If you cannot run your waterfall pump at night – for example, it may make too much noise – then install a second very small pump that just runs overnight & that will keep water flowing through the filter.
The bacteria in a biofilter die if they are starved of oxygen for more than 5 hours which occurs when the pump is switched off overnight. Once dead the bacteria take between 4 and 6 weeks to become viable again. By installing a low-cost efficient pump such as a 1200L pump the filter is kept alive and the flow of water can be diverted direct to the pond without making a noise.
Water Remains Dirty Even When a Biofilter is Installed
There are a number of possible reasons for this but the most important is that the mechanical section of the filter is not doing a good job. You need to check if water is able to by-pass the mechanical section – for example are there gaps around the sponges or are there holes in the sponges.
There are a number of possible reasons for a filter not working mechanically this. You need to check if water is able to by-pass the mechanical section – for example are there gaps around the sponges or are there holes in the sponges. If the mechanical section is in perfect condition then algae could be the cause. Algae is not always green and it is so small as to be able to pass through sponges.
Why Do I Need A Biofilter?
In a swimming pool, the sand filter does the job of removing solids and particles that remain suspended in the water. This is filtration namely the removal of solids from liquids. However, the filter does not purify or clean the water. This job is done by the use of HTH. In this way, it is safe to swim in the water because all the harmful bacteria are killed by the chlorine.
Food is eaten by the fish, is partly digested, and partly expressed as a waste product by the fish. The fish needs to urinate and this passes into the water also. Toxic chemicals build up. The biofilter purifies these chemicals. Without the biofilter, the fish would poison themselves to death. The secondary reason for a biofilter is to remove solids to allow clear water to be obtained. Its first job however is to purify the water.
How Long Does it Take For a Biofilter to Start Working?
When a new pond is built it will typically take 4 to 6 weeks before the biofilter is working effectively. Therefore during this period only introduce new fish slowly.
A continuous supply of oxygen is required to enable the bacteria in the filter to live. This is why a pump must work 24 hours per day since the water is the source of oxygen for the bacteria and without the oxygen the bacteria die quickly, and certainly within 8 hours. Once dead the colony takes 4 to 6 weeks to build up again.
How Many Fish Can I Stock in My Pond?
First of all, decide what sort of fish you want to stock. You can put more goldfish than koi in the same-sized pond. The reason is that koi eat much more and grow much faster.
If you stock goldfish, work on a 2in (50cm) total length of fish per square meter of water surface. Work on half of this if you want to keep koi. With excellent biofiltration, you can stock about 50% more than this. So in a pond with a 20 sq ft (2 square metres) surface, you can stock up to 20 goldfish 5cm long. This allows for the fish to grow. It is best to stock goldfish in small ponds.
What Do You Mean By 97% Digestible For Koi Food?
As far as koi food is concerned the digestibility is governed by the type of raw material used. If you use high-grade raw materials in formulating fish foods then you get high protein and low ash.
97% digestible quite simply means such koi food is an extremely high purity food made from the best raw materials making all the contents of the bag with the exception of the ash and moisture available for the fish’s benefit.
What Type of Food is Best For My Fish?
Always buy the best food you can afford. This will give you good water quality and fish will grow to their optimum in your pond. Koi Sticks and Pond Sticks are a waste of money. It is far more economical and better to feed floating pellets. Just look at the analysis and you will understand why.
The best foods are those with ash levels of about 5% and moisture levels of about 5-8%. Never buy food that does not give this type of information on the packet. Ash and moisture are a total waste of money. Some foods have a total of ash and moisture = 25%. This means you are only getting 3/4 of a bag of food the rest is rubbish. The type of raw materials used is also very important. Look for herring meal or whole fish meal as the best ingredient and protein levels of 35% or more.
Lighting in Ponds. Are Lights in a Pond Dangerous?
For superb nighttime effects install a lighting system in the pond. Underwater lights are very safe since they use low-voltage (12V) systems. They are quite low in cost also.
You can have floating globes, underwater spotlights, in-ground spotlights, colored lenses, and many other pond light accessories.
What Pipe and Fittings Are Best to Use?
Until recently it was only possible to get a clear hose or normal hose pipe or to use a rigid PVC hose. All these suffered from major disadvantages. Transparent hose and garden hose pipe kink easily. Rigid pipes need expert fitting and are difficult from a maintenance viewpoint. It is now possible to buy ribbed hose.
Ribbed hose pipe does not kink and is easy to use and very versatile if used with the correct connections. Do spend a bit more on fittings and hose to reduce your pond-keeping hassles. Avoid using jubilee clips which rust and become difficult to remove for maintenance. If you do use clear hose make sure you do not have kinks in the line. This will severely restrict flow from your pump. Avoid sharp bends and minimize the number of connections in the lines.
What Pipe Sizes Do I Use in Connecting Pumps, Biofilters and UV Systems?
Always use the largest diameter pipe you can consistent with fittings on the pump or other piece of equipment. The reason is that a larger diameter pipe interferes less with the flow rate from the pump.
If a pump is supplied with a 20mm outlet then use 20mm pipe. If the pipe is to be very long, say 10 meters then it would be useful to install a reducer to increase the pipe size from 20mm to say 25mm. What is important is to reduce pipe length and increase pipe diameter to get the best out of your pump. Do not use 13mm fittings and pipes except on very small pumps.
What Chemicals Should I Put in My Pond?
None in most cases unless absolutely necessary and you know what you are doing. The absence of a filter is more often than not the reason people add chemicals.
When the situation is reached that chemicals are to be added to a pond then this should only be done under guidance. It is rarely necessary to treat pond water. Some exceptions are when it is important to start up a filter from scratch then a bio starter can be used. These are non-chemical and are perfectly safe to add. Another time is if you get blanketweed One remedy for this is Biotal All Clear. This is a natural product that can do no damage.
I Want A Pond But I Am Not Sure of Many Things. What Do I Do?
Nothing until you have spoken to a reliable source of information and products.
If you are not sure ask someone who can give you good advice. If the advice is sound and makes sense and can be backed up by example or published information then it is probably good advice. However, if something does not make good sense to you maybe seek further advice and certainly probe the advice given. A bad installation is expensive to fix.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN INSTALLING A POND?
The pond installation is the most cumbersome and therefore the most difficult part of the total project so do your best to get this right. Seek help if you do not feel comfortable doing the job yourself. Most important do not rush it – take your time, get it to fit well into the hole, and create good backfill and edging support where necessary.
For preformed pond installation TAKE the trouble to get the pond levelled. If you do not the pond will certainly appear lopsided once the water has been filled into it. Use a sprit level. For larger ponds use a black plastic liner designed for pond building. Look for a 15-year or more guarantee and get the surround level.
What Does a Complete Pond Cost?
This is an impossible question to be answered simply. As a general rule, however, rather spend more on a small pond than go for a larger pond and skimp on equipment.
Simple garden ponds range from $1,800 to $6,000. A very beautiful pond including all necessary equipment can be created within a day by unskilled people choosing the DIY approach for a cost of around $1,800 for a small 300/400-litre pond to about $6,000 for a larger pond of about 5,000 litres. Such ponds will incur minimum running costs and will involve very little maintenance if the ideas in this website are understood and followed. It is vital that the brand of equipment specified is of good quality.
What Precautions Must I Take if I Install a Liner Pond?
The fundamental potential problem lies with the fact that a liner is relatively thin at between 300 and 500 microns. Avoid complex shapes. Do not worry about the liner pleats that will inevitably remain in the pond.
If you are going to build a liner pond before placing the liner in the excavated hole it is important to line the hole with old carpet, underlay, newspapers, or something like this to prevent stones from finding their way to the interface with the liner and possibly puncturing it. If you have dogs that like swimming then a liner pond can be a bad idea since clawing the liner will inevitably damage it.