Water is Cleanest it's been in 12 months

[shanezam203]

Finally after a few months of fighting with alge and debating a drain and fill, my water was so dirty I could only see about 6-12 inches down. After installing a nice UV light and 2nd filter in my falls I am FINALLY able to see the BOTTOM floor and the water is So Clean! Also important to note is CLEANING the filter media daily or as often as possible, hose off the filter media and clean the falls filtration system and the water will get better and better. Do not do a drain and fill.

These pics don't do it justice but my pump and PVC is 6 feet down and I can see it clearly during the day. The fish appear happy and everything is going well in and around my pond.

:afro: Shane

 

[Shdwdrgn]

A month after I set up my new pond, I got the worst pea-green algae I had ever seen, and it took almost 2 months before it started clearing up. That was in 2011, and I haven't had any trouble with pea soup since then (although I have had my rounds with the floating clump-algae this year). The hardest part is getting through that initial phase while your pond tries to balance itself.

I have to ask -- do you have biological filters? You mentioned hosing off the filter media, and if you have chlorinated city water, that will kill your bacteria every time. Without the bacteria, your filter can't process fish waste, resulting in a high ammonia level.

Nice brick work, your pond looks great!

 

[Jason]

Looks good! What pump is pushing the two Spitters (GPH wise)? I like the Tree Stump Bench you made too! The Lights on your falls, are they UV or heat lamps?

 

[HTH]

Looking good shanezam203.

We all want ponds to cycle, come into balance, and clear up faster then does mother nature.

 

[shanezam203]

Thanks for the notes, I am not sure about the filters, I have 2 Laguna Falls filtration systems & 2 pumps going to the falls. 4800 and 2000 gph I believe, I put the gaiser in the middle to SLOW down the water going through the falls, it is catching more alge now.

For the spitters I have a very Small 350 gph or so pump going to a T and then 15 foot each leg to the turtle and frog. The lights are regular outdoor/ crawlspace clamping lights with outdoor bulbs in them, not heat lamps no.


Laguna PowerFlo High Efficiency Water Fall Filtration System, 5000-Gallon

 

[sissy]

hey see you used your stump and a log yeh :cheerful:

 

[Jason]

Wow! That little 350gph puts out some pressure for running a total of 30' of I'm guessing 1/2'' ID and Two Spitters!

 

[shanezam203]

Wow! That little 350gph puts out some pressure for running a total of 30' of I'm guessing 1/2'' ID and Two Spitters!

Right, I was thinking that when I typed it, but I know it is NOT a big pump but yes if the filter is clean in the pump both spiters do appear to have a high flow + are almost 30 feet apart.

 

[sissy]

I use the clamp lights to but use LED bulbs to save energy and I like the lights shining down ,better than up into your eyes .I think it shows the fish off better and the pond .LED bulbs do not attract bugs also,They can not see LED light

 

[sissy]

Gave to ask what brabd is you pump since it pumps so much water .I need another one for my stock tank .Pulled mine out and wind kicked up and knocked it to the ground and case cracked .Worked great too ,but was 8 year old harbor freight one , so guessing the plastic was brittle

 

[shanezam203]

Gave to ask what brabd is you pump since it pumps so much water .I need another one for my stock tank .Pulled mine out and wind kicked up and knocked it to the ground and case cracked .Worked great too ,but was 8 year old harbor freight one , so guessing the plastic was brittle

The small one doing the turtle and spitters is from Menards, pry $40-$60 and I have a T on it going 15 feet in each direction.

The one to the UV is a 2100gph and about $90 from Harbor Freight and my large waterfall one is 4200gph I got at a local pet shop.

 

[sissy]

I have the 2150 from HF and it works great but don't care for the other one I have ,But did find a nice one on pondfilter.com140 dollars3325 gph watts used 126 never heard of magnetically coupled pump only down fall was a 20 ft cord .But thinking I can get past that

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I've had unbelievably good luck with clear water. it got green for about a week and cleared itself up. i dont have a uv light or a filter larger than the small ones that come on the pumps. We are planning on adding a larger filter, especially if we make a bigger pond next spring.

 

[shanezam203]

Another nice Pic of the fish and bottom of the pond. That is 6 feet down!

So glad I didn't do a drain and fill, all it took was UV and cleaning filters as often as possible.

 

[addy1]

very nice