Sparky’s Pond Build.

[Sparky]

"The particular wavelength of light that the bulb emits is harmful when it comes in contact with things around it. So when organisms such as bacteria, parasitic protozoa, and algae cells come in contact with the light from the bulb, their DNA is altered, ultimately causing harm and death to the organism. In essence, they are 'nuked.'"
https://www.aquascapeinc.com/water-gardening/maintenance-and-care/uv-clarifiers-vs-uv-sterilizers

After they are nuked they clump together and get filtered out by your mechanical filtration, but if you don't clean your filter pads regularly it will just add more decaying biological material to the system. Mine helped a lot in the beginning but now that my pond is established I could most likely turn it off and I wouldn't notice a difference.

Ahhhh. They’re not too spendy but I might tinker a bit with some stuff I have laying around. The bottom drawer of my gravity rig just holds outgoing H2O. I would need to shield it from killing the good guys living in the drawers above I bet.

 

[ShawnInfirmity]

I would definitely wait it out if you can, but I am not the most patient person in the world so I invested in the UV clarifier. The one I bought is currently $127.56 on Amazon and is sized for up to 1800 gallon ponds but the max recommended flow is around 900 gallons per hour so you would probably need a smaller pump or a seperate line just for the UV.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00474FI48/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Panzer13]

I would do a little reading on UV. It will kill algae and bacteria, but it does nothing for the cause of the algae. Meaning it does not address the biological load on the pond. In fact it adds to it as the dead algae will decompose in the pond.

Further the longer the UV is in operation the more it degrades and will have to be replaced which is spendy.

Personally I bot a large prefilter with a fine filter media. This collects the free floating algae and other free floating funk in the pond. I also added the bog for increased biological filtration.

This was not a cheap solution either but has address my algae problem and made the pond allot healthier.

This is a decent article on the pros and cons of UV.

http://www.watergarden.org/Pond-Info/Facts-About-UV

 

[TAHOE]

I know nothing about painting. I can wire a house but .... Does someone know the proper steps for prepping and painting treated lumber.

Kind of late to the party, but you are supposed to wait 6 months to a year to properly paint/stain treated wood to let he treatment dry out. If all else, you can stain it again later.

Nice pond and design, I think it will hold up well. I like your storage trickle filter, they are a favorite for DIY aquarist.

 

[Sparky]

Kind of late to the party, but you are supposed to wait 6 months to a year to properly paint/stain treated wood to let he treatment dry out. If all else, you can stain it again later.

Nice pond and design, I think it will hold up well. I like your storage trickle filter, they are a favorite for DIY aquarist.

Thankyou. I did not wait but it was somewhat dry. I used a heavy black deck stain with the assumption I’d be hitting it again. I love the fact I can change pads without stopping the pump. Jury is out on lifespan of B.B. without flowing water and a pad change is all of 10 minutes but...it’s convenient as well. Seems to be doing a great job however I just had my algae bloom so clarity is down.

 

[Sparky]

This is a decent article on the pros and cons of UV.

http://www.watergarden.org/Pond-Info/Facts-About-UV

Good quick info! As the keeper of 15 tanks I look at this pond just as one of my glass cohorts. Same attention. I am willing to try a little blast of UV in my h20 return drawer during this bloom just as an experiment. I found a UV emmiter at our shop so I’m going to play with it. Just have to tinker. Hmmm wife says that to me too.

 

[Panzer13]

Good quick info! As the keeper of 15 tanks I look at this pond just as one of my glass cohorts. Same attention. I am willing to try a little blast of UV in my h20 return drawer during this bloom just as an experiment. I found a UV emmiter at our shop so I’m going to play with it. Just have to tinker. Hmmm wife says that to me too.

I am a tinkerer myself. The algae bloom probably has allot to do with the fact that the pond is new. It takes time for everything to balance out as I am sure you know.

 

[Panzer13]

Kind of late to the party, but you are supposed to wait 6 months to a year to properly paint/stain treated wood to let he treatment dry out. If all else, you can stain it again later.

Can you provide more facts to back up your statement? Paint and stain dries in 48 hours in good conditions.

 

[Sparky]

I am a tinkerer myself. The algae bloom probably has allot to do with the fact that the pond is new. It takes time for everything to balance out as I am sure you know.

I’m not too concerned as my plant load is getting hungry with the warmer temps. I didn’t think the bloom would be this heavy but chemicals are out of the question. Algae should start thinning soon. Murder on my pads though.

 

[TAHOE]

I dont have printed facts on hands, every home improvement show, video or comstruction personality state to let fresh treated wood sit for 6 month to a year before painting or staining to let the treatment chemicals completely dry from wood. I've personally picked up some new treated wood that was stored inside and it was practically dripping wet from treatment.

 

[Jhn]

Tahoe, is correct. You don't want to paint/stain treated wood until it dries out, which takes roughly 6 months minimum.

Treated wood is pressure treated, so the chemicals are forced into the wood, it's not a surface stain or paint. So, it takes much longer to let it dry.