Koi Forum (Nishikigoi - Japanese Koi Fish): KOI Talk: DIY Corner: Diy PS & UV light (new photo at page (4) 28-06-08)

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Diy PS & UV light (new photo at page (4) 28-06-08)

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chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 14, 2008, 12:25 PM

Post #1 of 179 (4029 views)
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Diy PS & UV light (new photo at page (4) 28-06-08)	Can't Post

Hi....
I have diy a protein skimmer for my koi pond & i dont know whether its work or not???
But seem the water is getting better now...
Pls comment... Smile

My diy PS (25mm pipe). Put an air stone into the bottom of the pipe.

Cut the 25mm as show in the pic and place it into the T.

Left (30%) space for the outlet.

The PS running....

Place a barrel for the waste from PS.

The result from pond water(left) & water from PS(right).....

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on Jun 28, 2008, 2:29 PM)

kelvinbay
Koi Lover

Apr 14, 2008, 4:57 PM

Post #2 of 179 (4000 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Interesting innovation. Wonder why the water was greenish ?

I had a vortex before, the discharge was borwnish, never greenish.

Anyone could explain ?

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 15, 2008, 3:24 PM

Post #3 of 179 (3957 views)
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Re: [kelvinbay] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I had green water problem when i started my pond from Jan2007 until Sept2007 the water turn back to clear,
then i keep improve the filtration system and i added a T.T for my pond 2.
But dont know y the green water came back again on march2008,
tats y i made a PS for my pond to try whether it will work or not.
Bad thing keep coming to my pond today...
When i went back home for lunch this afternoon, i saw my showa was on the floor near by the pond
and i quickly toke it up but its too late she was dead......... Frown

I m so sad....... Frown

not only the death koi and also the green water too.
Bcos i did all the good thing to my pond but green water still coming back to me....
I wont giv up but i just need some of u guys here to supporting me kekekeke..... Wink

Thanks all of u here to listen my sad story....

water
Koi Lover

Apr 15, 2008, 5:07 PM

Post #4 of 179 (3949 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

It is interesting that your PS turns out green water.... should be yellowish oily stuff which usually floats on the surface. If you have seen one of the Fab Turbo cleaner in action, they literally dripped oil out. Also, the dead koi - it is nothing to do with the green water... I believe the green water is only the symptom and there is something else which is very wrong with the pond or the filter. For the green water to come back, the filter may have lost it effectiveness. Do you install any UV light ? Do check and measure your water parameters ...

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2008, 11:34 AM

Post #5 of 179 (3915 views)
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Re: [water] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi..
U mean tat my PS not works well?
I think so.... Bcos i use only a normal air stone.
I shld get a wood diffuser for my PS, but do u believe tat i cant found any wood diffuser at any lfs in my town???
Hahahha.... tat is true...i cant even found 1 from lfs!
Back to our topic, wat do u think if i put a wood diffuser or add more air hose with w.diffuser for more bubbles?
I dont hav UV light in my pond and i will test the water parameters soon...
Thanks for the input....

In Reply To

water
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2008, 2:14 PM

Post #6 of 179 (3906 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think the PS should be the last of your worries. Aren't you concern about finding out what causes your koi to die... something is wrong with your filter or water... Leave the PS alone and investigate the cause of death of your koi. The PS has nothing to do with the death or at least, should not be the main primary cause.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2008, 3:25 PM

Post #7 of 179 (3903 views)
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Re: [water] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes sure, but i tot tat was only cause by accidental death..
ok then we discuss here..
My pond size is 8 x 12f x 3ft(d) 10 ton water include filter.
11pcs of koi (14-16"/pc)
3 sub. pump run 22ton/hr
My filter system is using a 40w air pump for the 2-4 chamber.
1st chamber settlement with b.brush
2nd J.mat
3rd coral + ceramic ring 300kg+-
4th J.mat
5th T.T
Maintenance of the pond
I clean the brush while doing water change(15%) once a week. I also dripping water to the pond 24hr non stop.
But i think no matter how i shld test my water parameter 1st.

water
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2008, 4:14 PM

Post #8 of 179 (3901 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, you should test your water. In a mature pond, the water turning green would either mean that the filter suddenly lost its effectiveness or something ie. like a roof covering the pond is suddenly removed or something happened. No fish would die accidentally without any external marks.. and even with external marks, some could be burst ulcers ... which are indicators that the fish was attacked by bacteria or parasites.... or if the gills are burned, then either by nitrite poisoning. So, I would urge you to test water and don't assume that the fish die accidentally... don't think that happened so often in a matured pond.

If it is a parasite or bacteria problem, then the problem may spread to other fishes. Be careful.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2008, 4:42 PM

Post #9 of 179 (3900 views)
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Re: [water] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thank u so much for ur advise or else i m still thinking tat my fish die accidentaly.
For the pond water turn to green i think is bcos of i doing water change last month with tape water.
Normally i use 50% tank water & 50% tape water to add on my pond.
But on tat day i use 100% of tap water to add on it, at the same time the pond water started to turn cloudy.
After few days turn yellowish then more few days turn green until now.
I did add some bacteria for the pond last week (at tat time cannot see fish at all),
seem the water is turn clear now (can see the fish 1ft deep from top).
Hope tat will turn back clear quickly and no more fish jump out again.... Frown

Thanks again.... Smile

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on Apr 17, 2008, 1:15 PM)

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 17, 2008, 1:24 PM

Post #10 of 179 (3853 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi tm,

Yes, u r right my pond may hav some problem to cause the koi jump.

Here r my pond water parameter:
Ph-7.6 NH3 0.03 test by water test kit
Ph-6.5 Nh3 0.00 test by ph pen
No3- 5mg/L is this same to 5ppm?? (all test by last night)
After test the water i do water change 10%, test again this morning the No3 turn lower a bit.
What shld i do now??? keep doing water change?? add bacteria??
pls comment...!

water
Koi Lover

Apr 17, 2008, 1:32 PM

Post #11 of 179 (3850 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Your parameter seems ok. So, it may not be the effectiveness of your filter but I don't know why the green water given that your nitrate is not high. Adding a UV light will clear the green water. But if your koi jumps often, it may means that something is attacking their skin and they feel uncomfortable. Hence, they jumps, flash to try to rid whatever is on their skin. But they are under stress. Could be parasite but we don't know what ? The best way would be to take the dead koi and do a scrap of the skin and detect the parasite under microscope but my guess is that you would have thrown away the dead koi by now.

Perhaps, you can try clearing the water first and observe how the fish swims... they should swim slowly not rapidly or quickly nor dash around (unless they are new to the pond environment or it is a new pond)... they should not flash, flick or scrap themselves against surfaces or the bottom and they should not lie at the bottom without swimming. Observe the external features and see if there are lumps, swelling, cotton wood like substances or redness on kois.

Advise you check out the Koi Health and Disease section of this forum. There are many tips and discussion on the various problems with kois. But once you have unexplained death and koi jumping situation, it is likely that your water is carrying a parasite. Some attacked the gills and kills the fish quickly, some attached themselves to the skin and the fish dies slowly...

(This post was edited by water on Apr 17, 2008, 1:45 PM)

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 17, 2008, 3:11 PM

Post #12 of 179 (3841 views)
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Re: [water] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

O..... tats mean 5ppm of nitrate is not too high, so how many ppm of nitrate will harm to the fish?
Actually i never see my fish jump or scrap to the pond side b4, if i saw sure i will toke attention to it.
Bcos I hav experience for the parasite 6months ago, which i bought a new koi to put into the pond with out quarantine.
Then all my koi got infect by the new fish. I treat the parasite by salt,
after 2 weeks the koi recover but the new fish was die few days after.
From that i learn never add new fish
with out quarantine......!!!!

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on Apr 17, 2008, 3:39 PM)

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 17, 2008, 4:06 PM

Post #13 of 179 (3831 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

As what u said i will try to make the water clear first.
I can see tat my pond water transparency is getting better tis morning, hope will turn clear faster.
Do u think the PS will do the job tat make the water clear??
Anyway thank u so much for ur advise....

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

Apr 18, 2008, 2:55 PM

Post #14 of 179 (3785 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris,

Based on your 8 tons pond size and filter system description, I think you may want to consider
adding another 40W air pump to your pond for additional aeration. Do consider buying the same
model so that in the event of any parts failure replacement in future, it is compatible to be used
for either pumps to save costs.

Secondly, may I know in your filter chambers, why did you place the media in the following order:-
Japanese Mats - Coral & ceramis rings - Japanese Mats again.
I think normally most hobbyists would place it in the order of :-
Japanese Mats - Japanese Mats - Coral & ceramic rings
Reasons being that the Japanese Mats will still trap some of the waste products while allowing
cleaner water to flow through to the ceramic-rings chamber for culturing of the good bacteria, IMHO.

Best Regards,
Thiam Hwa

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 18, 2008, 4:12 PM

Post #15 of 179 (3777 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi thiamhwa,

Actually i m using 3 pump which cycle the water with 27ton/h,
bcos of the exp. electric bill so i change one small pump instead.

For my filter system i think u read b4 from this post:
http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koiforum/gforum.cgi?post=96928;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

I will explain here again.
Actually the 5th chamber is only for drain the water from 1-4 chamber,
but i convert the 5th chamber to a bio filter then put b.brush and j.mat into the chamber.
At the end of the chamber i put a pump for my new added t.t then back to the pond.
After added the t.t no green water problem until last month..... Frown

Would tat bcos of the tap water i added when i was doing water change? my place tap water chlorine is quite high.

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

Apr 18, 2008, 4:45 PM

Post #16 of 179 (3771 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris,

Thanks for re-posting the diagram again. I have browse through your previous posting again
and beginning to have a better understanding of your filtration system.

Since your last method of covering up the pond to starve the algae from getting any sunlight
works successfully, I think you may as well try that again to achieve back the crystal clear water.
In some of the earlier postings, some hobbyists has suggested keeping ' Angle fishes ' together
in the koi pond. Apparently, these Angle fishes will helps to eat away the parasites found on the koi
during the night time and also those parasites residing on the pond walls.

If you want to try that, please remember to quarantine the Angel fishes first before adding them
into the pond. Goodluck.

Best Regards,
Thiam Hwa

(This post was edited by thiamhwa on Apr 18, 2008, 5:04 PM)

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 18, 2008, 5:15 PM

Post #17 of 179 (3762 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

If i cover the pond sure the water will turn clear,
but now i m trying to find out what is the problem to make the algae bloom?
tat y i made the PS..... Smile

seem the water turn more clear this morning, dont know whether the PS works or the bacteria is starting to multiply bcos i added 2 liter of enzyme few days ago.
Will update some photos tmlw.
Thanks for ur advise, i will consider to get some angel fish for my pond.

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

Apr 19, 2008, 9:22 AM

Post #18 of 179 (3702 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris,

Green water algae problem is most likely cause by 3 things i.e. our warm weather, sunlight
and nutrients in the form of nitrates and phosphates. In your case, the most likely cause
as you have said earlier is the high level of topping up of tap water.

There are 2 dangers associated with the green algae problem. Firstly, like most plants, green algae
photosynthesis and give off oxygen during the day-time, but at night carbon dioxide is emitted
instead. Once that happens, your pond water will becomes more acidic and hence dramatic
fluctuations of PH may occur in a 24 hour period. Your pond may be lack of oxygen on a warm
night and koi may die from it. I suspect that maybe one of the cause regarding the dead of
your koi and hence suggested earlier that you may want to add another unit of Air-pump for
additional oxygen supply.

With regards to your diy 'protein skimmer', you may want to check out the thread posting
' DIY Protein Skimmer' by Koi 38 in this section as well. All informations regarding the DIY 'PS'
are clearly explained with photographs posted as well.
I am in the same opinion as 'Water' who has query on why green water and not the oily browish
appearance foam water which should be collected in your bucket? I think you need to re-check
your DIY 'PS'.
One of the measure to prevent the built-up of DOC ( dissolved organic carbon ) is to limit the
feeding of high protein diet and also feeding lesser times per day.
Just my 2 cents worth. Thank you.

Best Regards,
Thiam Hwa

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 19, 2008, 11:30 AM

Post #19 of 179 (3693 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

If like what u said i think my pond green water may cause by over feeding.
I feed my fish quite a lot in twice a day....kekekekek... bcos i want my fish grow faster.

Do u know wat is the minimum DO level in a koi pond?
I think i will get a DO test kit to test for my pond first.

For my PS i think may b the air stone bubble is not fine, i m using a normal air stone.
Suppose to use a wood diffuser, but i couldnt find 1 in any of lfs here.
Thanks for ur advise.... again.... Smile

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 20, 2008, 11:05 AM

Post #20 of 179 (3622 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi thiamhwa,

After i read koi38 post (diy ps) then i knew how PS work.
I change a fine air stone and turn the air supply lower a bit
then i can c the tiny bubbles came out from the PS outlet not water only.
See pic below...
Does tat mean my PS works?

My lovely koi with clean and clear water
02-03-08

And now....... Frown

15-04-08 3day after PS install

18-4-08 (day 6) U can see the different of the transparency at the right corner bottom of the pic here.

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on Apr 20, 2008, 12:45 PM)

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 23, 2008, 4:25 PM

Post #21 of 179 (3456 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Update some pics of my pond

21-04-08

Now can see the fish.... hope the water will turn clear asap.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 23, 2008, 4:48 PM

Post #22 of 179 (3452 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Compare to the early pic tat i can c the pond water is getting better.

riolow
Koi Lover

Apr 26, 2008, 12:05 AM

Post #23 of 179 (3357 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi there,

May I know tat :

1. how u change or maintain your filter? By pond water or tape water... & % of water change.... how often...

2. Do u have air pump to your filter? Can see photo?

3. Why U filter is bio 1st? Usually we r bush/mechanical 1st.... (as bio filter can treat wasted...)

4. How is your arrangement of your bio filter? The position of jp mat; spacer of bioring with the filter base; any rought cotton & etc... (if posible pls draw a section of u filter only)

As i think u bio filter is seem like no working... so water turn green... water turn green... can notice the kois hav any problem... when they can tell u is usually too later...

But, green water is no problem for koi... as I was told ta jp put koi in the green mud too... Shocked

Keen to hear frm u soon....

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 26, 2008, 10:39 AM

Post #24 of 179 (3340 views)
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Re: [riolow] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi riolow,

Thanks for the input... Smile

1. how u change or maintain your filter? By pond water or tape water... & % of water change.... how often...

I do water change 10-15% once a week only drain water from chamber 1, clean brush once every 2 weeks.
I used to clean my filter once every 6months with pond water.

2. Do u have air pump to your filter? Can see photo?

I hav 40w air pump for the 2,3 & 5 filter chambers.

3. Why U filter is bio 1st? Usually we r bush/mechanical 1st.... (as bio filter can treat wasted...)

Sorry wrong input, actually is filter brush not bio brush at the 1st chamber.

4. How is your arrangement of your bio filter? The position of jp mat; spacer of bioring with the filter base; any rought cotton & etc... (if posible pls draw a section of u filter only)

2 and 3 chamber media has about 8-10" space from the bottom, i dont use any cotton for the filter as i know its easy to get clogging.

In this few days i notice tat my pond water algae bloom may cause by over feeding, so i m reducing feeding, water change 5% daily and put a uv light.
Btw my ps is working so well, now i dont see much bubbles on the surface and the water is getting clear. (will post some more pics later)

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on Apr 26, 2008, 10:57 AM)

riolow
Koi Lover

Apr 27, 2008, 12:42 AM

Post #25 of 179 (3283 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Diy Protein Skimmer... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris,

Very fast reply ler... seem tat U very love ur koi ler ...

Ayw... we r love koi... jst try 2 share experiene mar Cool

1. Can I know where U add water to U pond, when Change water or cleaning u filter? Coz our tape water kill all kind of bacteria... incl the gd 1... Pls never x 1000 used tape water wash u bio filter... even it's dirty...(however U r doing abt the same as wat I do... bt my filter is only 10% of my pond... still wonder why U pond is green?)....

2. Can U attached some photo of U air stone at U filter... and the stone should at lease abt 12" above the grd ...

3. Can have some photo of U filter?

4. 10" is fine for U bio filter... bt jp mat shall never anti the water flow... place vertical ( jst like the jp mat after the brushes) as better grow of gd bacteria

P/S: can u draw a section view of U filter... Only plan is not gd enough to understand U filter systme....
TQ

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