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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Construction & Water Filtering System:
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rong1
Koi Lover

Sep 1, 2000, 9:11 AM

Post #1 of 7 (700 views)
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I am a total newcomer to koi and have bought a fiberglass pond 8'x4'x2.5' with a filter box that comes with it. In the various compartment, I noticed that coarse (dark green) mattings are used in the 1st chamber, light green and white mattings in the 2nd and 3rd with 2 packets of charcoal each in tbhis 2nd and 3rd chamber and only white mattings with 3 neettings of corals in the 4th chamber. Is this okay? How can I convert this to a trickle filter which I have read so much about? How many koi would you advise for my pond? The pond is in the garden with direct sunlight for approximately 7 - 8 hours. The pond being 30" deep is actually about 1.5' above the ground level as I have dug a 1' deep hole for the pond to sit in. I plan to keep 2 water lillies in the pond to provide some shade for the koi. If charcoal is not suitable what would you suggest I repalced it with? Where else can I read up on trickle filters? I also plan to have the water level up to 4" from the top, is this okay? What is the capacity of the pond? I appreciate any advise and pointers.


dttk
Senior Member

Sep 2, 2000, 3:08 AM

Post #2 of 7 (700 views)
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Dear Rong1, please look at this www.koi.com.my/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000091.html and other related topics in the same forum.
Try to have at 70% of your tank shaded all the time. Water surface 4 inches below edge is fine provided cats are not a problem. Koi will mess up the Water Lillies and the submerged pot with soil. Growing some large leafy plants around the tank would be better to provide shade and landscaping. Charcoal is useful initially to absorb ammonia before the filter is mature but must be removed later. Please get all the water test kits ready.


rong1
Koi Lover

Sep 3, 2000, 9:05 AM

Post #3 of 7 (700 views)
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Dear dttk, thank you for advice but could you tell how I can build a trickle filter in my 4th compartment. I note that there there is a huge netting each of corals in compartments 3 and 4 with charcoal in compartments 2 and 3. Shall I place the corals in compartment 3 only? When do you think is a good time to remove the charcoal completely? Thanks
Quote
Originally posted by dttk:
Dear Rong1, please look at this www.koi.com.my/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000091.html and other related topics in the same forum.
Try to have at 70% of your tank shaded all the time. Water surface 4 inches below edge is fine provided cats are not a problem. Koi will mess up the Water Lillies and the submerged pot with soil. Growing some large leafy plants around the tank would be better to provide shade and landscaping. Charcoal is useful initially to absorb ammonia before the filter is mature but must be removed later. Please get all the water test kits ready.


dttk
Senior Member

Sep 4, 2000, 1:27 AM

Post #4 of 7 (700 views)
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Dear Rong1, please describe the water flow thru your filter system, position of inlet and outlet pipe so that we will have an idea of how to set up the trickle tower. Charcoal can be removed once biological media has established, which can range from from 4 to 8 weeks. Test your water for ammonia after removal of charcoal. Best to keep coral in last chamber of filter where the water is cleaner. Are the water parameters like pH, nitrite/nitrate, ammonia normal?


rong1
Koi Lover

Sep 4, 2000, 8:48 AM

Post #5 of 7 (700 views)
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Sorry dttk, my filter system is the same as yours. It is 4'x1'x1.5' with 4 compartments. The water is pumped to the 1st compartment with an inlet at thr bottom of the filter box. The water then overflows to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th compartment. The oulet is at the bottom of the filter box of the 4th compartment. I have moved the corals from the 2nd compartment to the 4th compartment as suggested by you. By the way I am waiting for the water to mature first before keeping koi. Is this okay? I have 1 bottle of biozyme formula 50 and 1 bottle of liquid aquabac biological treatment. I have not added this to the pond yet but have added chlorine remover to the water. Your suggestions please. Many thanks.

Quote
Originally posted by dttk:
Dear Rong1, please describe the water flow thru your filter system, position of inlet and outlet pipe so that we will have an idea of how to set up the trickle tower. Charcoal can be removed once biological media has established, which can range from from 4 to 8 weeks. Test your water for ammonia after removal of charcoal. Best to keep coral in last chamber of filter where the water is cleaner. Are the water parameters like pH, nitrite/nitrate, ammonia normal?


Ben
Koi Lover

Sep 4, 2000, 11:31 PM

Post #6 of 7 (700 views)
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Hi rong1

Your filter will not be able to mature if you do not add any koi into your system. Do bear in mind that any bacteria that will colonize your filter system will require food to survive and multiply. If there is no koi and no koi waste, then your bacteria will not survive too. However, if you decide not to add koi at this stage, you will have to add food to your system for bacteria to feed. Cheers


dttk
Senior Member

Sep 5, 2000, 2:58 AM

Post #7 of 7 (700 views)
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Dear Rong1,thanks for the info. Ben is right. You need to put koi into the tank to provide fishwaste for the bacteria to survive and multiply. When the bacteria has established, your filter is mature and can handle more fishwaste effectively without causing ammonia to rise. However start slow by introducing only few koi because filter is not matured yet. Frequent water change may be necessary as soon as ammonia is detected in a new system. So it is good to dechlorinate your tap water each time before you add them into the tank to top up. As for the trickle tower, please check your mail.

 
 
 



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