specific baked clay cat litter and where it can be found in America in 2024?
There is a product called oil dry that’s made of the same stuff.
How is this different from using SafT-sorb as a substrate? Those little vials seem too small to make a difference. Would love to see NO2 & NO3 values over time. Best wishes to you and yours this Holiday Season.
If I'm not mistaken Dr. Novak has listed that as a alternative in the comment section of one of his videos
How about reusable tea bags?
who makes that 10 gallon tank?
That’s a Hydra.
So what is your opinion now, 11 months later?
I’ve had mixed results. Nothing definitive. A bunch of the tanks are doing great. One or two aren’t. But they are all different. And so much of what makes a tank work is a mix of things. I don’t think they hurt at all. But maybe more effective in larger sizes.
🤔 for a tank that small is probably best to just use filter bags filled with cat litter/clay soaked in iron or to install a under-gravel plenum.
wonder if I build this it would eliminate the algae in my uncles tank
you can also use crushed lava rock as an iron source.I use it in my BCB filters
What if one adds a chunk of the iron clay to a fluidized moving bed filter? Would it work? Would it leach the red color into the water ?
That might be too much water flow. What if you made a plenum style box as the base, so the flow would be slower? The
I'm think you could use akadama for the iron layer it is a baked red volcanic clay available in various sizes used for bonsai I have some that looks like small pebbles about 3 to 4mm
I hope your family member recovers soon and completely.
Thanks she’s getting better every day.
Ok, still trying to wrap my head around this
This was the least impactful thing I tried with this.
Im going to make some very cool thanks a ton
I think I'm going to try heat for making my holes.
I considered that too. I was too lazy to change gears.
I have yet to see any controlled comparisons with and without these baskets, and the affect on nitrates. Regarding their use in ponds, I have a heavily populated 2,000 gallon pond with big goldfish and koi. I have had zero nitrates for years using only marginal pond plants in baskets. If you have positive results I hope they are dependable. So far, and including Dr. Novak's videos, it all looks theoretical with no conclusive evidence.
If your looking for white papers or controlled study’s you can ask Novak about it. He may have the more technical stuff linked out somewhere.
Have you lost weight? You look good!
I work out every day now. Not a tremendous amount. But it’s awesome you noticed.
So glad to hear you’re working out! I really need to start myself, Maybe this will inspire me. You are looking great! (More importantly, healthy!)
You could have just stitched it into a cylinder and saved yourself a lot of time
Yeah probably. I was trying to match the shape of the filter it’s in.
Hypoxic, but carry on
H2o2