Peppy
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May 17, 2008, 1:02 AM
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Pond Filter Advice
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 Hello all. I seek opinions from experienced Koi keepers.
Background:
The dufusses who put in my pond made it only 2 feet deep in the center and lined it with river pebbles and large rocks and told me I could keep Koi in it and that a biofalls would be enough filtration. We are moving next year and I plan to build a 4 foot deep pond at the new site as soon as possible.
For now, I have about a 2800 gallon pond about 15 x 20 or something like that. I am slowly removing the rocks and pebbles because I've been reading that is best for Koi.
Miracle of miracles, I haven't lost a fish in over a year (which is a wonder and knock on wood) other than from jumping out of temp tanks or getting stuck in the skimmer.
My filtration: - 3150 gph pump w/prefilter sitting in pond going into 2 Calpump 4000 gallon filters and back to the pond.
- 5000 gph pump going into biofalls with 2 cubic feet of Ultra Bio Media and about a gallon of bioballs.
- 36 watt ultra violet light.
- 13 gallons per inch of fish presently
- lots of plants around the sides rooted in the pea gravel
I had planned to replace the skimmer with a larger one (because I have to clean the filter pad too often because the skimmer is only meant for 3500 gph and the pump is 5000 gph) and do away with the 3150 gph pump.
Then I'd have only 5000 gph into 2 Calpump 4000 gallon filters then to the biofalls with 2 cubic feet of bio media.
OR--
Should I keep the original skimmer with the 3150 pump and put the new skimmer adjacent with the 5000 pump. The filter mass would be the same but the water turnover would be 8000 gph.
Not sure if the water turnover is as big an issue as the filter mass. Each 4000 cal pump filter can accomodate 2300 gph, so the 5000 pump would supply the two.
I worry about the Koi!! Now that I don't kill any with stupidity, I have been investing in some nice Koi and am a nervous wreck about keeping them properly. Any advice is appreciated.
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