Designing the Ultimate Filtration System

**FSM** · 04-15-2008, 6:46 AM

interesting post.

**RBE17** · 04-15-2008, 7:05 AM

I've read a lot about the use of Bakki showers in koi ponds. They are very successful and very expensive. That media is not cheap. I remember reading an article and seeing a picture of a koi farm where the only filter was a Bakki shower.

Also, a member here (arl) incorporated a Bakki shower in is 700g Aro/Discus tank. It works quite well from what I remember. He had the space behind the tank to incorporate it.

**mosthated** · 04-15-2008, 7:23 AM

IMO- Sulfer Denitrators and a wetdry is all thats needed..
but you will never be able to make a 100% closed system with out dosing trace elements to replace what lost. or adding a substate that replaces them, but you will have to replace that over time.

what a great thread though..

**RBE17** · 04-15-2008, 8:33 AM

I spent a great deal of time reading on pond forums before I stumbled onto this site. Some of the interesting tidbits I've read when designing ponds could be utilized in aquariums, but not w/o issue. Some items I've noticed in ponds are:

1) bottom drains
2) vortex micro strainer (VMS)
3) no substrate
4) skimmers

Each one of these items could be incorporated, but each poses its own issue. The bottom drain could be used, but it would have to be done w/o substrate. Not a big deal for some, but I personally like substrate in my aquariums. The VMS is used on as the mechancial filtration.

In a typical koi pond there is a skimmer and a bottom drain or multiples of each depending on pond size and design. Many times each one is on its own filtration circuit that includes a VMS and then bio filtration. A lot of times the foot print of the filter house is very significant. This is a luxury many of us do not have w/ respect to keep aquariums. Only a select few have the option of putting the filter hidden behind a wall or in a closet as opposed to under the aquarium. We are constantly fighting space.

There are tons of DIY pond filter ideas and plans available. The problem exists only when trying to scale them back to aquarium use. Packaging is the main problem. www.koiphen.com has an awesome DIY section used by the common person and professional pond builders.

Later,

Steve.

**johnptc** · 04-15-2008, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by spiff;1705453;

No, because I'm not incorporating the plant setup on the sump like on the original poster suggested.
I'm going with ease of maintenance and cost of operation in mind. Running high intensity lighting just to filter nitrates not worth it IMO.

I have an overflow on the sump with a drip system in place... combined with a massively under stocked tank, I rarely have a concern.

the bakki shower is supposed to remove NITRATES !!!

**cvermeulen** · 04-15-2008, 9:57 AM

Originally Posted by johnptc;1707841;

the bakki shower is supposed to remove NITRATES !!!

I think that's not by the mechanical configuration of it, but by the media he's selected. Can you still call it a bakki shower if you use bio-balls or scrubbies?

I dunno, but I am pretty skeptical of the "removes nitrates" claim. Why would you bother with plants if the bakki tower did even a mediocre job of removing nitrates?

That said, I like the design, but I gotta agree with everyone on the space/moisture/smell problems. This would be a nice OUTSIDE filter system, or something if you had a walk-in closet to spare near your tank with a dehumidifier and air evac. I run a wet dry under my tank, and every time I go to put my python away I still consider changing over to canisters, just so I have more space to work with.

Another worthy point is that as long as you have SUFFICIENT filtration, your system will work... throw a refugium in the system and it removes nitrates, but you still gotta do water changes periodically. I'd rather spend the extra time and money making it easily serviceable (IE Bead Filter and drip system.)

**spiff** · 04-15-2008, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by johnptc;1707841;

the bakki shower is supposed to remove NITRATES !!!

I don't think so... I believe its just the plants that he's got in his sump idea that removes the nitrates....

the waterfall idea is just an efficient bio and mech filter...that will also add 100% humidity to the house.

**johnptc** · 04-15-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by spiff;1707995;

I don't think so... I believe its just the plants that he's got in his sump idea that removes the nitrates....

the waterfall idea is just an efficient bio and mech filter...that will also add 100% humidity to the house.

i know you dont think so thats why i posted it.....in the koi world bakki showers are used to remove nitrates as well......

google it........ it seems odd but thats what the claim is

also search mfk on the shower.we had a long thread about them some time ago

**frasertheking** · 04-15-2008, 11:21 AM

nice write up but got a question or more an idea . could you have the water over flow into a holding tank above the sump with as many outputs with ball valves on them as you need ? then you could balance individual lines and have an overflow pipe in it so that if a valve is shut or clogged the n the sump will keep working and just overflow into the main sump .

**frasertheking** · 04-15-2008, 11:28 AM

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...0L._SS260_.jpg

i think one of those could be made in to a cheap bakki shower . got one in the bathroom seem plenty strong and nice and cheap .