The installation of an external filter and pretreatment of the pasteurized cow manure led to 450 days of continuous BTF operation without clogging. NH 4 + and Fe were essential nutrients and their concentration of nutrients can be controlled using either a routine or continuous replacement of the nutrient media. Continuously trickling at a low flowrate together with periodical flushing or flooding was found to be an effective strategy for the nutrient supply; although both flushing and flooding affect the CH 4 productivity in the hours after. This effect needs to be considered at a system level design of BTF.