thanks again dr novak! i was just reading about some concerns about bog filters and you have answered my questions! last year, i made two bcb baskets for my patio pond and they worked perfectly for my two goldfishes who even survived a uk winter. your videos are always so educational. look forward to continuing to learn from you!
Hello Dr. Novak, you may be interested in my current BCB experiment. My cichlid tank has a BCB I constructed 5 months ago. I have no plants in this tank (the fish destroys anything he can access). The BCB has a dedicated sump, scant gravel directly on the tank bottom without an under gravel plate, 70 gallons, plastic and rock decor, and a 12 inch flowerhorn cichlid (amazing waste producer). Before the BCB this tank needed a minimum of 25% water change weekly to slow rapid nitrate buildup, with more aggressive water changes every 3-4 weeks. Now that the BCB is established the tank is holding at between 5-10 ppm nitrates with only gravel washing once a week, which drains approximately 10%. Here’s the experiment and my motivation for it. We are planning a 4 week vacation in March. I don’t have a reliable tank sitter, so will have to have friends look in on my fish. The question: can my tank with BCB set up maintain water quality without water changes, gravel washing or glass cleaning for 4 weeks. This will allow that the only help the tank needs is adding water to replace evaporation, checking that the sump is functioning and refilling the automatic feeder. So I’ve begun an experiment with these conditions, testing water parameters every 3 days or in any case where my fish behaves oddly. Tomorrow will be the 3 week mark and the water quality is holding at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 5-10 ppm nitrates. Algae growth has been low so far. pH slowly dropping from 8 to 7.6, GH variable between 107-143 ppm but also holding. One week to go, then I clean, maintenance and repeat. I’m hopeful this will work to allow us extended vacation time in our retirement. Please let me know if you have questions I’ve not covered. Thank you!
You have a 12 inch flowerhorn boy I'd like to see a picture of that. If you could send me any pictures I would really appreciate it. I'd like to show people what a 12 inch flowerhorn looks like on my TH-cam channel.
I’ll try again to upload an image. He’s certainly not a show specimen but in my eyes he’s beautiful. I acquired him as a fish needing a home 3 years ago. He was a juvenile then but now he has shed all his immature coloring and has gone solid red and white. I have one week to go on my experiment, then I’ll be cleaning up the tank. I’ll get a photo then and try to upload for you.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Gn92AlywjHgFCms2HmJO2PX0e9SpNTZm/view?usp=sharing Please let me know if you are able to view this shared image of Guy, my flowerhorn. Thank you.
Great evidence! I can't wait to upgrade and start up my next aquarium with the anoxic system. You had me sold on the first video I ever watched. Thanks Dr. Novak for all you do for the hobby.
Obvisouly it is clean, the kitty litter clumped together, nothing passed through this anymore, there cant be any dirt in the middle.... It looks new, because it is new, it is now just a solid rock...
Wow, that's so interesting to see the results after three years. I just picked up my kitty litter and seachem flourish to build my own bags for my hob filter. Amazing and informative video as always.
I was able to find baked clay kitty litter, you’ll know it’s the correct material by it’s texture when you soak it in a cup of water. Baked kitty litter stays formed, looking much like fine gravel. Unbaked will be gone gooey.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Gn92AlywjHgFCms2HmJO2PX0e9SpNTZm/view?usp=sharing Dr.Novak, this is my first attempt at sending an image to you of Guy, my flowerhorn, that I took at the time I set up my BCB. please let me know if it’s visible. Thank you.
Hello Dr. Novak, i was so enthusiastic about your videos, so i decided to build a new sump with 3 BCBs zones, the 3 bcbs are about 5 lbs litter/laterite each one and i added extra iron in the inner core of the bag with a hose to create a full laterite center, added to this i use a syringe to inject 60 cc of fluorish iron in every core of the BCBs, perhaps i exaggerated but its done, ive just started the new sump with the bcbs, how many time do i need to wait until the bcbs are completely stablished? The total 15 lbs of bcbs with work with 1500 water and 25 goldfish Regards
Hi Dr. Novak and thank you very much for the time you spend sharing your knowledge. About the cat liiter: is there a way to tell if it's baked or not? Where I live I'm afraid your propositions are not available. However some non clumping and unscented products are available. However none mention if it's baked or not since it's probably not relevant for cat owners. Regardless, I'll be setting up a new tank with a plenum and BCB basket and proof all things to myself.
Thanks for the useful information. We live in Norway, what type of cat litter can we use? There are several different types but not the type you have in your video. Please help us here. Thanks
I do not have pump filters to make a BCB basket. Just air and the sponge and the old fashioned plastic corner filters that run on air and use angel hair (filter floss). So, I am trying to make a BCB basket with just one of those. All I put was Fluval hard clay stratum like you showed and just added some of the latterite to it. Hopefully this will work for me. I have the big plastic ones from Jemco.
Since Laterite is so hard to come by for so many, I was wondering if as an alternative, some kitty litter could be soaked in a planted aquarium liquid iron supplement for several days. Maybe Safe-t- Sorb would work even better at sucking up and holding the iron than kitty litter. Chelated iron is a necessary ingredient to get this to work, right? What do you think?
Thank you Dr Novak for sharing this video. In a canister filter would one big bag/basket work better or would several smaller baskets/bags work better. I was thinking a bigger bag/basket would create the anoxic conditions better but on the other hand several smaller baskets/bags would give a greater contact surface area for the water as it flows around the bags/baskets.
I live in Florida, so I can't really say what kitty litter is available in any other 50 states. You could try alternative products such as oil-dry or safety sorb usually sold at tractor supply houses.
Another great video thanks just a quick question all my 32 tanks are running the slow moving plenum I have noticed in one of my smaller tanks and this tank only there is about a 2 inch square in one corner where the substrate has turned black and I don't know why this has happened or if I done something wrong it just seem out of the ordinary
@Anoxic Filtration & Plenums for the Aquarium I can't see how it could be depleted from oxygen the plenum covers the entire bottom the substrate is the same depth right across the tank but I do feed in that corner of the tank do you recommend I clean the substrate in that corner and feed in a different place? Thanks for any advice 🙏
Would seachem flourite red be a substitute for kitty litter and laterite since it has clay and iron in it? Can't find any kitty litter and laterite is too expensive here.
Use flourish iron and that can be a substitute also. After you get everything, set up in your aquarium, just add some flourish iron to the aquarium, and that will aid in the cell reproduction of what you're looking for.
Watching your channel may have ruined me. Ok, that's a bit of click bait. I have two tanks set up with clay, iron, and more clay. Of course each has a slow plenum (ugf in my case). Both tanks run fantastic other than my tendency to over feed.... I'm working on my flaws. But now I find myself irritable and annoyed watching tons of aqua scapers and big name TH-cam fish "experts" setting up tanks that I know will fail. Many have even started their soil or fancy aqua soil will be exhausted in a year ish. This three year bcb video just goes to prove anoxic is far superior to anaerobic! Anyway, huge fan and complete convert.... Despite how annoyed I now get with other channels. Thanks as usual and hope you have a blessed day!
LOL that walmart bcb bag looks like a lump of hamburger that someobody started cooking and didnt break up in any way so the outsides are browned and the inside is still pink
It's pink inside because of the Laterite that I had added to each bag is still present. Even though the bags and/or BCB baskets of kitty litter were rinse with water, still they retain some of the Laterite that I had mixed in with them.
as always
great and precise
keep it up
thanks again dr novak! i was just reading about some concerns about bog filters and you have answered my questions!
last year, i made two bcb baskets for my patio pond and they worked perfectly for my two goldfishes who even survived a uk winter.
your videos are always so educational. look forward to continuing to learn from you!
Hello Dr. Novak, you may be interested in my current BCB experiment. My cichlid tank has a BCB I constructed 5 months ago. I have no plants in this tank (the fish destroys anything he can access). The BCB has a dedicated sump, scant gravel directly on the tank bottom without an under gravel plate, 70 gallons, plastic and rock decor, and a 12 inch flowerhorn cichlid (amazing waste producer). Before the BCB this tank needed a minimum of 25% water change weekly to slow rapid nitrate buildup, with more aggressive water changes every 3-4 weeks. Now that the BCB is established the tank is holding at between 5-10 ppm nitrates with only gravel washing once a week, which drains approximately 10%. Here’s the experiment and my motivation for it. We are planning a 4 week vacation in March. I don’t have a reliable tank sitter, so will have to have friends look in on my fish. The question: can my tank with BCB set up maintain water quality without water changes, gravel washing or glass cleaning for 4 weeks. This will allow that the only help the tank needs is adding water to replace evaporation, checking that the sump is functioning and refilling the automatic feeder. So I’ve begun an experiment with these conditions, testing water parameters every 3 days or in any case where my fish behaves oddly. Tomorrow will be the 3 week mark and the water quality is holding at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 5-10 ppm nitrates. Algae growth has been low so far. pH slowly dropping from 8 to 7.6, GH variable between 107-143 ppm but also holding. One week to go, then I clean, maintenance and repeat. I’m hopeful this will work to allow us extended vacation time in our retirement. Please let me know if you have questions I’ve not covered. Thank you!
You have a 12 inch flowerhorn boy I'd like to see a picture of that. If you could send me any pictures I would really appreciate it. I'd like to show people what a 12 inch flowerhorn looks like on my TH-cam channel.
I’ll try again to upload an image. He’s certainly not a show specimen but in my eyes he’s beautiful. I acquired him as a fish needing a home 3 years ago. He was a juvenile then but now he has shed all his immature coloring and has gone solid red and white. I have one week to go on my experiment, then I’ll be cleaning up the tank. I’ll get a photo then and try to upload for you.
Just the slow nirate build up means it's working good. One can reduce feeding to delay nitrate build up further.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Gn92AlywjHgFCms2HmJO2PX0e9SpNTZm/view?usp=sharing
Please let me know if you are able to view this shared image of Guy, my flowerhorn. Thank you.
Great evidence! I can't wait to upgrade and start up my next aquarium with the anoxic system. You had me sold on the first video I ever watched. Thanks Dr. Novak for all you do for the hobby.
Thanks again for your time
Very good tutorial. I enjoyed with a relaxing cup of tea this morning.
Glad you enjoyed it
That was interesting to see after 3 yrs. I made BCB’s 7-8 months ago and one that is over a year. They still look just as clean as when I did them.
Obvisouly it is clean, the kitty litter clumped together, nothing passed through this anymore, there cant be any dirt in the middle....
It looks new, because it is new, it is now just a solid rock...
Guess you didn't watch the video thee BCB is over three years old. Then again, if you don't believe me do the experiment yourself.
Wow, that's so interesting to see the results after three years. I just picked up my kitty litter and seachem flourish to build my own bags for my hob filter. Amazing and informative video as always.
What kind of kitty litter you using?
The bcb will probably be too small in a HOB filter. It may be less effective. Don't want to discourage you, just a heads up.
I was able to find baked clay kitty litter, you’ll know it’s the correct material by it’s texture when you soak it in a cup of water. Baked kitty litter stays formed, looking much like fine gravel. Unbaked will be gone gooey.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Gn92AlywjHgFCms2HmJO2PX0e9SpNTZm/view?usp=sharing
Dr.Novak, this is my first attempt at sending an image to you of Guy, my flowerhorn, that I took at the time I set up my BCB. please let me know if it’s visible. Thank you.
Hello Dr. Novak, i was so enthusiastic about your videos, so i decided to build a new sump with 3 BCBs zones, the 3 bcbs are about 5 lbs litter/laterite each one and i added extra iron in the inner core of the bag with a hose to create a full laterite center, added to this i use a syringe to inject 60 cc of fluorish iron in every core of the BCBs, perhaps i exaggerated but its done, ive just started the new sump with the bcbs, how many time do i need to wait until the bcbs are completely stablished?
The total 15 lbs of bcbs with work with 1500 water and 25 goldfish
Regards
Hi Dr. Novak and thank you very much for the time you spend sharing your knowledge. About the cat liiter: is there a way to tell if it's baked or not? Where I live I'm afraid your propositions are not available. However some non clumping and unscented products are available. However none mention if it's baked or not since it's probably not relevant for cat owners. Regardless, I'll be setting up a new tank with a plenum and BCB basket and proof all things to myself.
Thanks for the useful information. We live in Norway, what type of cat litter can we use? There are several different types but not the type you have in your video. Please help us here. Thanks
I do not have pump filters to make a BCB basket. Just air and the sponge and the old fashioned plastic corner filters that run on air and use angel hair (filter floss). So, I am trying to make a BCB basket with just one of those. All I put was Fluval hard clay stratum like you showed and just added some of the latterite to it. Hopefully this will work for me. I have the big plastic ones from Jemco.
Since Laterite is so hard to come by for so many, I was wondering if as an alternative, some kitty litter could be soaked in a planted aquarium liquid iron supplement for several days. Maybe Safe-t- Sorb would work even better at sucking up and holding the iron than kitty litter. Chelated iron is a necessary ingredient to get this to work, right? What do you think?
Actually, you can just dosed your aquarium with some iron and the kitty litter will just absorb it in a do the same thing as Laterite.
Thank you!
You bet!
Hi Dr. Novak,
I wanted know if I was to make a Plenum with kitty litter and sand substrate would I need a BCB?
That's really up to you if you want to add a BCB to your system
Thank you Dr Novak for sharing this video.
In a canister filter would one big bag/basket work better or would several smaller baskets/bags work better. I was thinking a bigger bag/basket would create the anoxic conditions better but on the other hand several smaller baskets/bags would give a greater contact surface area for the water as it flows around the bags/baskets.
Bigger the better.
which kitty litter do you recommend?
I live in Florida, so I can't really say what kitty litter is available in any other 50 states. You could try alternative products such as oil-dry or safety sorb usually sold at tractor supply houses.
Another great video thanks just a quick question all my 32 tanks are running the slow moving plenum I have noticed in one of my smaller tanks and this tank only there is about a 2 inch square in one corner where the substrate has turned black and I don't know why this has happened or if I done something wrong it just seem out of the ordinary
I wonder if that section is being blocked off from oxygen in anyway?
Ensure your ugf plates are under that area as well maybe?!
@Anoxic Filtration & Plenums for the Aquarium I can't see how it could be depleted from oxygen the plenum covers the entire bottom the substrate is the same depth right across the tank but I do feed in that corner of the tank do you recommend I clean the substrate in that corner and feed in a different place? Thanks for any advice 🙏
Would seachem flourite red be a substitute for kitty litter and laterite since it has clay and iron in it? Can't find any kitty litter and laterite is too expensive here.
Use flourish iron and that can be a substitute also. After you get everything, set up in your aquarium, just add some flourish iron to the aquarium, and that will aid in the cell reproduction of what you're looking for.
Can these be used on a planted tank (soil + co2 additives)
Sure put it in a canister
Watching your channel may have ruined me. Ok, that's a bit of click bait. I have two tanks set up with clay, iron, and more clay. Of course each has a slow plenum (ugf in my case). Both tanks run fantastic other than my tendency to over feed.... I'm working on my flaws. But now I find myself irritable and annoyed watching tons of aqua scapers and big name TH-cam fish "experts" setting up tanks that I know will fail. Many have even started their soil or fancy aqua soil will be exhausted in a year ish. This three year bcb video just goes to prove anoxic is far superior to anaerobic! Anyway, huge fan and complete convert.... Despite how annoyed I now get with other channels. Thanks as usual and hope you have a blessed day!
LOL that walmart bcb bag looks like a lump of hamburger that someobody started cooking and didnt break up in any way so the outsides are browned and the inside is still pink
It's pink inside because of the Laterite that I had added to each bag is still present. Even though the bags and/or BCB baskets of kitty litter were rinse with water, still they retain some of the Laterite that I had mixed in with them.
the people with there smart comments there crazy n so jelous anoxic is the best haters will hate f them