RE: [Killietalk] filter

[Chris <cgraseck at optonline_net>]

Just wanted to comment on the use of trickle filters.  Let me preface my
comment by saying that this is in no way meant to be a criticism of the
de Bruyn style filter, but some of the people who are newer to this may
not know the other side of the story. 

Trickle filters are extremely efficient at stripping ammonia/ammonium
from water.  In doing so they are, in effect, nitrate factories.
Nitrate is less toxic than ammonia but is still toxic (Charles may
disagree).  The point is that you still have to change the water as the
nitrate builds up.  Plants can utilize nitrate but not as easily as
ammonia/ammonium. By quickly converting ammonia/ammonium to nitrate the
plants are in effect robbed of their chance to scavenge that
ammonia/ammonium for themselves.  Nitrifying bacteria oxidize
ammonia/ammonium  and nitrite to produce nitrate.  Plants metabolize
ammonia/ammonium in the manufacturing of amino acids.  There is no
byproduct, well I guess there is water produced as the peptide bonds are
formed.  Lets say there in no nitrogenous byproduct  ;-) Trickle filters
are also efficient at stripping dissolved CO2 from tank water which may
leave your plants lacking a carbon source (depending on the amount of
light available, of course.)  

Trickle filters certainly have there place but I find that a sponge
filter, which is slower to consume ammonia/ammonium in combination with
rapid plant growth works well and is not as complicated. An added sprig
of Pothos rooted in the tank water adds greatly to this affect.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a project and want the extra
dissolved O2 + evaporative cooling than go for the trickle filter. Be
careful of the extra humidity though :-) 

Cheers,
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces+cgraseck=optonline_net at aka.org
[mailto:killietalk-bounces+cgraseck=optonline_net at aka.org] On Behalf Of
Mike Jacobs
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 12:58 PM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: [Killietalk] filter

I'm with Barry on this one.  Henri, a member of our club when he
invented
this filter, talked with us all the time about this filter.  He talked
at
different stages of his thought process and his thoughts were, as best I
can
recall..........1)  he liked the dripping water and thought there was
more
than a physical effect going on there!  2)  it was imperative that the
Lava
rock not be submersed (or as LITTLE as possible) and that the water be
distributed completely over the Lava Rock.  It does no good if some of
the
rock is not getting wet or conversely if it is entirely
submerged.........and there should be no standing water in the "holding
area"..........that's the area that holds the Lava rock not a water
holding
area. Soooooooo, take it slow and easy but keep adding holes until there
is
no standing water around the Lava Rocks but yet concentrate on
dispersing
the water over the total bunch of Lava Rocks.........that's the real
important fact!

Mike
                   Mike Jacobs
           SOUTHERN APISTOS:
             http://www.mtfb.com
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    http://www.southernapistos.com
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