Home  

  Main Index MAIN
INDEX 		Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS 		Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE 		Log in LOG
IN

Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
From green water to brown water.

 





 


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 1, 2002, 6:22 AM

Post #1 of 12 (1369 views)
Shortcut
From green water to brown water. Can't Post
Hi Everyone, I'm new here so please forgive me if my Q has already been asked somewhere before. Smile
I have not long set up my pond 16x6x4. I dug it a year ago, lined it and filled with water. A year passed by before I could afford my filter and pump so the usual algae problem. I used some algae killer which turned it all brown and the trouble is, It's still brown after 4 daysShocked Is this normal?
My filter is only a 1000 Gal (which I now know is too small, So I need to make a new one 2000 Gal capacity) Anyway I have pearlite (I think it's called) with a green sponge mat on top which gets very brown. I have washed it out and will do it again tomorrow but my water is still brown.
Should I use some finer filter medium or get a bottle of pond clearer?
BTW I have 6 Japanese KOI somewhereSly
Sorry again


P.S. Had my water tested and everything is fine.

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.

(This post was edited by Thorin on May 1, 2002, 6:23 AM)


KevKoi
Member


May 1, 2002, 12:36 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1352 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Me thinks that you have just got to mechanically filter out all the dead algae now that you've used the chemical shot-gun way of eliminating the green stuff. Possibly a finer media may help till you clear out all the brown. U got to clear up all the dead algae off the filter media often or you might get an ammonia spike..... and we all know what can happen in an ammonia spike. DEAD FISH.

U know, when the chemical wears out, u're going to get another algae bloom so maybe you should get to the bottom of the problem; Nitrates.

Favourite topic of this board is probably the promotion of the Trickle tower filter (even I was bought into that idea from this forum. Wink ), to cure your nitrate problems and thus solve your pea soup water problem once and for all. Crazy

Read up further on the DIY trickle tower filters in this forum..... and good luck.Smile

cheers,
kev.


patrick123
Koi Kichi


May 1, 2002, 1:24 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1350 views)
Shortcut
Re: [KevKoi] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Thorin,

Kevin was right on the spot. You need to get to the bottom of the rootcause. Using chemical to get rid of algae is not a long term solution. Your filter need to be more than just mechnical filtration, it has to be able to do biological filtration as well. Once you setup the biological media, you have to wait at least 4 weeks for it to mature.

Kevin and all,

BTW, I have a problem myself. My tank is 4 months old and the water looks crystal clear from outside. However, when I scoop up the water into a container, I notice that the eventhough the water is clear, it is a little off-white and a tat brownish. Is this normal?

Thanks,
Patrick


KevKoi
Member


May 1, 2002, 2:09 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1346 views)
Shortcut
Re: [patrick123] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
I think it's normal.... The water in the pond has got some dissolved organic solids and should not look like water that comes out of the tap. Usually just a tinge brownish is ok..... IMO.


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 2, 2002, 2:25 AM

Post #5 of 12 (1325 views)
Shortcut
Re: [KevKoi] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the reply KevKoi.
I'm cleaning my pump filter and green filter mat everyday in a bucket of pond water. The brown that comes out is like creosoteSly But getting less each time.
Is it time for a finer filter mat?
I can see 6 inches into the pond now, Better than 2 inches as it was on saturday. I was told I should get a bigger filter cos the water coming out rises above the top of my outlet pipe(side exit) when it should be around the middle? My media looks like small terracotta balls(sorry I don't know the name for them) and 1 green sponge filter mat.

I had my water tested today and the amonia and nitrate( or nitrite) was up a little. I haven't fed my koi since buying them because they are somewhere at the bottom, I haven't seen them in 4 days.
Is this normal?

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 2, 2002, 3:05 AM

Post #6 of 12 (1322 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
I did a search for trickle tower filter and read that someone had used an 18" terracotta urn.

If I were to do the same could I take the feed from the fountain (blocked off at present) for the tower and still keep the 1" feed to my original filter box? I couldn't find any pictures to explain the design. I take it the urn is filled with plastic balls and the water trickles through them and flows out at the bottom back to the pond??? What size TTF should I make for a 1600G pond?

Sorry for all these questionsShocked But You're the expertsWink

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.


Mark
Koi Kichi

May 2, 2002, 8:12 AM

Post #7 of 12 (1318 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Could you tell us the followings:
  1. Where is your country?
  2. what is the temperature?
  3. is the pond exposed to sunlight throughout the day?
  4. what are the readings for water parameters?


Usually, if the pond is green the small amount of nitrites that shows up in the test kit will tell you that either your filter is too small or not working efficiently.


KevKoi
Member


May 2, 2002, 3:09 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1305 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Yup, and that TT in the terracotta pot would probably be mine...Wink. U pretty much got the principle of the Trickle tower right. (Flow from top to bottom over plastic bio-ball media.) Would be best to feed to TT with filtered water to avoid the build up of all the gunk at the bottom of the TT.

What size should the TT be? Well, as big and as many as you can afford would be good.WinkLaugh I think the recommendation is to be at least 2ft high. (my TT's are 3 and 4ft high.)


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 3, 2002, 5:52 AM

Post #9 of 12 (1286 views)
Shortcut
Re: [KevKoi] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for your time and answersWink All,

Today I bought a 2000Gal filterbox with built in UV and drained my pondShocked

I washed all the brown out and a few handfuls of dead leavesUnsure Re-filled it with fresh water, de-chlorinator and new bacteria (Only because I fit my new filter, and was recomended to by my filter supplier) I also put half of the media from my small filter into the bigger one. My fish are nice and active now and are even feedingSmile So I'm happy I can see to the bottom (for now)

Now I've done this what should I look out for? I can get my water tested free at a local fish/pond stockist.

BTW I live in the Midlands, UK. Water temp is 9.5C

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 3, 2002, 7:13 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1283 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Too late to edit aboveUnsure

Should I add baking soda as this is now a new pond? Or 0.1% salt? I'm a little confused. I've been reading that much here my head is spinningCrazyLaugh

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.


dttk
Senior Member

May 3, 2002, 11:08 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1278 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Thorin] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Thorin, coming to think of it, the brown water may be caused by the dead leaves. Leaves are known to cause water to turn brown by releasing acids into the water. Better to prevent dead leaves from falling into your pond again to prevent recurrence of brown water or net them out as soon as you find them in water. They also cause water pH to drop slightly. As for baking soda, test the pH, KH first. If they are high, there is no need to add baking soda. Salinity can be maintained at 0.1% throughtout the year. Glad to know that your koi are healthy and fine. Smile
Always friendly :)


Thorin
Koi Lover


May 4, 2002, 1:07 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1253 views)
Shortcut
Re: [dttk] From green water to brown water. [In reply to] Can't Post
Thank you ALLLaugh

Mike.
Location: England, Derbyshire.

 
 
 



Search for (options) Back to Koi.com.my Main Page

  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement     
Copyright 2001~ 2002 Hileytech Sdn Bhd , All Rights Reserved.  
No part of the forum postings can be copied without prior permission from Hileytech Sdn Bhd and the Author of the Posting.
For comments and Suggestion, Please contact the Webmaster at koi@hileytech.com