Algae help!!

[Linda A]

Does the bio medium ever need to be changed in the bio filter?

 

[DrDave]

Does the bio medium ever need to be changed in the bio filter?

If you use cut tubes as I did or pvc turnings or strapping, they will last forever and never need to be removed for cleaning.

 

[Linda A]

If you use cut tubes as I did or pvc turnings or strapping, they will last forever and never need to be removed for cleaning.

We have Savio bio filter media. It's green plastic strapping. We're very frustrated by our green water.

 

[DrDave]

Your signature says a shallow pond. Shallow ponds are nearly impossible to keep clear, no matter what the filter.

 

[gardenplanters]

Hi,
I've used alge destroyers and beneficial bacteria that haven't helped clear up the green alge. The pond is about 1,500 gallons with 7 good sized KOI about 15 gold fish and plenty of plants. I have the usual skimmer and biofalls filter, a 20w uv with a 720 gph pump and a heavy duty whole house water filter connected after the uv. The pond has rock side and bottom that are covered with green alge.

 

[Linda A]

Your signature says a shallow pond. Shallow ponds are nearly impossible to keep clear, no matter what the filter.

It's about 2 1/2' deep, except for the shelf. The first two years it was sparkling clear. We had pebbles in the bottom, but learned that it would cause a problem in the future, so we removed most of them. It greened up one year while we were on vacation. right before we left I had put a new plant in from the garden center, so I assumed that the fertilizer in the plant, along with the soil it was in caused my problem, but we have not been able to clear it up ever since.

 

[DrDave]

My deepest pond is as deep as yours. To me shallow is 12" or so. It may be the fertilizer, are you using it regularly?

 

[Linda A]

My deepest pond is as deep as yours. To me shallow is 12" or so. It may be the fertilizer, are you using it regularly?

No, I use fertilizer around the pond and in the pond plants very infrequently. Maybe 1 or 2 pots have had a pond tab put into them this year. If you look at the pictures I posted you can see the difference in the clarity of the water. Last year we figured part of the problem was too many fish, but we have culled them down to two, and we don't even feed them.

 

[DrDave]

Every pond is different. That said, my upper pond is 18" deep, my lower pond is 30" deep. I have a 55 gallon "Doc" filter that uses 7000 tubes (no scrubbies). I have a cascading waterfall and floating water lettuce, wate lilies, parrots feather, hyssop and duckweed. About a 1000 baby koi and 20 or so large koi and my water is clear. No bottom drain, no skimmer, no UV.

What is different about your pond? Something is either missing or present for yours to be green.