FLUIDISED MEDIA - K 1, HEL - X 13 & HEL - X FLAKE PRO

What is a ‘Fluidised Filter Media’?

With the many types of Filters and Filter Media availble, the best Biological Filter that can be bought, or made – DIY - is a filter that uses Fluidised Media, also called a ‘Moving Bed’.

The technically correct name for a Biological Filter with a Fluidised media is;

MBBR - Moving Bed Biological Reactor

In an MBBR, the Fluidised Media is held in suspension (floating and moving) by a powerful stream of air, from an air pump. This constant movement of filter media, is why it is called a 'Fluidised Media'.

Bacteria will colonise any surface in a pond and filter, however all surfaces are not habitable. It is the same with filter media and in the case fluidised media, the surface areas which colloid with each other are not habitable for bacteria. These areas are referred to as Unprotected Surface Area, and the habitable sections are reffered to as Protected Surface Area.

	K 1	Hel-X HXF13KLL	Hel-X Flake Pro
Surface Area m³(1,000 Litres)	900 m²	955 m²	5,000 m²
Protected Surface Area m³(1,000 Litres)	500 m²	806 m²	4,400 m²
*Protected Surface Area in 1 Litre*	*0.5 m²*	0.806 m²	*4.40 m²*
Size Diameter x Width / Thickness	10.5 x 8 mm	13 x 13 mm	30 x 1.1 mm
Article Number	NA	613/75-07	520/30PROw
Country of Origin	China	Germany	Germany

How much of Fluidised Media do I need?

For the efficient removal of Ammonia, the biological filter must be planned based on the estimated 'bio load' - number and size of fish, amount of feed given for a day. Based on the bio load, the daily generation of Ammonia can be calculated.

The efficiency of removing all Ammonia, depends entirely on the size of the bacterial colony. This can be calculated and expressed as the surface area required to sustain the size of bacterial colony needed, for the total removal of Ammonia.

If your tank or pond has a bio load that needs to be fed 500g of high protein food a day, shown below are the quantities in Litres of the respective fluidised media required.

	K 1	Hel-X 13	Hel-X Flake 30
*Protected Surface Area in One (01) Litre*	*0.5 m²*	0.806 m²	*4.40 m²*
Number of Litres	100 Litres	65 Litres	12 Litres

60% of the biological filter, chamber size, is the maximum capacity of Fluifised Media that should be added.

Where possible, on a maximum basis, aeration should be provided at ½ Litre Air to 1 Fluidiesed Media. For example, 40 litres of air to 80 Litres Fluidised Media