Kaldnes K1 Media - Anybody Using It?

[leliataylor]

I decided to build some biomedia reactors to augment the filtration in my tanks since my stocking density can change dramatically when fry are born. I had 6 old Coralife Super Skimmer bodies laying around. After removing the internal pipe that connected to the pump, I filled them appx. 1/3 full with K1 media. Using the same external pipe to attach a water pump, I created a reverse flow fluidized filter. A rigid airline was then added to keep the media in motion and hyper oxygenate the filter. A small piece of LR was placed in the bottom of the chamber to "jump start" a cycle. 3 of the 4 systems I placed the reactors were registering 0 ammonia and nitrites within a few days. From the research I did this media is being used extensively in commercial aquaculture. Has anyone else tried this media?

[alton]

That is a great idea

[slm222]

I know our company is planning on using this in mobile septic treatment systems. I wonder who it affects phosphates.

[Dean]

I just googled it and it is very inexpensive also. Using a skimmer body is ingenious Cheryl!

Have you seen any information on it pertaining to the quantity of this media per gallon necessary as an average? I know it would vary depending on load but it would be great to have some idea how much media it would take to maintain a low nitrate level.

[leliataylor]

The original use of this media was waste water treatment plants.

Unfortunately, most of the info on this media in aquaculture comes from commercial operations. One commercial breeder I know uses a 3 gallon bottle partially filled with the K1 media on a 90 gallon tank. He was able to keep 300 juvenile seahorses in the tank without any problems with ammonia or nitrites.

It seems its primary function is for the proliferation of aerobic bacteria. For nitrate conversion you would also need a area for anaerobic bacteria to thrive such as in LR.

At this point I am not sure how this would impact phosphate levels.

[leliataylor]

A person I know that lives in Seguin gave me the idea. He has been using 1 cup of K1 media in a 16oz bottle on his FW crayfish tank. It is a 29 gallon tank with 4 adults and hundreds of youngsters.

Another person I know indicated 1 liter can detoxify 440 mg of ammonia.

I built 4 of them and my total expense was $12.95.

[slm222]

In YouTube there is a good amount of videos on the subject

[leliataylor]

It appears the K1 media does more to help a tank than I thought. I have a 58 gallon tank that has been running since 2010. It started to grow a very small amount of bryopsis and the rocks were starting to look brown. The only thing that I have changed on this tank was the addition of the K1 media 2 1/2 months ago. The bryopsis is gone and the rocks have lightened to a off white. Before this I was planning in breaking the tank down and cleaning it. I am seeing similar results in my other tanks, it seems nuisance algae does not like K1. I have two HOB overflows on a 60 gallon tank. The back of the tank is covered, however the overflows face a window. Needless to say the overflows were looking bad. Not anymore. If I had known then, what I am seeing now I would have taken some before and after photos.

[Dean]

It appears the K1 media does more to help a tank than I thought. I have a 58 gallon tank that has been running since 2010. It started to grow a very small amount of bryopsis and the rocks were starting to look brown. The only thing that I have changed on this tank was the addition of the K1 media 2 1/2 months ago. The bryopsis is gone and the rocks have lightened to a off white. Before this I was planning in breaking the tank down and cleaning it. I am seeing similar results in my other tanks, it seems nuisance algae does not like K1. I have two HOB overflows on a 60 gallon tank. The back of the tank is covered, however the overflows face a window. Needless to say the overflows were looking bad. Not anymore. If I had known then, what I am seeing now I would have taken some before and after photos.

So an adequate amount of K-1 knocks nitrates out. My bubble tip anemone tank produces nitrate at a fairly quick pace. I am currently changing out about 20% of the water volume per week to keep the nitrates down. I may try the K-1 in a Two Little Fishies reactor to see if it can keep up with my nitrate production. That would be awesome if so!

[leliataylor]

Technically it does not effect nitrates directly since it is designed for the proliferation of aerobic bacteria. What it does do is release dead and dying bacteria into the water column which are then removed by the skimmer. This aids in nutrient removal by not allowing dead bacteria to remain in the tank and decompose. The constant motion of this media also reduces biofilm build up. Static filter beds create places for detritus to build up and if not cleaned regularly actually increases the nutrients suspended in the water column. This is when you start seeing nuisance algae, spikes in nitrates and sometimes tank crashes.

On a side note, since the addition of the K1 media my skimmers have more than doubled their output. The skimmate has turned to a dark brown and become much thicker. Simply stated my tanks are staying much cleaner.

[DTdr2]

Can I, or did you put the K1 directly in your skimmer?

[leliataylor]

Can I, or did you put the K1 directly in your skimmer?

It needs to be in a separate container. You want the media to move around, have flow running through it and exiting the reactor. You can build one with a plastic water bottle (drill holes in it so the water can exit), add a rigid airline to provide a aerobic environment and a small water pump so you water flowing into the bottle. I used old coralife super skimmer bodies that I had laying around.

[DTdr2]

Thank you. I was thinking it had to be a separate set up, but was hoping I could keep it simple.

[leliataylor]

Thank you. I was thinking it had to be a separate set up, but was hoping I could keep it simple.

LOL. The only thing simple in this hobby is buying your first tank. What is the set up you are thinking about using the K1 on?

[DTdr2]

I've got a 72g reef ready bow front with a sump underneath the stand. Unfortunately, due to the set up of the stand my sump does not have any additional room. I'm thinking I might be able to rig something up under the stand since the top has a canopy on it

[Dean]

I saw a video on YouTube where a reactor was made from a coke bottle. Very space saving and super inexpensive

[leliataylor]

I had a 16 oz water bottle that I put some holed, added the K1, a rigid airline and attached it to a return on one of my nursery tubs. Cost me less than $4.00 for everything and took a couple of minutes to assemble. And yes it is working great.

Depending on your stocking density, it does not take a large bottle or very much K1 media. If have rock in your sump you could use a tupperware container placed on top of the rock or even place one in a bucket next to your sump. Some people have the flow entering from the bottom and others from the top. If you have a bleed of valve on your pump you could use the flow from that. This media is not very picky, as long as it is kept in motion it works.

[Dean]

I'm trying to retro fit my Two Little Fishies 550 reactor to tumble this media. Having a heck of a time situating it so that it tumbles adequately. I'm going to try to attach a video for you to tell me what you think Cheryl.


https://vimeo.com/132868299