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My Pond is Green

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Anonymous
Anonymous

Feb 1, 2000, 1:16 AM

Post #1 of 46 (4012 views)
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My Pond is Green	Can't Post

I have a small pond constructed just outside my porch. Dimensions 5' x 4' x 2'. I keep some baby koi's recently. My pond is now dark green in colour and I don't know what to do about it. Right now I have some water plants in it which the koi's keep on destroying,... some bacteria to break down the nitrate's ..which I got from my fish shop. I bought an "Astro" acquarium filter which my dealer recommeded highly. Right now he is recommeding a UV light treatment. Is this the right thing to do? I hope you could help.

Thanks.
DT

dttk
Senior Member

Feb 1, 2000, 2:40 AM

Post #2 of 46 (4009 views)
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Dear DeeTee, welcome to the forum. The dark green colour of the water is due to excessive algae in it. This happens when 1)your pond has too much sunlight 2)the nitrate content of the water is high 3) your filter is not matured enough. Please let us have more info on your filter system, the water quality(pH, nitrates, ammonia level, etc.), the health of your koi, the extent of exposure to direct sunlight, feeding habits, etc. As your pond is small, it may not be worthwhile investing in UV light treatment.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Feb 2, 2000, 11:07 PM

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My Filter system is the commercial aquarium type which supposed to filter 1200litres/hour. It is from Taiwan. Basically it is a box like thing in which there are 3 sections. - 1st stage - some hezagonal ceramic material, 2nd stage - I think it is activated charcoal, 3rd stage - green & white gauze like material. I also have some water plants in it - recently I put a whole pot of "Keladi" plants - which I think was a big mistake. (Probably the soil in it could contaminate the water?)
I am now adding some biozyme into it .....
My koi's are only 6-7 inches long. Only see them when feeding time...

Thanks

dttk
Senior Member

Feb 3, 2000, 1:38 AM

Post #4 of 46 (4009 views)
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Dear DeeTee, thanks for the info on your filter system. Have you ever tested the water for pH, ammonia, nitrate, etc. with your present filter system? If so, are they normal? If the results are no good, then you should change the filter media to ensure the water quality is good because charcoal is not suitable as media for koi pond. The green water problem can be solved when you provide enough shade for the pond(at least 50%), make regular water change(at least 20% every week), reduce feeding temporarily, ensure filter is working properly by doing water tests for the above parameters. All these are necessary if you want to MAINTAIN clear water EVEN after having used commercially available anti-green water or algae treater. These works fast but are slightly costlier in the long run.The potted plant with soil could also contribute to the increase in nitrate level in the pond. When the water is clear, you will enjoy viewing the koi and see them rushing to the surface to greet you each time you begin feeding them. It's a pleasant feeling and gives you a sense of pride for having provided good quality water for the koi to live in! It's really a challenge to ensure that the water quality is good at all times.

cch
Koi Lover

Feb 13, 2000, 2:03 PM

Post #5 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi DeeTee,

If you pond is still new, then just for a few weeks for your filter to mature. In the time being, control feeding to your koi. Adding bacteria to your filter will help but then you will still have to wait until the whole system strike a balance.

Cheers

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 5, 2000, 5:08 PM

Post #6 of 46 (4009 views)
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Guys, I have the same problem encountered as teedee's pond. I have an improper filtration system and the pond water turns green. Due to that reason I have decided to changed the filtration system to a proper one 3 days ago. My new filtration system consist of 1st Synthetic Mat 2nd Green & White Mat and 3rd Corals & Charcoal. 2 days later I did a test on the water and found that my pH (6.2) ,NO3,NH4 all out of bal. I just change the pond water about 50% today and hopefully I am doing the right thing? I need your expert oppinion. Do I need to wait until the filtration system matured or is there any other ways can I go about solving this problem? How do I add bacteria into the filter? Is there a product that I can use? Please let me know more. My pond is about 6 tons of water. & my filtration system is about 15% of the pond size & I don't have enough space for it. Please advise!
Rgds,
Lenny

Bancherd
Koi Lover

Mar 5, 2000, 11:01 PM

Post #7 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hello Lenny:

Did you completely replace your old filter with the new one? If at all possible, it might help to temporarily place old filtering materials in your new filter(since they already have some bacterias).

Regards,

Bancherd

Melvin Tan
Koi Lover

Mar 5, 2000, 11:13 PM

Post #8 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi guys,

there are lots of strings here containing info which would be helpful.

In addition, www.cyberfins.com has several articles and a forum b/b. Within the b/b there is a topic Pond/Tank design, Biofilters and Water Quality. You might find the following topics there of help:
-Cloudy Water
-High Nitrite level
-Why is my water green?

Cheers!

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 12:43 AM

Post #9 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi Lenny,

Like Bnacherd said, if you have changed the filter, it is always to remove some filter media from old filter to the new one so that you can introduce bacteria to the new filter immediately.

Alternatively, go to koi dealers to purchase some bacteria for your pond and add it to your system immediately.

You must control feeding now. Feed very minimum amount. Your koi is able to survive without any feeding for even two weeks. So do not worry. Let the bio filter to matured over times which may take up to two months.

As your bio filter size is a mere 15% of pond size, your filter capacity is not sufficient and the only thing that you can do is to feed less or have 20% of daily water change. You can of course add another filter to push it to 30%.

Also, if possible, add vegetation to the pond system. You can use Yam tree. The intention is to allow the vegetation to absorb the nitrate from your system. Nitrate will promote green water.

Finally, with the new filter, you will have to bear with green water for a period of time. You can not rush. Unless you increase the filter size or reduce feeding or reduce koi, the green water will be there for a long long time.

Cheers

Mark
Koi Kichi

Mar 6, 2000, 1:13 AM

Post #10 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi all
The greeny stuff is not important at the moment and not to worry too much about it. What is of importance is the water parameters(pH, ammonia and nitrites). Your filter system will mature in 6~7 weeks - something of the law of nature. Alternatively, if could jumpstart your filter by adding good bact.(dry or liquid from petshop). Aerate your filter chambers and within a week, your filter will be OK.
Yes, periodic water changes help. Cut down feed.

Mark
Koi Kichi

Mar 6, 2000, 1:24 AM

Post #11 of 46 (4009 views)
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Constant ammonia and nitrites test will tells you whether your filter is ok or not.
Generally, what I mean my ok:
1. there are indeed good bact. in your system.
2. the filter system is overloaded or not?

While other test like nitrates is less important, its also good to keep tap on this area. Consistent present of 200ppm of nitrates or more can cause the eyes of your koi to pop(I am not talking about dropsy) and light bluish eyes are noticeable.

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 4:11 AM

Post #12 of 46 (4009 views)
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Bancherd,
I did replace my old filter into the 2nd chamber but I cleaned it before putting it into the tank. Is that ok?
Melvin,
Thanks for the advise I will look into the web page.
cch,
I have control the feeding but I don't know if I have a good shcedule & amount for per feeding. I am now feeding my Kois about 1/3 a Chinese rice bowl every 2 days? Please advise! I will also check with the dealers about the bac. thing. Is there any recomendation on which bac. to use? I am planing to do another filtration system using different kind of stones in all 4 levels. Is that going to help improve my situation? I don't know what is a Yam Tree... I don't think the dealer in Melaka knows how to speak English... :"< Anyway... I will try to find out what is a "Yam Tree" if you could give me the actual term of it.
Mark,
I will try to be patient and at the mean time I will go buy some Bac. for my filtration system. Also I will try change 20-30% water in every 2 days. Thks for you advise!
Guys,
I don't know if this is a good news but I would like to share it with you guys. I did a prox. 40-50% water change over the night and I did a reading after 10hrs and I found that my pH is back to 7.6, NO2 is back to 0.05 except NH... I don't know why but seems like I can't match the result with any of the colour in the colour chart. and I mean it is dark brown instead of dark green(which is the highest level contamination of NH) like what was shown in the colour chart given by JBL. Please advise on this! Do I need to change the test kit? or NH in my pond is our of testing spec.?

Good day to all of you!
Lenny

Mark
Koi Kichi

Mar 6, 2000, 1:18 PM

Post #13 of 46 (4009 views)
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This is the picture of a Yam Tree:

Also take a look at this thread about Yam Tree

Good luck.

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 1:37 PM

Post #14 of 46 (4009 views)
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Mark,
Ok... I have seen the picture... so what do I do with it? Plant it in my Pond or fitler? PLease teach me how to use this Yam Tree
Lenny [confused]

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 1:39 PM

Post #15 of 46 (4009 views)
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Lenny,

Mark have just posted a pic of the Yam Tree. Yam tree can be seen in many places, even road side in Malaysia. However please be careful if you wish to introduce one into your pond system as it may carry some bugs. So please also quarantine your Yam Tree before adding that to your system, even if you get it from other pond keepers.

Yam tree is very effective against nitrate as it absorb a lot of them and they grow extremely fast. Trim them when they grow big. They will grow back to a height of six feet in no time.

Cheers.

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 1:42 PM

Post #16 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi Lenny,

Just plant in any place that is within your pond system. You can even place a big container to place your yam tree and have the water pump from the pond and overflow back to the pond by gravity.As long as the root has full contact with pond water, it will absorb nitrate. No soil is required.

Cheers

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 1:49 PM

Post #17 of 46 (4009 views)
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cch,
So can I plant it at the last chamber which I have Charcoals & Corals? By dipping the Yam Tree's roots to the water will do the job?

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 1:57 PM

Post #18 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi Lenny,

Yes, you can plant it in the last chamber. But before you place yam tree in that chamber, please put it in a container or pot and then dip it into the chamber. The root of the Yam tree will grow so fast and you need pot to make sure it will gorw only within the pot. Otherwise it will mess up your coral and others.

Cheers

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2000, 2:56 PM

Post #19 of 46 (4009 views)
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cch,
You mentioned again just now about bugs in Yam Tree... is there a way to find out? Any special test required? Please advise!
Lenny

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 7, 2000, 10:07 AM

Post #20 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi Lenny,

As all living Yam Tree will somehow be in contact with water and it may be contaminated with some bugs. The best way to eradicate such bug is to go through a quarantine process. No short cut.

Cheers

Lenny Goh
Koi Lover

Mar 7, 2000, 11:32 AM

Post #21 of 46 (4009 views)
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cch,
I am not very sure what you mean by "quarantine"... if it is not too much of a problem please explain in detail.
I was told by my friend that I should do a trickel filtration system; which consist of 4 Different level of filtration which is 1st(top) using stones, 2nd Charcoal, 3rd Sand, 4th charcoal as mechanical filtration system do get rid of the algees. Is that true? I need to know ASAP coz I might be starting my 2nd filtration work tomorrow. Who ever read this & have experience in trickel filtration system please advise!
Rgds,
Lenny

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 7, 2000, 11:51 AM

Post #22 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hi Lenny,

Whenever you are buying new fish, you are not sure whether these koi carry any disease or not. To ensure that no disease is transfer to your pond, you need to place all these new koi(s) in an hospital tank or quarantine tank where you will then add some medication to the tank water to eradicate any possible disease.

You may need to quarantine your koi for three to four weeks before adding them to the main pond.

The same applies to plant.

Cheers

Anonymous
Anonymous

Mar 7, 2000, 4:18 PM

Post #23 of 46 (4009 views)
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Update. My pond is now clear!! Thanks guys. The last I posted I have removed all the soil and replanted my Yam plant on gravel in a pot plus some plants I saw growing in the padi fields nearby. Also I have added some bacteria culture.....Now that the pond is clear.....I'm itching to add some more koi's...

cch
Koi Lover

Mar 8, 2000, 12:40 AM

Post #24 of 46 (4009 views)
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DeeTee,

Congratulations.

If your wish to add new koi, add it slowly and take measurement of water parameter to see whether your filter is able to cope or not.

Cheers

Anonymous
Anonymous

May 25, 2000, 6:02 AM

Post #25 of 46 (4009 views)
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Hello All
I am new to the koi hobby and I wish to tell everyone that a very good information relating to this topic is discussed at :
"Pond Construction & Water Filtering System
Topics: High Nitrates Level? Try This! "

Its all about stripping the Nitrites and Nitrates through the use of Wet and Dry Filter System.

Does anyone here knows where in Singapore I can buy such a system? Thank you.

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