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Re: koi pond no filter?
Thanks Bob.
I searched for open bio pond filter and didn't see it.
<Please see the pond articles and FAQs files here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/Pond%20Sub%20Web.htm
... "filters for biological ponds...>
Can my
pressurized filter be switched to an open filter?
<No>
Or... this pond in
question has a separate pond (higher elevation) of about 300 gallons
that spills in to the main pond. What about turning this 300 gallon into
a bio filter?
<Can be done>
If I filled it with rock and planted heavily?
<Yes>
Or if I
filled it with bio media? There has to be a way to eliminate the sand
filter and run naturally I would think. Again it is clear and healthy as
it is now (6 years old) and that's running the sand filter only 9 hours
a day.
Thoughts?
Thanks Gregg
<Many. Bob Fenner>
Re: koi pond no filter?
One final follow up question please.
I am taking your advice and using the upper pool to create a bio filter
for the main pond and getting rid of the pool sand filter. I'll be
dividing the upper pool in half with bricks to create an area like the
La Jolla guy did (rock and bio balls on top of a mesh screen)
Question: do I need to seal the bricks and mortar to stop lime leeching?
<Mmm, probably not. Just use "plastic" cement in your mortar mix, rinse, let
it go covered over for a day with tapwater, drain... or add a bit of acid to
the water (not the lower basin of course) during the day to leach the
alkalinity...>
this will be a small wall maybe 2ft high by 3ft across. If I use "old"
bricks will they be lime free enough? If I have to seal what should I use?
Thanks again.
Gregg
<No sealer needed. Bob Fenner>
An undergravel filter for a water
feature?
Dear Bob:
I am having some fun in my retirement. I live in So California, and it's
dry
and hot (Riverside County). To alleviate some of the fire hazard in my
canyon
Vie put in gardens, and for an aside,
a pond/waterfall (perhaps 250 gallons) .
<We live in San Diego about half the time>
The pump that drives the waterfall is
solar powered, about 10 gallons a minute with a 2 foot fall.
<Neat>
It occurred to me that instead of installing expensive filtration I
might use
an under gravel filter just like my fifty gallon aquarium. It works.
Kinda.
The solar pump is like a sump pump, drawing water from the bottom but on
top
of a stainless steel screen with a gravel overlay,
(about 4 inches of gravel, fairly coarse gravel)
To keep mosquitoes at bay I put in some guppies. Some guppies now number
a
hundred!
<Do look into Mosquitofish instead... available from "County Operations"
for free... better at keeping aquatic insect larvae controlled,
relatives of the Guppy (livebearers also)>
The pond is in all day sun, and so I expect the water to be green,( the
water temperature runs around 80 degrees).
everything is fine but I would prefer the water somewhat more clear: the
depth is about a foot and a half, and I cannot see the bottom. It might
just be a
seasonal 'bloom,' I don't know as this is just the first year. Maybe
some
finer sand on top, ( it's like pea gravel),
Any help you may offer will be appreciated, because I had so much fun
the
first time that
I'm building another. But this time it's 1,000 gallons with a 14 foot
fall
off a giant boulder!
<Ahh, much better>
Thank you,
Paul Hoppe
PS Found your site under Thoroseal.
<Worked on and built systems with in-place UG filters... they do work,
but a pain to service... and yours being exposed outright to the sun,
being small... will likely continue to suffer seasonal algae blooms. Do
continue to read through WetWebMedia.com re seasonal pond maintenance
and algae control... Adding some floating and submersed/non-rooted
plants, adjusting water chemistry (preventing nutrient availability
through using filtered water mainly and pH adjustment...), possibly the
addition of a small in-line ultraviolet sterilizer, are all appropriate
methods for reducing the severity, likelihood of algal blooms. Bob
Fenner> |
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WetWebMedia question/ Pond Substrate, yes or no?
Bob,
<Nicole>
I am in the process of pulling out my 50g pre-formed pond on my patio and going
to about a 150g PVC lined pond. Although my goldfish are fat and healthy, the
pond cannot quite keep up with their biofiltration needs; I really didn't expect
them to grow THIS fast! This time, I hope to do a more thorough job.
<Me too>
In the old pond, I used a layer of pea gravel as the biofilter along with
copious amounts of plants and the inevitable hitchhiker snails. Not
surprisingly, the gravel collected a lot of junk and the plants grow like crazy.
As I sit here and look at an in-pond filter for "up to 300 gallons," I am
skeptical that it can really handle the bioload. I plan to add some crayfish and
maybe a few fathead minnows, but no more goldfish since I expect these have more
growing to do. As much as I accept the superiority of external filters, I'm
quite cramped for room and it's just not feasible.
<Okay>
Will this 300g in-pond filter really do the job? If not, should I rinse and
reuse the pea gravel despite it's drawbacks? Or is there a better choice for a
more or less permanent substrate?
<Depending on "other factors", the types and amount of food, exposure to "the
elements", your maintenance habits (particularly frequent partial water changes
during the warm months)... could do>
Thanks for any info you might have. My fish are relocated and the renovation
starts tomorrow (although I have a couple of weeks before the fishies get into
their new home)... I'm just having last minute doubts.
Thanks.
Nicole
<Do place a good part of their "old water" in with the new... and let go a few
days before moving them just the same... and use some/all of the "old gravel" if
you go that route. Bob Fenner>
RE: WetWebMedia question/ Pond Substrate, yes or no?
Wow, thanks for the quick reply! I see you are as enthusiastic about the filter
as I am :) It's warm pretty much all year here and never gets cold enough to
stop feeding altogether, so water changes are regular chore. Despite the lack of
hard evidence, I suspect myself to be a notorious overfeeder, as all six fat
orange tummies attest.
<Hee hee>
Thanks for the input. Maybe I'll scatter a thin layer of gravel and try to sit
the fence on this one... easier to clean up but as a backup biofilter in case of
filter problems.
Nicole
<Yes, a good idea. Bob Fenner>
Hello, Sabrina - Pond stuff and filter recommendation
<Hi again, Patricia!>
Thank you for re-assuring me about my little red creatures. I have
had aquariums or ponds all of my life (retired now) and these creatures are
totally new to me. I will do some more checking. I think I
can send some of the creatures to a local Univ. or government
agency. I'll check the web for insect larvae. I think you are
right. Again, Thank you for responding...Oh, yes, I need a new Pond
Filter for 2,000 to 5,000 gallons, any expert advise on a good one.
Thank you, Patricia in Seattle
<Well, the only filters for large ponds that I've had much experience are the
Tetra Clearchoice filters. They seem to work well, but I have only
small ponds. I know one of the Clearchoice filters is good for up to
2600 gallons. Any time! -Sabrina> | |
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