Converting an ADA Super Jet 600 Canister filter into a Nitrate reducing Anoxic Filter.
Biophysical rules for this kind of filtration system are different from that of filtration systems most hobbyists associate with ponding. The Anoxic Filtration Systems biocenosis clarification baskets stay open to biochemical mediators and do not clog or go anaerobic in the clarification process: Because of the diversity of clay materials type used (cat litter and Laterite) and the substrate particulate size or their depth. The microbial population will always stay in equilibrium with its supply of foodstuffs. However, this is somewhat misleading, because in a closed system like our ponds, it is the overall efficiency of the baskets themselves, in relationship to the systems incoming foodstuffs that really matters. Nitrogen pathways react differently to elevated or very low levels of nitrates in bulk water. If the microbial mediators are in equilibrium, they respond respectably to either of those conditions. Yet, excesses will occur for an unknown reason! There may be a lack or balance of useful microbial mediators consequently short-circuiting the microbial balancing act!
How all this applies to the biocenosis clarification baskets would depend upon the volume and compensation of incoming nutrients and the health, condition, and type of substrate used. Because of this, the baskets stay anoxic than going anaerobic where a greater volume of more efficient microbes exists and thus would be able to respond expeditiously to an excessive nutrient flux in the pond.
The Anoxic Filtration System does have a remarkable difference from that of other filtration systems, because of the value of the electrical charge that accompanies matter in the depth of its substrate. This electrical charge is measured in millivolts (mV). Even though the mechanism and pathways associated with cat litter mixed with Laterite are quite involved, it could generally be said that the baskets themselves are basically chemolithotrophic, where the diffusion of nutrients through them are influenced by electrical charge. Moreover, those positive charges are attracted to negative charges. Accordingly, the water’s surface and the air above the pond is a negative mV. In the bulk water of the pond there are many charged molecules. Much of it is positive mV. So is most of the living biomass, example: The fish, gastropods, and plants. The substrate surfaces, which are the sides of the baskets, inside and including top and bottom, are largely a negative mV. The cat litter itself with the Laterite is negatively charge, with increasing magnitude with depth. The deeper the cat litter and Laterite, the more negatively charged it becomes and the more positively charged nutrients are naturally attracted to lower depths inside the baskets. In each basket, small amounts of oxygen have actually been tested and shown to usually stay slightly above 1.5-.5mg/l. The ability to retain some oxygen appears to keep the majority of the bed in an ”anoxic” state. You must also remember that obligated anaerobic heterotrophs, will die if exposed to oxygen.
Dissimilatory denitrification occurs in zones having a small amount of oxygen. One of the nice things about facultative anaerobic bacteria that reside in the baskets is: They are capable of living in areas containing little or no dissolved oxygen (in other words they are dimorphic in nature). They are enormously more efficient than the microbes living in the anaerobic zones!
That is of great value here since the biocenosis clarification baskets can easily be kept in an anoxic state for the reason that excessive bulk water nitrate levels can potentially be controlled, because microbes actively strive to stay in equilibrium with the available foodstuff. However, lets take this scenario for instance: If the majority of the basket became anaerobic for some reason, ammonium is the denitrification byproduct, not nitrogen gas. Hence, another nitrogen compound of more significance is resulting! Yes, it would be fair to say from the studies conducted that when and anoxic system is created, the depth of its anoxic zone is then extended and insured. The potential is now greater for increasing astronomically the number facultative anaerobic heterotrophs; do to its substrate and basket configuration.
23 авг 2024
