of the beads fig4 is a schematic depicting a microbead filter 400 with stacked plates 402 _ 1 402 _n the series of stacked distribution or media plates 402 _ 1 402 _n create a series of stacked shallow beds to achieve the targeted mass of ammonia removal water enters the microbead filter 300 via distribution plate 104 which establishes uniform flow through the bed media plates 402 u2014 1 402 _n provide a gas tight seal above each area of the filter bed and creates a series of stacked chambers 404 1 404 n the influent as it enters the filter dislodges and transports solids through a modest bed depth the aeration degassing function is accomplished by operating within a specific hydraulic range that preserves a sufficient void fraction and by integrating ports through which an oxygen containing gas is introduced into the microbead to displace undesirable gases that are to be removed one or more exhaust ports 117 118 are located within the plenum 420 to draw air from the filter vessel 102 the degassing sections 117 118 may also include a means for recovering biologic filtering media from the water such media being a residue of a treatment on the water prior to entering the unit the filter 400 may also include a concentrator section water passes from the degassing section into the concentrator section at the concentrator section one or more screened intake ports 115 116 may be provided to introduce air the concentrator section may for example be a u tube or a down hole bubble concentrator or a low head oxygenator oxygen is mixed with the water at the entrance to the.