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Algae bloom after heavy rain?

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chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 7, 2007, 2:09 PM

Post #1 of 33 (4409 views)
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Algae bloom after heavy rain?	Can't Post

Before i toke this pic the water was green, after i put Biozyme for 1 week the water turn clear as the pic that show.
My pond size - 8' x 12'
filter - 2' x 8' ( i think that is too small, i m setting another 1.8' x 8' filter chamber)
1. chamber - filter brush
2. chamber - 3pcs Japan mat
3. chamber - 35kg ceramic ring and 50kg carol chips
4. chamber - 2 x 8500l/hr resun sub. pump
Direct sun light from 7am - 4pm

So i tranfer some kois from the old pond to this new pond, one day after a heavy rain on Feb the water turn slowly to green, even i put more than 2 bottle of biozyme and doing some water change, but the water still look green.

koiguyoz
Member

Apr 7, 2007, 5:40 PM

Post #2 of 33 (4397 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

The biozyme has most likely increased the levels of nitrospira and nitrosomonas bacteria in the pond ecosystem and contributed to the clearing of the green water.

These two types of bacteria (nitrospira and nitrosomonas) should normally be abundant in your filter enough so that they can work to consume the nutrients that create the green water.

As a result I ask:
*How do you maintain the filter?
*Do you use tank water or tap water to clean the media ?
*How often do you clean the media?

*How old was the new pond's filter before you transferred the koi from the old pond to the new pond? I suspect that having a large amount of koi transferred directly increased the nutrient content of the new pond, loading the pond's ecosystem immediately, so much so that the bacteria could not be created in time to consume the excess nutrients that led to the green water bloom.

You should give the filter system more time to mature and grow, cleaning only the filter brushes in the system, and not any of the other chambers at all.

Also consider adding in a trickle tower (that can be fed from the pump from chamber 4).

smithy
Koi Lover

Apr 7, 2007, 11:20 PM

Post #3 of 33 (4393 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just to add to the last post- you say that your pond is in direct sunlight from 7am-4pm. That is a long period in sunlight in which algae will thrive. A simple solution that may work is to shade your pond partially if possible. Will definitly give your pond more of a chance to deal with the green water as the algae wont bloom as much with reduced sunlight.
Another way of reducing green water is a Uv light- water passes through these units before the filter system. The uv light rays clump the microscopic algae together, this clumping allows the filter to trap them.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 9, 2007, 5:12 PM

Post #4 of 33 (4346 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

First of all thank u for reply.
My english is very poor hope u guys can understand.

*How do you maintain the filter?
I didnt do any maintanace yet, bcos this only a 3 month pond.

*Do you use tank water or tap water to clean the media ?
*How often do you clean the media?
I didnt clean the media before, just drain the dirts from the 1st chamber (filter brush) once a week and doing water change 10-30% as the same time with tap water.

*How old was the new pond's filter before you transferred the koi from the old pond to the new pond?
I think its around 1 month then i transferred six koi (1.5ft-1.8ft) into the new pond.

Is that is a must to add a twickle tower to make the water clear?

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 9, 2007, 5:14 PM

Post #5 of 33 (4345 views)
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Re: [smithy] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks smithy,
As u said, i will shade the pond later.

Here got some pics of my new added filter chamber.

koiguyoz
Member

Apr 9, 2007, 6:43 PM

Post #6 of 33 (4343 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I believe you'll just need to give the filter system more time to mature (that is, allow it time to gather and grow it's own population of nitrospira and nitrosomonas bacteria). Depending on the water temperature, it may become clear within these few weeks.

It's still early days, so keep an eye on the water's parameters by obtaining a test kit from an aquarium shop to measure:

*nitrite
*nitrate
*ammonia
*PH

Write these numbers down on a log book to keep for the pond to note any changes. You want to see nitrite and ammonia drop in the coming weeks, and the PH hover around 7-8.0 (at a point between these two numbers ideally such as 7.6 as an example).

The use of a trickle tower serves to speed the process of biological filtration much faster as there is more air to feed the bacterial colony than those inside the water environment.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 10, 2007, 12:13 PM

Post #7 of 33 (4312 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ok thanks koiguyoz i will wait and check the water parameters once every 2day.
I would like to ask 1 more quetion,
Is that good enough to use 2 x 8500l/hr sub. pump for my 7700l pond?
I hav added a 4500l/hr pump at the new chamber, if 2 of the 8500l pump is good enough,
then i will turn of the 4500l pump and leave it in the chamber as a spare pump.
Thanks again and i will update my pond every week.....

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 14, 2007, 11:57 AM

Post #8 of 33 (4254 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Update some pics of my pond.
The new added chamber has been run for a week,
seem the water have improve a bit, i think????? Frown

See date below the pic

koiguyoz
Member

Apr 14, 2007, 10:30 PM

Post #9 of 33 (4248 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sorry to say it looks about the same.

But don't worry, your new chamber full of new biomedia will kick into effect soon. One week is simply not enough. I expect anywhere from 6-12 weeks.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Apr 15, 2007, 10:53 AM

Post #10 of 33 (4232 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

No problem Ben, I said that just to make myself feeling good heheheheh... Blush

Still have to wait 6-12weeks? that is too long, but what can do just wait...!!!!
thanks....

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 17, 2007, 1:04 PM

Post #11 of 33 (4029 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

update some pics for my pond...
Nitrate & Amonia - 0ppm (test few day ago)
seem not much change for the pond water....
so i shaded 80% of the pond then see how it will works....
now i m consider to diy a TT with a 6ft x 8" of pvc pipe.

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

May 17, 2007, 2:24 PM

Post #12 of 33 (4021 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi chriswu3311,

You have a very lovely and simple koi pond layout. May I ask how deep is your pond? Reason for
asking is becos' I see that you have the water surface level almost reaching to the top of your pond.
I would be a bit concerned with the koi jumping out for unknown reasons.

You have also mentioned earlier regarding the different filter media in the various filter chambers.
Looking at your filter/pond photos posted, I do not understand how the water flow sequence in
relation to the different filter media. It seem to me that you have some of the surface water over
flowing directly into the Japanese Mats or Bio-rings chamber, am I right?
I assume your pond has a bottom drain connected to the Settlement chamber?
Did you also provide enough oxygen to the pond and the filter chambers to encourage the growth of
good bacteria?
Sorry for all the questions becos' I don't see it from the photos posted.

Best Regards,
Thiam Hwa

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 17, 2007, 2:55 PM

Post #13 of 33 (4016 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

My pond size is 12' x 8' x 3'deep
for the filter chamber u can see in my drawing below.
actually the 5th chamber was a drain and over fall to out side my house,
but i make it as a filter chamber now.
i hav a 44w air pump for the filter chamber. (added after water turn green)

(This post was edited by chriswu3311 on May 17, 2007, 3:12 PM)

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

May 17, 2007, 3:30 PM

Post #14 of 33 (4011 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi chriswu3311,

Thanks for the quick sketch drawing. It is very clever of you to convert the public drain to
form another filtration system running parallel to the existing filtration system. Is there a
bottom outlet or mid-level connection from chamber 5 to chamber 1 for water flow or is it
via the surface overflow only as shown in your photo from chamber 1 ?
If the water feed to chamber 5 is only via the surface overflow, you may have a problem when
there is a drop in the water level. Do make sure that it is an automatic cut-off pump located in
Chamber 5 in the event there is a water circulation problem.
With regards to your green water problem, I would advise you to purchase one of those cheap
submersible UV light tube which normally have a life-span of about 2 to 3 months. Place that
into the Chamber 1 and you will see the different in a few days.

Regards,
Thiam Hwa

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 18, 2007, 12:13 PM

Post #15 of 33 (3968 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks for your reply too.
yes there was bottom drain from chamber 1 to chamber 5.
i had think to use a uv light before,
but first i hav to prove whether the filter system can work well or not.
seem the pond is getting clear today, may be bcos i shaded 80% of the pond,
will take it off when the water get clear and see whether the water will turn back to green or not.

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

May 18, 2007, 1:52 PM

Post #16 of 33 (3961 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi chriswu3311,

Placing sufficient air-stones into your biological filtration chambers will certainly encourages
the growth of the good bacteria to break down the nitrogen cycle, imho.

Regards,
Thiam Hwa

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 18, 2007, 2:52 PM

Post #17 of 33 (3957 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

yes, as u said i already hav 1 x 44w air pump with 12pcs air stone into the filter chamber.
what do u think if i add on a TT? i gona try to diy a 6ft x 8" pvc pipe to a TT,
do u think tat will help? or use basket will do better result?

thiamhwa
Member / Moderator

May 18, 2007, 3:13 PM

Post #18 of 33 (3953 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Any addition filter, whether TT or Bakki Shower will be an added advantage to your koi and pond.
Set it up and let it run for a couple of weeks and I bet you will see a different with your water
quality.
I have 2nos. of DIY Bakki Shower which contained Bacteria House media using perforated plastic baskets.
It works okey for me except that you will require a bigger base container to house the stacked up baskets
and also to capture the splashing water coming out off the trays.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 18, 2007, 3:24 PM

Post #19 of 33 (3952 views)
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Re: [thiamhwa] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

ok thanks for ur advise... Wink

i will diy a TT when i m free....
and i'll keep update some pics later.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 19, 2007, 2:00 PM

Post #20 of 33 (3926 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

i m very happy today bcos my pond is getting clear today,
but one thing i do not understand why the water turn clear very fast?
see the pics i toke yesterday and this morning.

yesterday

this morning

koiguyoz
Member

May 19, 2007, 2:56 PM

Post #21 of 33 (3919 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Chriswu3311,

I believe your nitrifying bacteria have reached a balance in terms of numbers enough so that they can all consume the excess nutrients and waste in your pond.

This is why it has happened so fast. Upset the balance and you will go back to green Shocked

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 19, 2007, 3:06 PM

Post #22 of 33 (3918 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

i see... so what should i do to maintain the pond water?
i afraid that will turn back to green again. Crazy

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

May 20, 2007, 1:35 PM

Post #23 of 33 (3879 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

toke this pic this morning, the water is totally clear even can see the bottom.

koiguyoz
Member

May 22, 2007, 3:19 PM

Post #24 of 33 (3829 views)
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Re: [chriswu3311] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

i see... so what should i do to maintain the pond water?
i afraid that will turn back to green again. Crazy

Keep the current level of koi, and add no more.

Increase the amount of biomedia as time passes by.

Only wash the biomedia in a container containing pond water.

chriswu3311
Koi Lover

Jun 21, 2007, 1:33 PM

Post #25 of 33 (3312 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] Algae bloom after heavy rain? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi guys,
Pls..... Need help again........!
My pond water turn back to green on 5th June.
I added a 4 storey T.T with 3300pcs of bio ball, start run from 15th june.
I tested the water parameter before run the T.T
Nitrate 0, Amonia 0

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