new pond ?s

[mjs97]

my wife and i just got done building a pond that is 13'x15' (rubber liner). deepest end is 3'. we installed a 4'x6' pond bog (preformed plastic liner) about 3' above the main pond. the we have a waterfall going from bog to main pond. we have a 3000 sunterra pump submerged in the bottom of the deep end of the main pond. in the bog i built a pvc manifold and drill 1/4 holes every 4". i also have a valve before the manifold so i can regulate how much water is forced thur the bog and how much is just sent down the waterfall. i was worried that 3000 gal per hr would to much flow for the bog. we are hoping this bog will be enough filtration for the pond. right now we only have 2 4" goldfish in it. we will add maybe 10 goldfish and 5 koi later.

does this sound like a decent setup? we dont have much experience with ponds. i have been doing a lot of reading on these sites, which really helps, however there are alot of opinions out there. so trying to learn.

so now my ?'s. we filled it 10 days ago and now it is turning really green. i know it will take time to cycle. i am wondering if i should do anything to help cycle it faster. will adding more fish help? we dont have any plants in the bog yet. should we add them now or wait? we have 7 floating plants (small hyacinths). also have 2 lilys in the main pond(small just starting to grow).

any help is greatly appreciated.
matt

 

[fishin4cars]

Matt, PLEASE post a introduction thread. Then we will gladly try to help.

 

[addy1]

Welcome Matt!

Get your plants going in the bog, plants in the pond, give it time.

 

[j.w]

Matt

They like you to put your intro into the Introduction thread first, then start posting in the other threads.........

 

[mjs97]

i just posted in the intro- sorry about that.

 

[taherrmann4]

Welcome mjs97

 

[j.w]

Hey no problem Matt and add lots of plants to your bog as addy suggested.........your water will just take time to naturally cycle and green will go away. addy has a huge bog if you check out her links. The more plants the better to feed off the green.

 

[taherrmann4]

When I first started mine up I bought some beneficial bacteria and added it to the pond but there are different opinions on this. I also add barley extract to this day every couple of weeks. Then be sure to get plants, floating ones, some lillies and maybe some oxgenators (mykoi ate all these so I no longer do anacharis etc).

 

[KennethO]

Welcome.

If you can, I'd recommend you pick up a master test kit. You can monitor the levels and see how close it is to finishing the cycle. For a new pond I would also recommend picking up a bacterial additive just to get things moving.

You should see the Ammonia spike then drop. Followed by the nitrites. Once both drop back to 0-.25ppm then your set. NitrAtes may continue to rise but that is normal and the final product of the filter. Do water changes to lower it if they get above 50ppm.