UV Filter and Koi Question

[pwncpa]

Hey guys! My son and I built a pond a few months ago - its about 900 gallons. We have some plants and 2 large koi and about 4 very small koi.

We purchased a UV filter/pump from our local hardware store, much like this one:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_8445-48650-...&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=smartpond&facetInfo=

(I frankly forget what the capacity is, but I can look at the pump in the morning if need be). Anyway, we are getting quite a bit of floating algea. I understand that this pump will only kill of the "single cell" algea (although I don't really know what that means, I assume that means the floating stuff, but not the string stuff). My questions are:
1. I am thinking that maybe the bulb is burned out, but I don't know how to check.
2. My son and I clean the pond weekly, as I was hoping to save money and not get another filter for larger stuff - is this ok, or do I need to get a larger filter? If so, any recommendations?
3. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated!

Secondly, one of our koi seems to have some algea on him, and I am wondering if this is normal. If not, what is the best treatment for the koi?

Thanks for helping me learn!

 

[addy1]

700 GPH Submersible Water Garden Pond Pump

• Combines high performance pump and UV clarifier in one unit
• Reduces micro-oranisms and bacteria resulting in clean, clear water
• Uses cold-cathode UV bulbs which maintain optimum performance 2 times longer than traditional UV bulbs.
• Auto shut-off feature:UV pumps shut off automatically in low water conditions or when the pump is out of water. This will enhance the life of the pump.

Single cell algae is the stuff that makes your water look green. The floating stuff is other algae. Do you have a filter? not the pump but a filter the water is pumped into, then back into the pond.

1) You would need to check the instruction manual for how to check the bulb.
2) if you don't mind cleaning the pond weekly.........but, if you want you could build an inexpensive diy filter, check the diy section there are a lot of nice ones. Those pumps come with a small foam "filter" which is mainly just to keep large stuff from being sucked into your pump, it is not really a filter. Those little foam blocks clog up fast, need to be cleaned a lot. A lot of people that use the submersible pump take that foam block out, put the pump in a crate with other filter material around the intake of the pump, then pump the water into a filter. Ones that use them will chime in as they read this. I use external pumps.

3) have you tested your water? ammonia, ph etc?

Post a picture of your koi in the illness section, that will help those that know koi and illness will be able to help you. A good close up of the "algae" on it, catch the fish if you can, put it into a bowl and take a picture of the area you are worried about.

 

[sissy]

With koi you have to give them a little more filtering and a lot more aeration .Koi produce a lot of waste and you need to filter and net the bottom more to get it out and a good high gph pump is better because the distance it will need to run to get to the filter and water fall pluss a fountain head helps aerate the water .I have 2 koi over 2 feet long and 2 filters and 2 pumps one pump is 2900 gph and the other is 940 gph ..The 2900 gph goes to the filter with a split off to the waterfall and a fountain head and 3 spitters and still have some left to just pump into the pond .

 

[koiguy1969]

your U.V bulb is not likely burned out..they are usually effective for 11 months continuous use, starting to slowly lose effectiveness after 8 or so.. but continue to burn long past that. there should be a small window in the U.V chamber so you can se it lit. or some use clear hose mounting nipples so you can see the light around the end of the hose. you are correct, the U.V is only for green water Single cell algeas. (single cell is just that..single cell..meaning each plant is a single cell.) as they die they can and sometimes do clump together. but much of the floating algeas are filamentous algeas or string algeas. they clump together and rise to the surface and setlle to the bottom as the sun light dictates. water changes are a plus, and a light netting of the ponds floor on a regular basis is a good thing as well. what kind of bio filtration are you currently using?....theres no such thing as over filtration!!!...better to have it and not neccessarily need it than to need it and not have it!!...this depends on fish load, (fish to water volume ratio) feeding habits, like quality of food fed, amount and frequency of feeding. quality filtration can greatly make up for lack of water volume and a well made DIY filter can and will usually outperform alot of store bought filters costing more...check the DIY section here on this forum. there are several good threads on the construction of bio filters. i have 2 build threads there myself.