Filtering Question

[hammer1320]

I just finnished building my mini bio filter out of a 5 gallon bucket and I have a question about the filters that are on the actual pumps.

To start off, I have a 85 gallon preformed plastic pond. I have two 250gph pond pumps from harbor freight that have the sponge filters on the actual pumps. Do I keep them on there, or get rid of the sponge and just clip the plastic cage back on. The plastic cage has small slits that would filter out bigger things. Im just not sure if that sponge would stop or slow down the "bio" part of the new bio filter.

Right now one pump runs the waterfall, and the other has the fountain head on it in the center of the pond. I think im gonna pump both pumps through the bio filter and place one pump in the front of the pond and one in the back to get some of the poo from the bottom floor. Since I dont really trust those cheap pumps I feel better running both through the filter incase one dies on me.

Thanks

 

[koiguy1969]

I would get rid of the sponge and keep the cage so your pumps impellor wont get jammed up....good luck! And happy ponding!!

 

[hammer1320]

So i went to the local pond store to get the beneficial bacteria gel that everyone recommended and they didn't have that in the store, only online. He sold me somthing called ammoniafix by crystal clear. He said its the same stuff, I'm double thinking that. Does anyone know it is?
Thanks

 

[hammer1320]

 

[PS3]

i have a per-filter in my pond its a cage with a sponge around it,
i was thinking of takeing the sponge filter off but the holes are rather big.
i put baby feeders in my pond lol and they are geting big fast i dont want
them geting sucked up so can i put a mesh laundry bag around the cage
and will this be ok

 

[bsr8129]

depending on your pond and water conditions the sponge on the front of the pump can get clogged rather quickly, i have a one on a small pump in my pond and i have to clean it every other day or will will get clogged and slow the output to a trickle.

 

[PS3]

i have a rather large cage filter contected to the pump by a 1 foot black terta kink free hose i clean it once a week. so next week i will try a mesh bag aorund the cage.
plus this year iam useing brand new terta black kink free 1 inch wide hose.
so this will help me out.the past years i had a smaller clear hose that would
slwo down if the filter cloged and i would have to clean the clear hose every month.
so with the black it wont clog with green stuff

 

[Ptah2112]

Leave the filter if u don't mind the extra cleaning as it will supplement filtering. Otherwise remove but leave the cage filter in place. Ammonia fix to my knowledge does not contain bacteria. It treats ammonia and nitrite etc. by chemically neutralizing rather than biological filtering. Same end result, but you may have to treat more often. Try online for the bacteria. I recommend
webbsonline . com

 

[hammer1320]

Well I put the new filter in tuesday evening and I am very happy with the outcome. I would say the water is about 70-80% as clear as it was when I first filled the pond from new water.

I did however use that ammoniafix stuff. I couldnt find the bacteria gel stuff around localy and the water was so bad i was desperate to finnish it that day. I will order online now that I bought myself some time.

I do have some questions about that though. When I do get the gel, do I take the filter apart and apply it to some of the media, or pour it down the intake tube?

Last question. I've lost about an inch of water off the top of the pond. I see the water is splashing out of the waterfall so I know where my problem is at least, but my water level in my filter fluctuates, goes from normal to scary high. Its been high for the last 2 days so I think im gonna use a bigger tube for output to the waterfall. I am starting to think that the changing water levels is due to displacement of the wastes in the bottom of the filter so it will come over the edge soon. Any more ideas would be helpfull.

I have 3 days off and im tempted to call some buddies and tell em to bring shovels over to start the bigger pond. LOL

 

[hammer1320]

Oh... One more question. When I replace the water in the pond, do i dechlorinate the water in a bucket first? Or after is in the pond? Maybe stupid question but I just wanna be safe.

 

[DrDave]

I add dechlor into my waterfall while filling. Usually after I have added some of the water.

 

[Ptah2112]

The gel is a bit involved. You have to take the filter media out of the filter, apply the gel, let it soak in an hour, then replace in filter with pumps off for another hour. Instructions a pretty clear on the package.
As to the water level, I'm not really sure but a bigger diameter tubing sounds like a good idea.
The water should be dechlorinated first (in a bucket etc). I suggest u purchase a waterhose dechlorinator. A cheap version is about $50 and lasts a year. Try
macarthurwatergardens . com
There are 3 versions of water hose filter.
Now I have added dechlorinator to the pond and then slowly added hose water successfully many times, but be warned u could lose fish. With your size pond it shouldn't be to much work to do the bucket method.

 

[DrDave]

Lets not get people paranoid about adding water and making it more difficult to do the mandatory water exchanges. It is much more simple than just explained.
In 42 years of ponds, I have never lost a fish because I dechlorinated last or during a water exchange.
It is ok to be cautious, but using a bucket and dechloring as you go is a bit overboard. With a small pond, I think yours was 500 gallons, you do have to be more careful, but not that extreme.

 

[koikeepr]

agreed. Just add the water and then the appropriate amount of dechlor for the water you've just added. No need to get nutty about it, as the doc says.

 

[hammer1320]

Thanks everybody for the help!