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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
Cloudy Water/Dusty water

 





 


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 9, 2006, 10:52 PM

Post #1 of 15 (1684 views)
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Cloudy Water/Dusty water Can't Post
Help,

I have a problem with dust and sand in my pond. My neighbors on both side have no grass or anything so when the wind blows i get sand and dust blowing across my yard. This dust and sand gets into my pond and makes my pond all cloudy. I am worried because I had the water clear and clean and put 4 small Koi and a large gold fish into it. after 3 days I have cloudy/dusty water. My pond is about 850 Gallons. aprox. I have a 700gph pump feading a presureized pump that has built in UV light.

I and wondering if my problem is that my pump is to small or the flow rate on the filter is to low.
Please help out if ya can I don't want to kill my fish


smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 9, 2006, 11:59 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1677 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
How big is your filter unit? how much water does it hold? Also what are your pond dimensions how deep is it?


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 10, 2006, 12:29 AM

Post #3 of 15 (1673 views)
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Re: [smithy] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
My pond is 9foot long 4 foot wide and 3 foot deep but it has shelves that reduce the overall volume.
the pond is about 800-900 gallons the pump I have is 675 gph the filter is rated for 1600 gallons. it is a smallish presureized pump maybe 5 gallons or so. I also have a smaller pump that is just running a line up to a small water fall. it is not working inline with a filter other then the prefilter that came on the pump.

I am wondering if I need a larger pump or something. I am getting 2 40 gallon barrels nxt week from a friend to try to build a vortex set up and larger Bio filter.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=60028-45001-PF1600UV&lpage=none
is a link to the filter I have. I don't know if I just need to wait and let the filter run for a day or 2 or what to do.

I am mostly worried that the dust/sand will hurt the fish.


smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 10, 2006, 1:10 AM

Post #4 of 15 (1670 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
I dont think it should affect your fish too greatly- but it will affect the water quality and make it look less appealing. IS ther anyway you could put up some sort of fencing like a pergula and have some plants growing up that. This may sheild the pond better if you position it correctly.
Do a 10-25% water change every week and give your pond time to clear. It could simply be new pond syndrome.
Hope this helps


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 10, 2006, 6:42 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1660 views)
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Re: [smithy] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
I went and bought some stuff that helps clup suspended alge and dust together and mixed it into the pond and it is starting to clump together and settle to the bottom within 1 hour by tomarrow I should have my clear pond back. now I just will break out the shop vac and clean out the bottom of the pond.


Koi38
Senior Member


Jun 10, 2006, 8:59 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1658 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Miah,

You need to increase the size of your filter to hadle the waste. Your current filter is way too small for your pond. The barrels will help you tackle this probs. Settlement and static filter will help but also you need bilogical filter so you'll need 3 barrels instead of 2. You will also have to increase the size of your pump to achieve the min turn over rate which is 1 per hourSmile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 10, 2006, 10:28 AM

Post #7 of 15 (1654 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
With the barrel set up is the flow rate dependant upon the size of the pipe between them? I have seen the ones the have been posted here.

I am looking into a 1000 gph pump and the barrels but I am worried that pumping through all the barrels that the flow rate will drop alot. pushing all that watter up a barrel has got to lower the output of the pump right?

My other problem is that now the water is clear all but the bottom of the pond there is a fine layer of dirt, dust and probaly Algee.
I have been looking for some type of pond Vaccum to remove it, or should just a larger pump take in that?

I am guessing that a large enough pump would move the water more and not let things settle on the bottom.
But i have been wrong before so I'm sure it would not be a big suprise if I was.


Koi38
Senior Member


Jun 10, 2006, 6:00 PM

Post #8 of 15 (1641 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Miah,

With the barrel set up is the flow rate dependant upon the size of the pipe between them? I have seen the ones the have been posted here.
For better flow to each barrel you need to use larger size, so use at least 3" pipe but 4" is best.

I am looking into a 1000 gph pump and the barrels but I am worried that pumping through all the barrels that the flow rate will drop alot. pushing all that watter up a barrel has got to lower the output of the pump right?
The head lost will start on the pond water level and yes water pressure will drop. When buying pumps you need to consider a few things like head height, elbows, bends, size of pipe, etc. So say your pond is 1000g buy atleast 15000g pump or higher. Always allow

My other problem is that now the water is clear all but the bottom of the pond there is a fine layer of dirt, dust and probaly Algee.
I have been looking for some type of pond Vaccum to remove it, or should just a larger pump take in that?
It either you get youself a pondvac or install a bottom drain(BD). If BD is not an option then you just have to modify your pump intake. BTW, is your pump located to the lowest point???

I am guessing that a large enough pump would move the water more and not let things settle on the bottom.
But i have been wrong before so I'm sure it would not be a big suprise if I was.
Yes, but still you need a lower area in your pond for the waste to go to and that will be the pick up point of your pump.

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 11, 2006, 1:50 AM

Post #9 of 15 (1631 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
I do not have a bottom drain Unsure
My pump is in the lowest aera of the floor of the pond right now.
I tried to use a small push broom to push the silt down to the pump
It seemed that all that did was mix up the sludge.

I have gone well over the budget that i wanted to spend on my pond so far
so being able to save any money that I can would be great. I am getting 2 40 gal drums
for free so that will help in savings.

I have done some more calulating and have figured that the size of my pond is closer to 800 gal.
That being said I think that a 1500 gal. should be able to handle the bends and head height of the filter.
I have been looking into small pond vacs that work off of water preasure and I have found a few for around 30 US dollars.

Maybe I am just obsesing over this as my pond is only 1 week old.
I just know that dust get in there more then normal and worry about build up.


Koi38
Senior Member


Jun 11, 2006, 2:40 AM

Post #10 of 15 (1623 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Miah,

What you need is water current not just on the surface but on the floor bed of your pond to push the waste towards your pump. You can do this in easier way by adding air stones. This will create mushroom effect stiring the pond floor pushing the still waste to move about and eventually go to the pump. Other thing you can do is get your self a pvc pipe same diameter as your pump intake(remove strainer) or slightly smaller for tight fit. drill holes 1/4" along the half side of the pipe only then add end cap to one end. Remove your strainer from the pump add some teflon tape(plumber tape) and fit your pump. This will avoid the strainer getting clog and will give your pump better flow and waste removal including sandSmile Hope you understand what I meantWink

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 11, 2006, 3:13 AM

Post #11 of 15 (1622 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Oh Brilliant! I see exactly what you mean. Make the intake of the pump spread along the bottom of the pump.
That would be a great way of dealing with the sludge! that you!
I am going out shopping for some items and maybe some plants for the pond will let you all know how it works out.


Koi38
Senior Member


Jun 11, 2006, 3:18 AM

Post #12 of 15 (1620 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Miah,

Just be careful adding plants in your pond. You need to know if there are no chemicals(fertilizer) in the plants and also if the plants are suitable for marine lifeSmile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


Miah
Koi Lover

Jun 11, 2006, 4:16 AM

Post #13 of 15 (1619 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
http://images.lowes.com/product/801601/801601010982.jpg
Is a picture of the Pump I am going to get it is 1300 gph. the only problem I see is I am un able to attack a "intake Pipe"

This should be good enough I hope.


(This post was edited by Miah on Jun 11, 2006, 4:18 AM)


Koi38
Senior Member


Jun 11, 2006, 12:38 PM

Post #14 of 15 (1609 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Miah,

You should be able to take the front off. This front bit is not pemanently fix for maintenance reasonsSmile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


utsuri
Koi Lover

Jun 15, 2006, 4:50 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1555 views)
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Re: [Miah] Cloudy Water/Dusty water [In reply to] Can't Post
Lots of good answers here. It sounds to me like you have a new pond and these are the first fish.
If so, what is going on is normal and has little to do with your nieghbors. The cycling process is starting. The first part is cloudy water. Then ammonia. Then nitrite. Then nitrate. Nitrate is relatively harmless but try to keep it below 40 ppm. Turn your UV off until ammonia and nitrite are at 0. UV will slow the cycling process. It takes about 6 weeks before things get better. If you want to speed up the process get some cycled filter material from your fish store. You don't need a lot. This will seed the biological activity and jump start things.
Do not change water unless you see signs of stress on the fish. That will also slow the process. Keep feeding to a minimal. That is the biggest most have. Over feeding. Even if they eat it all you can still feed too much. Koi 6 inches or larger need about 3% of thier body wieght daily. Feed this amount in small courses throughout the day not all at once.

If your pond is not new then all that will help somebody and you need to sneak over to your nieghbors and throw some grass seed around. Just do it at night so you don't get caught.

 
 
 



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