Carpe_Diem
"Seize The Day"
Good day all,
My 2700 gallon rock pond is doing ok I guess. I am experiencing an algae bloom with hair(string) algae everywhere.
I put in a large bag of Barley Pellets in the waterfall weir on top of the lava rock about a week a go and it has cleared the green water but not
the algae har. In fact my water has somewhat of a steaped tea color to it now.
I have no fish, which I have been told will eat hair algae and I don't think I have enough plants in the pond to compete with the algae for
nutrients. This pond also gets a lot of sun.
Pond Specs:
-2700 gallons
-Pump = 3100 gph easypro in the skimmer box.
-Skimmer has a filter pad and basket.
-Water is drawn to a waterfall weir filled with Lava rock and Barley Pellets
I have cleaned out the basket and filter pad twice but they were not really that dirty. I have not done a water change as I have not purchased a second pump to do that as yet but I have no fish polluting the water at this time.
Story:
Our local garden nursery which carries pond supplies(including fish), as well as plant supplies also has two ponds running on there property. The owner who has been a pond guy for over 17 years keeps his main(larger) pond running all winter with the same set up
I have. Skimmer box and waterfall weir, nothing else. Says he leaves the waterfall running all winter. No heater in use. Never has needed to unhook the pump for any reason including cleaning.
His pond is a rock pond roughly the same size as mine with rocks!!!!. They have several large size and various other size koi in this pond and he mentioned they have ran it like this for 10 years?? He also has never been inside the pond to clean it!!, Not once? He cleans the skimmer out and the media in the waterfall weir and adds sludge remover to help the skimm pick up more stuff.
2 Questions for serious KOI owners:
1. I also want to run my pond all winter to include the waterfall. What are the risks?
2. Has this guy been incredibly lucky going this long without the having major problems I have read about with respect to having a rock
bottom pond especially considering they have not even done a major empty and clean that is usually required if having koi in a rock
bottom pond?
Thanks in advance.
My 2700 gallon rock pond is doing ok I guess. I am experiencing an algae bloom with hair(string) algae everywhere.
I put in a large bag of Barley Pellets in the waterfall weir on top of the lava rock about a week a go and it has cleared the green water but not
the algae har. In fact my water has somewhat of a steaped tea color to it now.
I have no fish, which I have been told will eat hair algae and I don't think I have enough plants in the pond to compete with the algae for
nutrients. This pond also gets a lot of sun.
Pond Specs:
-2700 gallons
-Pump = 3100 gph easypro in the skimmer box.
-Skimmer has a filter pad and basket.
-Water is drawn to a waterfall weir filled with Lava rock and Barley Pellets
I have cleaned out the basket and filter pad twice but they were not really that dirty. I have not done a water change as I have not purchased a second pump to do that as yet but I have no fish polluting the water at this time.
Story:
Our local garden nursery which carries pond supplies(including fish), as well as plant supplies also has two ponds running on there property. The owner who has been a pond guy for over 17 years keeps his main(larger) pond running all winter with the same set up
I have. Skimmer box and waterfall weir, nothing else. Says he leaves the waterfall running all winter. No heater in use. Never has needed to unhook the pump for any reason including cleaning.
His pond is a rock pond roughly the same size as mine with rocks!!!!. They have several large size and various other size koi in this pond and he mentioned they have ran it like this for 10 years?? He also has never been inside the pond to clean it!!, Not once? He cleans the skimmer out and the media in the waterfall weir and adds sludge remover to help the skimm pick up more stuff.
2 Questions for serious KOI owners:
1. I also want to run my pond all winter to include the waterfall. What are the risks?
2. Has this guy been incredibly lucky going this long without the having major problems I have read about with respect to having a rock
bottom pond especially considering they have not even done a major empty and clean that is usually required if having koi in a rock
bottom pond?
Thanks in advance.