Moving Bed Bioreactors Biofilters for Aquaponics Ponds & Aquaculture

[@RobsAquaponics]

Learn about Aquaponics 🐟 🍓🍅 with my "Backyard Aquaponics for Beginners" Guide for only US$19.95. There's a discount code for 5 people mentioned in the video if you'd like a few $bob$ off.😉👍 You can see the guide in action on my website, ► www.bitsouttheback.com/aquaponics-guide Or, buy directly here, ► bit.ly/AquaponicsBeginnersGuide Don't forget to click the subscribe button if you enjoyed the video, bit.ly/Subscribe2Rob & share the clip around if you think it may help others too.👍 Cheers all & have a top one. 🐟 🌱🍅 Rob

[@timothyalanogrady]

Good day mate . Hope all is well . Great Illustration and explaining How to pipe it up and set it up .

[@RobsAquaponics]

All's well here thanks mate. Flat out as always trying to juggle everything. 🤣 Hope you folks are doing well.

[@joldidjeridoos6026]

What a great way to restore ourselves and our environment! Thank you for sharing your refined knowledge through experience! I am inspired.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hope the system grows well for you if you have a crack at one mate.👍

[@garethbontorno1985]

Hey Rob! Been following your journey for a long while silently. It's great to see you moving into more advanced aquaculture topics. Keep it up.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Gareth.

[@monumentalsin3552]

Oh. I thought of macaroni cheese wheels.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Not as tasty though.... 🤔🤔

[@cassandrathatsme4382]

Very informative. Thank you for this.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad it helped some Cassandra. 👍

[@Gw2Zoke]

Would a moving bed bio reactor help a decorative pond not grow so much algae? My dad’s got a pond on his property and it gets overgrown constantly with algae and I’d like him to not just poor algaecide into the water over and over

[@sarcasmo57]

Hey Rob, just wondering if you have noticed the moving bed bioreactor media wear down or erode over time from all the movement? Just a bit concerned about creating microplastics.

[@RobsAquaponics]

It all looks the same as the day I bout it (5+ years ago I think 🤔) only slightly stained.

[@sarcasmo57]

Oh ok. Thanks.@@RobsAquaponics

[@TheFinalsVirtualStar]

Ahhh the forbidden macaroni

[@RobsAquaponics]

🤣 & the brow sauce that it comes with is an acquired taste as well.

[@НиколайЧитак]

Бро, ты Красавчик ❤, спору нет 🎉🎉🎉 Приведи хоть относительные параметры 😢

[@RobsAquaponics]

Позже сделаю более подробное видео.

[@pizzmo8256]

I worked at a beef plant in canada. The owner put in a huge li 2 stories high moving bed bioreator The water came out cleaner then the city's water. Skimmer for solids, then the moving bed bio reactor, reverse osmosis and finished with ultraviolet it was super cool, clean and environmentally friendly. When I toured people they loved this part. Your video is great.

[@christopherayers4900]

Could I do a bio filter "waterfall" imagine a tote with hydrotron pebbles, air stones, and bacteria circulating to and from the ibc tote and use a separate pump for my flood table for plants. Would this work?

[@aquillae]

Just wondering Rob, any nutriemt loss detected after using moving bed filter?

[@craigmacdonald4987]

G'day Robo! 👋 Just also watched Ausie's entry to the Eurovision last night 😅 🎉 Happy hunting for new home mate! Love to the family ❤

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Craig. Off in a few weeks time to look again. No sure about our entry but at a guess its not what most Aussies would nominate l. 😉🤣

[@insAneTunA]

@@RobsAquaponics hahaha I think that most people think the same. It is a heavily political motivated event. And the people are no longer allowed to vote about who is going to the festival. The Dutch group was not even capable to sing in tune. I heard about the criticism that the Dutch group received. I didn't watch it myself, because to me a TV subscription is not worth the money anymore. I Cancelled it over a year ago, and I have never regret it.

[@bulwarkofthebeaten9239]

Are there any concerns of microplastics being present in the fish that we rear for consumption due to the use of K1 and other plastic filter media?

[@jamieweston4495]

Where do you get the black flexible pipe from mate, What is it called.

[@wizzzard_ponics]

in my imaginary system, 20000 ltr pump 4 x 2500 tanks, SLO 75mm but wot size venturi 25mm will be to slow ???? keeps me awake at night .. lol

[@insAneTunA]

Get a variable pump, for example the pump from Aquaforte if that brand is available in your country. They have different sizes with different capacities. I have an older version, and I am very happy with it. Not only does it consume only a fraction of the energy from my previous pumps, which is shown on the display from the controller, but it also has a memory setting, a pause function, slow start function, an automatic stop when there is no water for whatever reason. The new Aquaforte versions even have a WIFI connection that doesn't need a router. You can control it with your phone without any additional connections or routers. They are very reasonably priced especially compared to other variable pump brands. And after 5 years or so I am very happy with the quality and durability. They can be setup in a wet and dry configuration. My pump is the 10.000 l/h version. And I only run it at less than half the capacity. And it consumes only 35 watt at the capacity that I am using it. Don't let the small physical size from the pump fool you, because it is way more powerful than it looks. The energy that I am saving is substantial, because at full power it would consume around 80 watt. And the variable flow rate gives me a lot more flexibility, for example if I want to expand my system I can simply hook it up to the same pump. I live in a colder region of the world, and during the winter I set it at a higher flow rate, and that helps to prevent frozen pipes. And if the frost is too much I can simply turn it of, and when I put it on again it will start at the same flow rate that I had when I turned it off.

[@RobsAquaponics]

25mm should be fine at a minimum flow of 2500lph. The ones I have still work at 1000-1200 but preform much better at higher flow rates Dazza. 👍

[@wizzzard_ponics]

@RobsAquaponics mate I have found where to buy beads here in Australia.. they are nothing special but must float. Recycled milk bottles. Are made I to beads.. woo hoo.. now just need to make new filter..

[@wizzzard_ponics]

@RobsAquaponics up to 5000 ltrs wow they would be pumping oxygen into the system at that rate..

[@aHalfaMongrel]

Was that you having the big breakfast at the brown jug in Gympie about a week ago ?😂

[@RobsAquaponics]

Certainty was 😉👍

[@aHalfaMongrel]

I thought so . I was tempted to say hi but decided a big breakfast sounds to good to interrupt.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@aHalfaMongrel Is all good mate. As long as you don't pinch my bacon I'd be happy.

[@_soundslikebutter]

Cheers mate...I've been sitting on an Evolution Aqua "EazyPod" I bought off Facepalm (nice) Marketplace a while back...Got the eazypod and an UV filter (brand new) for $50...no complaints there...Been considering how to incorporate it into my system and combine a few smaller systems together etc... Currently have a chop and flip IBC with just a few medium goldfish in it and a tonne of turmeric pretty much ready to harvest...the clay will need a good clean once I harvest, so then I figure it would be a good time to get the EazyPod plumbed in...Have a small Salad Table NFT and a few flood and drain table/beds as well as a Mr Stacky setup I'm modding to be filled with clay balls...Be great to throw some sketches at you for your thoughts and any advice you might be willing to offer...I have purchased your guide so maybe I should be asking via that but thought I'd start here. Cheers mate - Stevie from Brisbane

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Stevie. Sorry I missed this mate It would be better to ask through the guide as I get notifications when they happen there, unlike KZbin these days. Hope the plans are coming along well.

[@karimhayes3134]

before i watch this and forget . Rob with all of your pre-filters before your grow beds . what would be the case with out them ? would you need to clean your grow beds way more regularly .i am just about to build a sand grow bed hoping this will help with filtration . good luck with your farm life.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Karim. You wouldn't need one if you're running a sand bed as the waste is supposed to be deposited on the top so it can oxidise & breakdown. In a normal media bed, it just means that the waste will build up over time & can potentially cause issues. A lot of folks find they get better growth results by removing the solids, mineralising them, then adding them back into the system. Still on the hunt for a farm & we're thinking it may take longer than we first thought. 🫤

[@Howie672]

The pasta in my bio filter breakdown should I try spirals ;) Thanks for another great video

[@RobsAquaponics]

I'd be a bit worried if it broke down. 🤣 Cheers Howie.

[@redlineXX]

now to find somewhere to buy the bio media ugh

[@RobsAquaponics]

Have you sourced any yet mate?

[@RobsAquaponics]

BTW, which SSAA do you go to or is that a different target?

[@redlineXX]

No I havnt sourced any yet, need to, that was shot at Belmont SSAA but I am now living in Central Qld@@RobsAquaponics

[@insAneTunA]

This guide is a true treasure for people who want to start with aquaponics. It can save you a lot of money and headache. It is just nice to know what sort of materials you need to buy, like the diameter of pipe, the type and height of the grow media, the water flow rates, the siphon system, and how you need to set it up to make it work right. They do not sell the exact same materials in each single country, but the information in the guide will put you in the right ballpark. It doesn't matter if you live in a warm or colder region of the world, because when Rob has to protect his system against the heat people in colder regions just have to do the opposite and protect their system against the cold as much as possible. All that matters is that the system is at a constant temperature as much as possible for as long as possible during the season. Whether you live in a cold or warm region. This will make the grow season as long as possible. And it will give the bacteria a good start at each beginning of the season. A huge 👍 to Rob and Bianca !!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Many thanks for the kind review mate. 👍 I hope all's going well with you & your system.

[@insAneTunA]

@@RobsAquaponics It's my pleasure. My chive plants had a hard time with the fluctuating warmer days and the night frosts that we had in the Netherlands. A few did not survive the winter. But other then that the system is doing better than ever. I have never ever seen that many strawberries grow in my system, despite the fact that my strawberry plants are at least 6 years old. And they also look very healthy and lush and green. Although I know that it is not correct to look only at the color from the plant as a health indicator for plants. It is the sugar content that matters, I know, but a yellow or brown leaf is for sure a bad sign, right? And I have never ever seen that many flower buds on my yellow flagged iris inside my pond. And all the other plants are doing absolutely great as well, and some plants are rapidly recovering from the winter, and growing real fast while recovering. I had a bit of hair algae in a small section of my pond, but I dialed in the flow of water a bit more, made the siphoning action more reliable, and I have a temporary secondary pump acting as a waterfall for extra oxygen, and now the algae is disappearing again and the fish are very active, and they were even doing their mating ritual, which I also recorded on video. I have also seen several fish fry from last year. But they are hard to spot because they are very dark grey almost black colored. So it is difficult to tell how many fish there are in the pond at this stage. Gold fish are born black, and about 80% of them turn orange after a few months. Some even stay black. I am filming what is happening in my tiny backyard garden with my setup, but I share that when I have a more complete story to tell with a somewhat clear result from the recovering plants. Right now we still have some colder weather, around 15C during the day, and around 5C during the night. I still have a couple of empty looking grow beds. I have directly seeded garden crest and also east Indonesian crest. The garden crest is already popping up, but the east Indonesian crest needs a bit warmer weather and that takes a little longer. All together I am really very happy and at the same time absolutely amazed with how things are growing. The lost chive is not an issue at all because I still have some, and they are easy to split and replant. And the exploded yield from my strawberries makes everything good. One little strawberry bush, I call it a bush because it looks as if it are several plants instead of just one, carries at least a hundred strawberries, and it is not even summer yet. And I have the kind of plants that produce strawberries all season long, up until October if it doesn't get to cold and cloudy. That one bush is producing more strawberries than I can eat, so the local birds are going to have a good year this year😄 And the rest of my garden is doing well too. I have been applying some permaculture principles, I have spread some wood chips, and I have been pruning and I cut the cutoffs to little pieces and I ad it to the topsoil, the chop and drop principle, and I can clearly see the results. Not just in plant growth, but also in biodiversity from birds and other small animals that visit my garden, and the number of insects. Quite honestly I am kinda flabbergasted by it considering the fact that I live in a relative urban area and that my backyard garden is only 10 by 10 meter. But man I am enjoying it a lot, it is hard to describe the joy that I get from that small patch of garden. Sometimes I wish that I had a bigger piece of land, but I still enjoy what I have. And I am learning a lot. It really doesn't matter what size your system or garden is. The principles of how nature works remains the same. And when we help nature by making the conditions right, nature will fill in the blanks and grab the opportunity. It truly is a wonderful thing to see. I cannot wait to see you guys finding the right spot. And to see you both enjoy the land and the fruits of your work. 👍

[@buuluu7633]

You did not show the blue barrel, I would like to see what is inside? Thanks.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I did quickly flash the top but you can see how they work here, kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXOmdGyqgtifm7s & this is the video showing how I built this one, kzbin.info/www/bejne/maOum6R5f9J8jJI Hope that helps.

[@johnohearn1216]

LOVE your content! I’m thinking about getting your course! Do you go into fish breeding at all?

[@RobsAquaponics]

It's doesn't John, just the basics of setting up a system in the backyard with some running tips included.

[@johnohearn1216]

Understood. Thanks mate! I’ve always wanted to say that lol

[@anonymouse3823]

Will it be beneficial to add a bog filter after the moving bed?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Aquaponic media beds are a style of bog filter. They will convert ammonia through to nitrate & act as a fines filter for any solids that make it through your other filters.

[@drrahilakurdi5943]

Love you all ❤❤❤❤❤

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Dr Rahila.

[@mrdkoser]

Once again, a wonderful video! I'd love to see more MBBR, K1, K2, Kaldness and maybe even a video on Bead filters and a homemade bead filter. And definitely more on a sandponics intergration. Love having different media beds setup for example and would love to see more ways to incorporate new methods. IAVs being an old method, but the new aqua-sand hybrid is also something I think I might try out over the next year or two. Cheers! Thanks again!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Would love to give the sand bed a shot as well. I think I'll wait until we have more space at the farm (when we find one) as I really don't lie the idea of setting one up here just to pull it down & move it later down the track. Cheers mate.

[@rowanbrecknell4021]

I put bio balls into my filter tank for my Oscars. They are messy fish. I built the filter tank in 2014. The bio balls have more than doubled the filtration. Watching your videos inspires me to try new things. Thanks Rob.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Rowan. I'm glad you're enjoying them mate.

[@st33ldi9ital]

hmmm... and people are surprised at all the plastics in our food sources....

[@RobsAquaponics]

I'm not surprised about the amount at all. At the moment though, I think the plastics are the least of humanities issues. 😉😉

[@st33ldi9ital]

@@RobsAquaponics Might be, but really should be more personal. Do you not care about the materials you use and toxins from them in your food chain for yourself and others that depends on your food? If you are going to go through the effort of making good quality food, how can you ignore the materials and toxins from the materials in your setup?

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@st33ldi9ital The biomedia & tanks are HDPE. As far as I've read it's a very stable media. If you can find studies that say they are worse than us living on a main street with all the vehicle pollution that settles on our food I'd love to see it. 👍👍

[@st33ldi9ital]

@@RobsAquaponics I mean, I'm not gonna do the research for you, there are evidences of androgenic and other toxins from hdpe/ldpe, even if at lower levels, and I'm sure you have an idea of what you are doing. Ultimately it's up to you. But, I would just say think about how you are using it... When you are agitating the media like that it's absolutely going to cause wear and tear to the media and the container itself... where do you think that material and particles goes? Sure, it might be safe with cold potable still water but it's a different story when you are agitating media made of and inside plastic container. I would def filter it after that stage if it isn't. If it is, then cheers.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@st33ldi9ital I'm busy researching materials for others daily & helping them for nix. If you really want to help you would share the info with me.

[@LanceCarmony]

Thank you as always for your content and information! The wife and I absolutely love love love your videos 💕 Please keep the videos coming 😊

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Lance.

[@mithall4198]

I've seen a couple vids of people using plastic baling twine as a more cost effective option vs. the bio balls. What are your thoughts on that?

[@ottoflouer1750]

Steady stream of micro plastics for your tank? bailing twine is made to last a year at most wrapped around a bone dry bale of hay or straw so its definitely not fit for aquatic applications

[@mithall4198]

@@ottoflouer1750 You think there's no micro plastics breaking off from thousands of bio balls rubbing against each other? Uh huh.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@mithall4198 I'd prefer the more stable bio media than the balls made from recycled twine. Haven't used them but chatted with a bloke that used them in a bio. He said they didn't tumble & acted more like a trickle filter. Not 100% sure how he made them or ran his set up though.

[@mithall4198]

@@RobsAquaponics Thanks Rob. I was skeptical but wanted to hear from a pro.

[@realvipul]

😀looking forward your setup in the farmhouse

[@RobsAquaponics]

Same here 😁😁😉 Cheers mate.

[@Doge_RDDMRCJENL]

It’s me dex

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Dex.

[@anthonywalker85]

Thanks Rob! Couldn't find this on your guide, but glad I found it on KZbin!

[@RobsAquaponics]

I have added it to the guide since you posted this. 😉 I will also be uploading a construction video there as well when I get the time to finish editing it. Cheers Anthony.

[@WarGardensForVictory]

Great vid thank you. I just got my system together and this is very helpful.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad It helped some VG. Happy growing mate.

[@WarGardensForVictory]

@@RobsAquaponics thank you. I would love to do a collaboration video with you and get your thoughts on my system. I built it a little different then normal.

[@rhoanmyke]

Where do you purchase your from😮

[@RobsAquaponics]

The bio media? Normally aquarium, aquaculture or waste water treatment suppliers will have some version of biomedia. You can also get it from the various large online retailers like Alibaba & Ebay as well.

[@Doge_RDDMRCJENL]

Nice

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Mr Dex.👍

[@donnykiofetzis5775]

I agree.100%

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Donny.

[@gattaca5911]

ignore the "wallies"

[@RobsAquaponics]

Have encountered a few over this topic already today on other platforms. 🤣🤣

[@gattaca5911]

@@RobsAquaponics you have a healthy approach to it...there is always one.