The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

UV question. I see that they should be installed after the filter. OK, I have 2 filtration systems on my pond. One is the waterfall/filter box, so "after the filter" would be difficult. The other is the skimmer, which has a basket and filter the water goes through, then through the bog. Would it be best then to put the UV after the skimmer, before the bog? I'm looking at a 36W Jebao. Is this a good type of UV light? I know one person said that you should check on the price of the bulb replacements. This one looks like it's $20 for the replacement bulb. The light with a bulb new is $83. Good price? Do I need more or less wattage? Thanks! Going to order one this evening, so any help would be greatly appreciated. They don't carry these at Menards. :-(
Oh, another question. I got my Laguna pump yesterday. Should I use it and keep the Sunterra for a backup, or would you suggest I return the Sunterra since it crapped out on me already once? THANKS!!!

 

[addy1]

You bog would be happier with no extra filtration, it likes the nutrients. But adding the uv in line would probably not hurt it.

 

[CountryEscape]

Would it be best then to add it before the waterfall filter? I would prefer to put it there, as that will be on the back side of the pond, and there will be plants sooner rather than later on that side, easier to hide it.

 

[addy1]

Well for you bogs sake I would, but I don't use one, not sure if junk in the water could hurt it. Maybe put a leaf basket in line before the uv light.

 

[CountryEscape]

It says to put it after a filter, since I would have to clean the tube more often if it's before. I'll think about it this weekend, ask boyfriend what he thinks, go from there. I'm just anxious to have clear water. I think it's something to use for a week or two, then remove it for the rest of the summer, from what I've read others do in this area.

 

[fishin4cars]

Jebao isn't a bad UV light, My buddy has one and it works great! Recommend size, 1 watt per 100 gallons or a little more. I would If this is possible, Cut your pipe going to the water fall, add a tee and a valve and reduce the pipe size down to 1' or 3/4" Hook this up directly to the UV light and go straight back to the pond or the water fall. this way you can slow the water flow down going through the light. you should have plenty of water flow going to the water fall so this bleedoff line going to the UV isn't going to take that much water away from the water fall itself. I wouldn't run more than about 1000 gph through the UV light at a time. It can be run right back to the water fall and you wouldn't loss any water fall effect.

 

[koiguy1969]

i wouldnt put much more than 1000 gph thru your filter C.E; its kind of small. especially for a pond your size. your weir will handle probably 2500 gph. but that flow on a smaller filter wont give the water any real retention time in filtration. or maybe I'm wrong, what size is that tote you used?
a 36 watt U.V should easily handle 2500gph flow....i put 1200gph thru a 9 watt U.V and it did a bangup job!

 

[koiguy1969]

oh...they tell you to put your U.V after the filter to sell you a pricey pressure filter!!! on a gravity return filter, you pretty much have to put it before the filter. you'd be hardpressed to put a U.V after it. ive always ran mine before the filter and have had beautiful results.

 

[CountryEscape]

Fishin, thanks for the great idea for the tee and valve! Will get that at Menards soon as I can get a UV light ordered and installed!
KoiGuy, I got a tiny crack on the drain on the old tote/filter box, and it was only maybe 18 gallon and others besides you said it was pretty small, so I bought a 55 gallon squareish garbage can, very heavy duty made, almost as thick as your weir, but not quite. I moved all the filter media to the new container tonight, and have it running. Still need to dig it in at the back of the waterfall "hill", but right now it's ok spewing out about 3.5' up! If I get high winds, it will still go in to the "trough" the container is sitting in, and back into the pond. Will take a pic in the a.m. Finished when it was dark tonight. Just glad to have it running. Need to get new filter media. I also put a block under the water outlet at the bottom, so the water would flow easier out the drain.
Question: Do I need to have the area from the bottom "shelf" to the top shelf filled with filter media, or is it sufficient to have about 1.5' of filter media between rough open sponge like filter at the bottom and closed cell filter at the top? That's how I have it now, but can sure add more to it. Rinsed out the filter stuff while it was out with well water (no chlorine) and it was pretty green! Still have green water.
Oh, and my PH is 8.4. Some say don't worry, other say need to get it below 8. What is the general consensus? I added a full dose of beneficial bacteria tonight and planning to get a 36 watt UV light ordered this evening, hoping to get it by mid-week and get rid of the green water, although I know the fish are ok with it. I want to be able to see the fish! Put in a few 27 cent goldies (2-3" size) from Petsmart today. Picked the individual ones they put in the other tropical tanks, as they were same price, but much larger.

 

[fishin4cars]

Question: Do I need to have the area from the bottom "shelf" to the top shelf filled with filter media, or is it sufficient to have about 1.5' of filter media between rough open sponge like filter at the bottom and closed cell filter at the top? That's how I have it now, but can sure add more to it. Rinsed out the filter stuff while it was out with well water (no chlorine) and it was pretty green! Still have green water.
Oh, and my PH is 8.4. Some say don't worry, other say need to get it below 8. What is the general consensus? I added a full dose of beneficial bacteria tonight and planning to get a 36 watt UV light ordered this evening, hoping to get it by mid-week and get rid of the green water, although I know the fish are ok with it. I want to be able to see the fish! Put in a few 27 cent goldies (2-3" size) from Petsmart today. Picked the individual ones they put in the other tropical tanks, as they were same price, but much larger.

The more filter media you have in that void in my opnion the better, This gives more surface contact area for the bacteria to grow on, But don't over pack it tight. The PH, 8.4 for goldfisk is fine, you shouldn't have a problem. just keep an eye on it, make sure it doesn't climb, Stable at 8.4 should be good.

 

[CountryEscape]

Ok, great, thanks Fishin. BTW, I intend to eventually add koi, so will the PH need to be lowered, or are they same as goldfish, can tolerate wide range, as long as it doesn't go up and down? I will buy more scrubbies then, hoping that they are still on sale. And, I'll try the quilt batting once I get the main stuff cleared up. Very anxious to be able to see the bottom. After 5" of rain over the weekend I was glad I had not added water, as my skimmer only had about 1" of water going into it! Now it's at the top edge! Going to get floating rope or something to corral the water hyacinth to keep them out of the skimmer, darn it. Put them in the bog for now, got tired of fishing them out of the skimmer basket every evening.

 

[fishin4cars]

I would wait for now on the koi, give the pond time to cycle and become stable, hopefully by this time the PH will stabilize a little lower. Koi really need to be above 7.0 but don't need much over 8.0. your close and I doubt it would bother them if it stays in that area or slightly lower and in most cases, once algae and plants start growing your PH should lower slightly on it's own with no adjustments.

 

[CountryEscape]

I purchased one more plant today, and am going to go out to my farm pond and take pictures of the lilly pads (possibly flowering type, although I've never noticed) and see if anyone can identify them, and whether or not they would be safe to put in the koi pond, with rinsing and cleaning. Don't want to introduce any parasites, etc., so may just purchase one plant of that type and let it multiply instead.

 

[addy1]

My floating rope is working great country, since I don't need to protect the plants, even grab the rope and move them every now and then to a different pond spot. Had to increase the size, since those suckers keep growing. Tons of fry hide in the roots of them and one of my frogs sits on them and croaks at me.

 

[CountryEscape]

Yes, I will do that, Addy. I also want to buy a lettuce plant. Just one, since they multiply, right? I think the lettuce also does not survive the winter, is that right? I'm seriously thinking of putting a tub of hyacinths and anything else that is not winter hardy in IL in the basement with a bubbler and try to keep them through the winter. I know koi like to eat the lettuce, so I guess it would need separate ring with a net under it. No koi yet, though ... just goldies.
No floaters this a.m., so that's a good sign! Ordered UV light, can't wait to get it and hook it up and get clear water!
And, my frog population is now up to maybe 5! Those babies are the loud ones, too, but I love it! One has a green racing stripe on his back. Keep forgetting to take camera outside with me for pics. Others are mostly brown, little guys, less than 2" long when sitting. LOUD, though. LOL