- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
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- 3,990
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- Location
- Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
- Hardiness Zone
- 6a
You have been given excellent advice so far.
I would like to add a bit more...
When rinsing your filter pads, use pond water in a bucket. Don't use your home's chlorinated water. It will kill the beneficial bacteria on the pads and in your filter box. Your pond will have to cycle all over again. Never rinse the bio media in your filter. The beneficial bacteria has colonized on it and you don't want to disturb that. Only rinse the pads.
As far as water changes, that's a matter of opinion, but I never do that. I really don't feel it's necessary. Ponds are different than aquariums. I let nature do it for me when it rains.
I think you mentioned something about cleaning out and refilling. Don't do that either. Again, this is not an aquarium.
I'm also an advocate of bog filtration. I sold both my pressure filters and UV light once I built the bog. No maintenance with a bog. There's no filter pads to constantly rinse out. Believe me, that rinsing gets old real quick and takes the fun out of owning a pond. My water has never been this clear in over a decade of using all kinds of filters.
I would like to add a bit more...
When rinsing your filter pads, use pond water in a bucket. Don't use your home's chlorinated water. It will kill the beneficial bacteria on the pads and in your filter box. Your pond will have to cycle all over again. Never rinse the bio media in your filter. The beneficial bacteria has colonized on it and you don't want to disturb that. Only rinse the pads.
As far as water changes, that's a matter of opinion, but I never do that. I really don't feel it's necessary. Ponds are different than aquariums. I let nature do it for me when it rains.
I think you mentioned something about cleaning out and refilling. Don't do that either. Again, this is not an aquarium.
I'm also an advocate of bog filtration. I sold both my pressure filters and UV light once I built the bog. No maintenance with a bog. There's no filter pads to constantly rinse out. Believe me, that rinsing gets old real quick and takes the fun out of owning a pond. My water has never been this clear in over a decade of using all kinds of filters.