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HELP! I am new at this and have green water

 





 


pam33527
New User

Jul 18, 2006, 12:10 AM

Post #1 of 8 (1566 views)
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HELP! I am new at this and have green water Can't Post
Hello

My husband just built us a beautiful pond measuring 11 ft by 9 ft by 1 ft deep. We have 2 water falls and it has a neat shape to it. We have 2 filters that are hooked up the the 2 waterfalls. There the kind of filters you stick a hose threw these filters and into the pump its in a black box. Not sure what kind it is my hubby isn't home to tell me. What my concern is someone told my husband that having algae is good for the fish and that they will eat it. The pond was beautiful and clear for a while now its cloudy and green. its gross. I have to go in the pond and get the filters and clean them out about every 2 or 3 days. We have 3 koi and 1 sucker fish. the sucker fish I never ever see. I even thought he was gone until my hubby saw him one morning. He hides behind the waterfalls. My husband was told to not add chemicals because the koi will survive better in a natural pond. I hate the look of a natural pond it looks yuky. The pond is next to my front door so everyone sees it when they come to my front door. What do you suggest? Also how much do you feed your koi. I have 3 young ones and we feed them a handful 2 times a day. Is that the right amount? I really want to succeed at this because I want a really large one in the back yard after we put our pool in. Oh ya I live in Florida if that matters

thanks and I really appriciate any response
Pam


utsuri
Koi Lover

Jul 18, 2006, 3:35 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1554 views)
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Re: [pam33527] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Pam,
There are a number thinfs that are causing the green water problem you are facing. Most o thm you can chalk upp to new pond syndrome. There are a number things that can be done. Let me start by saying in ways this green water is healthy. It is making up for a lack of development in filtration. It is feeding on the unfiltered waste.

This is a long term cure but it works. Drastically cut back on feeding your fish to start with. Feed them once every other day. When you feed them, only put in a few pellets at a time. Let them eat that and them feed them a few more. How much to feed really depends on thier size and the temps of your pond. Remember that your pond is outside and that natural food sources are comming from everywhere. Including the stuff that makes that green water. That will limit the intake of nutrients to the pond and give the filters you ahve a chance to catch-up.

When you clean those filters, shake them in a tub of pond water. These are holding the helpful bacteria that will eventually clear the problem. Do not try to get them sparkling clean with chlorinated tap water and water hose. That will hamper their growth.

You will need to get better filtration, in the near future, to prevent this from being a common occurance. The filter should move the entire volume of water through it no less than 2 times per hour. How much biomedia you need depends on the number and size of the fish you are keeping.

Adding floating plants like Hiacynth, duckweed and water lettuce will also help. If you have koi, the plants need to be situated where the koi cannot get to them. They will destroy thier roots.

Lastly, be patient with it. Things are new and need time to settledown.

hope this helps
Utsuri


tasgul
Koi Lover

Jul 18, 2006, 5:02 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1553 views)
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Re: [utsuri] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
and using chemicals is not dangerous at all but its important to use the right amount.


utsuri
Koi Lover

Jul 18, 2006, 8:00 AM

Post #4 of 8 (1548 views)
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Re: [tasgul] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
Becareful there. Once you put in an algeacide you might weaken wanted plants. You also have ot do water changes to get out any left over nutrients form killing all that algea. Don't get a bandaid when you need stitches. Solve your filter problems and get the water right. Then things will pretyy much work themselves out.


zoul
Member

Jul 18, 2006, 9:30 AM

Post #5 of 8 (1543 views)
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Re: [pam33527] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
Dear pam33527

All righty then. I don't wanna wee on your bonfire but your pond is going green becouse it has no depth and lots of oxygen.

Shallow water gets green becouse it warms up faster than deep ponds, All the nutriants in fish waiste get warm and break down faster releasing all those nitrates and posphates into the water, plants love that stuff and algea being a plant. Do you see a pattern imerging?

You could proberly use some shade over the pond to cut down on the sunlight.

I think your going to have problems all the time with your pond being shallow but still.

Any ways if you have a large garden why not try a veggy filter.

I'll post the thingy on veggy filters.

Vegetable Filters

Biological filters convert the most toxic elements of decay and fish waste into less harmful compounds.

Two of these, "Nitrates" and "Phosphates" can build up in the water and create problems such as water discolouration, algal growth and greater susceptibility of fish to disease. Chemical filtration can be used to reduce or remove these compounds but this can be expensive, especially in the larger pond. Regular partial (Not more than 10% of total volume) water changes also help. An alternative is construction of a vegetable filter.

These are usually constructed adjacent to the pond and consist of a lined area around 10 inches to 15 inches deep (25 to 38 cm.) filled with gravel. The area of the filter should be as large as possible. Plant out with quick growing, heavy Nitrate feeding plants such as Crassula, Nasturtium Aquaticum and Eleocharis. Water from the biological filter can be fed through the vegetable filter prior to returning to pond or alternatively pump fed directly from the pond.

A great bonus is creation of a bog environment which will enhance the landscaping of the immediate pond area and attract a host of wildlife.


koiguyoz
Member


Jul 18, 2006, 5:32 PM

Post #6 of 8 (1533 views)
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Re: [zoul] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
Regarding the use of chemicals and algaecides. Because algaecides kill the microscopic plant life responsible for the green algal bloom, the resulting mass death of the plant life will cause ammonia and nitrite spikes that will be deadly to the fish especially with ponds that aren't aerated heavily and run very large and efficient filtrations. In short, use with extreme caution.

I concur with the other members that your symptoms are most likely:
(a) new pond syndrome; or
(b) insufficient biological media surface area.

I suggest looking into creating an even larger biological filter system in the future if the pond never overcomes its new pond syndrome.

I find that some new koi owners who use the black box filters find them insufficient if, as one koi site noted "could fit into the back seat of your car". They are normally rated with very little fish life loads.


koister
New User

Jul 19, 2006, 11:35 AM

Post #7 of 8 (1502 views)
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Re: [pam33527] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
hi pam i had the same problem when i first build my pond. i try everything from building a extra filter to a veggie pond. my suggestion is getting yourself a uv light. i went with green water for a whole year and was about to give up on my pond. until i install a aqua 40 watt uv light. it is the best equipment i invested in, within a week i was able to to see the bottom of my pond, which is 4ft deep. good luck!


Mr Bump
Koi Lover


Jul 19, 2006, 9:54 PM

Post #8 of 8 (1478 views)
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Re: [pam33527] HELP! I am new at this and have green water [In reply to] Can't Post
Yeah, I was just about to say - if you don't already have a UV filter, get one - they are pretty much mandatory, especially if the pond spends a lot of the day in full sun. Like others have said though - don't add chemicals unless you absolutely have to - it's expensive and only 'plasters over' any underlying problem without fixing it - getting your filters working properly won't be as quick a fix as adding chemicals, but it will be better for the pond and the fish in the long run.

What form do your filters take? Really you should only be cleaning out the brushes or large debris catcher, rather than the filters themselves. If your husband has fitted some sort of biological filtering system, it should be left alone - cleaning it out will only remove the bacteria you are trying to grow and put you straight back to square one!

 
 
 



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