Anoxic Filter for reducing nitrates - Biocenosis Clarification Basket

[NW Cichlid Keith]

Check out the following that I found on Youtube by Dr. Kevin Novak - very interesting:

I just build a version of this that I am now trying out on my heavily stocked 75 gallon. I had to strain the kitty litter and still use media bags - as mine was going in the main tank, and not in a sump - too much was falling through the slits. I'll let folks know how this progresses in a couple of months. In the meantime, please advise if anyone else has tried this, and if successful.

 

[duanes]

This sounds very interesting and is going to be my next project.
I would also try adding plants to basket.

 

[NW Cichlid Keith]

Additional video:

 

[pacu mom]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing the video.

 

[SuperNinja]

Did anyone ever try this in their tank?

 

[Rocksor]

twentyleagues

 

[kno4te]

Have a biocenosis basket in my sump now for over months now. Haven’t checked my numbers. Just doing my regular water changes.

 

[jjohnwm]

When I first read about and watched Novak's videos, I was immediately struck by the large amount of what sounded like total gibberish he spouted while selling the idea. I'm afraid I just can't accept something "new" when the person proposing it sounds like a used car salesman, trying to BS his way into a sale.

But, not being a "scientist" or even an "expert"...I just moved on. Then I found this site:

8.9.1. Biocenosis Reactors, BCBs, and Anoxic Plenums

A critique of the false idea that a filter made of kitty litter can somehow help reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas.

aquariumscience.org

...and realized that I wasn't alone in being suspicious. I had caught a number of instances where Novak makes ridiculous claims, stringing together series of unrelated words into nonsensical statements...but this site pretty much lists them all. Well worth a read before you plan to "Novakify" your aquarium; don't start re-using your cat's litter box contents just yet...

I'm not stating that the idea of anoxic or anaerobic bacterial cultures to remove nitrates from a fishtank is completely without merit. I just need to have it explained by someone who doesn't sound like an attention-grabbing shyster, without made-up meaningless names like "Biocenosis Clarification Basket" thrown into the mix.

 

[esoxlucius]

I tried one in a small tank for a while but I quickly realised I was going about it the wrong way. My nitrate test results meant nothing to me because I didn't have anything to compare the results with. To do it properly I believe it would be best to set two more or less identical tanks up. The only difference is that one of them would have a basket in there, the other wouldn't. And then just keep tabs on nitrate on them both. This is something I may still try yet in the future but i'd have to do a lot of my own testing before totally falling for Dr Novak claims.

On the face of it you'd think Dr Novak really was onto something here but, like jjohnwm said, i've also read a lot of stuff rubbishing the science behind it. That's why i'd need to set two test tanks up and make my own mind up on this one.

 

[jjohnwm]

..On the face of it you'd think Dr Novak really was onto something here but, like jjohnwm said, i've also read a lot of stuff rubbishing the science fiction behind it. That's why i'd need to set two test tanks up and make my own mind up on this one...

Fixed it for you...