Just one suggestion sir. Put all the mechanical filtration stages in a gradient at the bottom of the filter as the first filtration step. In this way you will prevent the muck such as getting into the autotrophic zone as getting trapped in it after the bag. Thanks for your knowledge.
It's really not needed, because water is not being forced into the BCB bag just as long as you pre-filter most of the waste out of the water. In fact , I took apart a BCB basket and it had zero dirt in it and was as clean as the day I set it up over two years ago.
The bag is so much easier to do than the basket types. I found the pond sponges work good for aquariums and use to be a lot cheaper. That was years ago when I had a pond so don’t know about price now with the state of affairs. Good tips!
Hi Dr Kevin Novak, please confirm whether latrite was also mixed in the BCB nylon, before inserting it into cannister filter, or you just used only non clumping kitty litter clay in the nylon bag. Thanks
No I did not use any Laterite at all just the kitty litter. The reason is my tanks have iron added to them at least once a week and that iron will migrate inside the baskets. Plus the basket is going into an already established aquarium.
Good question, most of the time they can become active within 45 to 60 days but sometimes it has taken longer depending on the size of the beach should be basket.
In a fish room style setup, if you had slow moving plenuns with gravel and cat litter which is relatively cheap and runs of air how could you do the 'rest' of the filtration, would a sponge filter as do the job because the anoxic filtration is done in the plenum, or is there a way of connecting multiple tanks to a sump
Dr. Novak...What size bag and where did you order it from? I have used the 5 x 7 bags but would prefer one large one to stand up in my 22l ss GLA canister.
I bought the GLA version. Constant E2 error. Thinking of replacing the pump with the fzon blue magtool one. I filled a bag with lavastone And on top I used same sponge as you but also added polishing filter the white stuff. Any reason why I should switch theia a stone to kitty litter?
The new pump that FZone is using is a lot better than the old pump and has been designed correctly. I will make a video on how to fix the old pump however the new pump is considerably more in cost.
No I did not add any iron it is not needed because the canister is going into an already established aquarium that has iron added to it once a week. Seachem flourish iron.
Excellent video. Clearly shows how simple and cheap it is to set up a bcb bag in a canister to achieve anoxic filtration. I had a few questions if you could clarify these for me. 1) What is the particle size of the kitty litter that you use? 2) Since I don't get the unscented non clumping clay kitty litter(The only one available here is bentonite which clumps), I've been using crushed baked red clay tiles & bricks, which is similar to the baked clay kitty litter. It comes in a mix of various particle sizes from 2mm to about 15mm. What would be the optimum particle size to use? 3) I've ordered some zeolite filter media. Is there a particular particle size to aim for from the experiences of your viewers who have used it?
I would say the kitty litter is between 1 to 4 mm in size which is normal for most baked kitty litter. The size you were looking for is between 2 to 4 mm that should be a great size for what you want.
I've been look at that F-Zone, so I'm glad to see you tried it. I'm just waiting for one of my old canisters to die. I've got 2 running that I bought in 2010, so I'm sure it won't be too long. What size is that bag you used for the BCB?
The plastic canvas is an option. I've also ordered some stainless steel plates to go inside of the canister that are made out of mesh I'll show that in another video. The size of the plastic canvas is about 8 inches.
What was the name of the kitty litter again I'm not sure if they sell that New York State I usually find the mushy stuff but still great for rooted plants I use the mushy stuff to
There is never enough food for the mussels in an aquarium . The water need to be thick cloudy to feed the mussels in order for it to grow and prosper .
It's a shame that I can't even order whisker an tails kitty litter I'm only up in ocean city MD the Walmart brand special kitty litter turns into mush I'm using it but don't think it's working well
Guppies are best kept with only other Guppies because they livebearing and other fish will attack the babies and eat them for lunch. Just have plenty of hiding places for the baby Guppies. A lot of fish such as Angelfish will look as guppies as a food source along with Golby's.
Just one suggestion sir. Put all the mechanical filtration stages in a gradient at the bottom of the filter as the first filtration step. In this way you will prevent the muck such as getting into the autotrophic zone as getting trapped in it after the bag. Thanks for your knowledge.
It's really not needed, because water is not being forced into the BCB bag just as long as you pre-filter most of the waste out of the water. In fact , I took apart a BCB basket and it had zero dirt in it and was as clean as the day I set it up over two years ago.
The bag is so much easier to do than the basket types. I found the pond sponges work good for aquariums and use to be a lot cheaper. That was years ago when I had a pond so don’t know about price now with the state of affairs. Good tips!
Yes it is. But the holes have to be large enough and not the small screen holes that are use for very fine carbon
Hi Dr Kevin Novak, please confirm whether latrite was also mixed in the BCB nylon, before inserting it into cannister filter, or you just used only non clumping kitty litter clay in the nylon bag. Thanks
No I did not use any Laterite at all just the kitty litter. The reason is my tanks have iron added to them at least once a week and that iron will migrate inside the baskets. Plus the basket is going into an already established aquarium.
Hi Dr Novak any chance you could tell me the order number for the large string tied filter bag .
Thank you
Awesome informative video . Please one question, how long it will take for the anoxic filtration to be fully functional ? . Thanks
Good question, most of the time they can become active within 45 to 60 days but sometimes it has taken longer depending on the size of the beach should be basket.
In a fish room style setup, if you had slow moving plenuns with gravel and cat litter which is relatively cheap and runs of air how could you do the 'rest' of the filtration, would a sponge filter as do the job because the anoxic filtration is done in the plenum, or is there a way of connecting multiple tanks to a sump
Are the tanks all connected together are they all separate?
Dr. Novak...What size bag and where did you order it from? I have used the 5 x 7 bags but would prefer one large one to stand up in my 22l ss GLA canister.
I think the bag size was 12 x 8. They do make bigger ones with the larger hole size and I thought I put a link to it because you can get it on Amazon.
I bought the GLA version. Constant E2 error. Thinking of replacing the pump with the fzon blue magtool one.
I filled a bag with lavastone
And on top I used same sponge as you but also added polishing filter the white stuff. Any reason why I should switch theia a stone to kitty litter?
The new pump that FZone is using is a lot better than the old pump and has been designed correctly. I will make a video on how to fix the old pump however the new pump is considerably more in cost.
Dr Novak, Thankyou! for doing a video on this Gaint Filter, Where can i buy "BCB basket bags" online ?
I bought mine off of Amazon
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thankyou!
Looks like the perfect filter now. I really wanted the Fzone 22L but they stop selling them.
GLA (Green Leaf Aquarium) makes a 22l ss...I have one and it is awesome. Very much like the FZone
Dr. I have seen you adding iron but I did not see in this video. Any particular reason for not adding iron sources?
No I did not add any iron it is not needed because the canister is going into an already established aquarium that has iron added to it once a week. Seachem flourish iron.
I may have missed it, but what tank are you using this on?
all of then right now.
Do you have a separate pre-filter for this setup? THanks.
No, this set up is going directly to the weir. No pre-filter at all.
do you have a part number for the filter bag Doc? thanks if you can!
That's an old bag I got with some carbon so I wouldn't know.
Excellent video. Clearly shows how simple and cheap it is to set up a bcb bag in a canister to achieve anoxic filtration.
I had a few questions if you could clarify these for me.
1) What is the particle size of the kitty litter that you use?
2) Since I don't get the unscented non clumping clay kitty litter(The only one available here is bentonite which clumps), I've been using crushed baked red clay tiles & bricks, which is similar to the baked clay kitty litter. It comes in a mix of various particle sizes from 2mm to about 15mm. What would be the optimum particle size to use?
3) I've ordered some zeolite filter media. Is there a particular particle size to aim for from the experiences of your viewers who have used it?
I would say the kitty litter is between 1 to 4 mm in size which is normal for most baked kitty litter.
The size you were looking for is between 2 to 4 mm that should be a great size for what you want.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks. I will break down the larger particles of the clay to between 2 & 4 mm on my next filter cleaning.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums where did you find the bag with the round bottom?
I went and looked at these filters and other products they offer. I'm in Love with theirs products now! My wallet is very upset with you! 🤣
Oh no!
Hi doc hope you will fine
Once i asked you that the bcb bags work in sump and you replied yes now you write this dosnt work in the sump why?
Sorry that was a typo it "can" be used in a shop
I've been look at that F-Zone, so I'm glad to see you tried it. I'm just waiting for one of my old canisters to die. I've got 2 running that I bought in 2010, so I'm sure it won't be too long. What size is that bag you used for the BCB?
I think it is a 12 x 8. If I'm not mistaken, they do make bigger ones than t
How about the flow? Isn't too fast? Why not block the bottom of the bag so that most flow is on the sides? Thank you
Did you cut the plastic canvas yourself? What is the size of the hole in the plastic canvas?
The plastic canvas is an option. I've also ordered some stainless steel plates to go inside of the canister that are made out of mesh I'll show that in another video. The size of the plastic canvas is about 8 inches.
What was the name of the kitty litter again I'm not sure if they sell that New York State I usually find the mushy stuff but still great for rooted plants I use the mushy stuff to
Whiskers and tails I buy it at Winn-Dixie here in Florida
What's the minimum size a BCB basket (or bag) can be?
4x4x4
Giday Doc, wondering if you've ever considered, or your thoughts regarding, fresh water mussels for filtration? (perhaps an idea for a video)
Freshwater mussels make great pets for the aquarium.
There is never enough food for the mussels in an aquarium . The water need to be thick cloudy to feed the mussels in order for it to grow and prosper .
@@bfgbfg6515 not thick cloudy, just regular plankton feeding
Hello, can you please provide a link to the bag?
I bought them off of Amazon
Can I keep guppy with ram fish
You can keep them together because one stays on top of the aquarium the other at the bottom but the Rams may eat any babies that the guppies may have.
It's a shame that I can't even order whisker an tails kitty litter I'm only up in ocean city MD the Walmart brand special kitty litter turns into mush I'm using it but don't think it's working well
Try Oil-Dri or Safety-Sorb it's the same baked clay.
I can get bags of the kitty litter for you, but it's probably gonna cost you a lot of money just to have it sent because it's a 20 pound bag.
Why support Amazon?
And your choices are...
Sir please tell me guppy fish tank mates
Guppies are best kept with only other Guppies because they livebearing and other fish will attack the babies and eat them for lunch. Just have plenty of hiding places for the baby Guppies. A lot of fish such as Angelfish will look as guppies as a food source along with Golby's.
Would you like to ship me a bag I will pay you for shipping cost an the bag of litter an your time lol
I wish I could but a 20 pound package by UPS is impractical to send by mail or UPS