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Can I install a biofilter?
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Posted by lesliew z7 NY (My Page) on Wed, Mar 26, 08 at 16:15
| Pond guy says no. I have a 1500 gallon pond, 30 some odd goldfish, and a UV clarifier, but no filtration. I have winterized, and now will do Spring startup with the recommended kits from online sources. I had interviewed a number of people last year, and their suggestions all varied, from bio filter, to water changes, etc.
I have a submersible 4800 GPH pump which sends the water up through tubing, through the UV, and around, and back in through the waterfall. This guy says that with no filter, the bio filter will get mucked up from dirt in the pond, and that I would need a separate pump, since the pressure would be cut down. I don't really have an available outlet for another pump, and I don't know how he would even get the water to the waterfall, since most of the tubing is buried under the rocks.
I just ordered a Pondomatic vac, since the things I tried before have not worked. There are rocks and pebbles on the bottom, no drain, and it is very difficult to get muck out. Right now we are still netted, since I can't install my water scarecrows until the water is turned on outside, and we have, in the past, lost fish to raccoons.
Does this guy know what he's talking about? Is it enough to just treat the water and do partial water changes, and vacuum when possible? We weren't really into fish when we had it built - just wanted a water feature - or we would have done it differently. However, I do not want these fish to die. The water, BTW, is extremely clear. Any ideas??? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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- Posted by pat_c 5/ N W OHIO (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 26, 08 at 17:36
| Leslie - I don't know why you couldn't rig up a biofilter, especially since you have a submerged pump. I have 2 1000 gal ponds and sit my pumps in a 25 gallon tub with lid filled with holes that I bought at $ General. I put lava rock on the bottom 1/3, then sit the pump in and cover it with layers of furnace filter and poly batt. My water clears quickly in the spring. I do have to clean the filters periodically but it works like a charm. They're modified Adam's filters and you'll find them online. As far as the gunk on the rocks on the bottom. I've heard there's no way to remedy that. You have rocks, you get gunk. Most of us have removed the rock for that very reason... looks good for 5 minutes and then gunks up as a trap for bacteria. Impossible to clean, bad for fish. Good luck! |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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- Posted by kalevi 4 Ottawa, ON (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 26, 08 at 18:34
| Of course you can have a biofilter. There are many different designs like the skippy and 45 gallon drums similar to skippys. Your pond guy does not know what he is talking about. |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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| Your pond guy is looking for a steady customer for his pond cleaning business. If you have any access to the pump or some of the tubing it should be possible to use a diverter to direct some of that 4800 gph output through a biofilter. I am having trouble visualizing your system. How does your UV work? Since it requires a long dwell time you must have some sort of diverter set up and there must be some sort of prefilter to protect the pump. Info please. Sandy |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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As someone who installs ponds and biofilters for a living your pond guy should have said that he doesn't know how. If you are getting that much debri pumped thru your lines to the waterfall how is it that the UV doesn't get clogged up or worse a piece of debri doesn't hit the quartz sleeve and break it. Does this pump sit on the bottom of the pond or in a skimmer. How is the waterfall constructed by this I mean does it have a waterfall box? Sandy is correct on the UV. So where is the UV located and if nothing else you could connect onto the piping at the UV. Without having more information there are a lot of things that I can not say but one I can say is it probably time to look for a second opinion and or a new pond guy.
Mike |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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| I have a submersible 4800 gph pump, sitting under a rock shelf at the deep end of the pond. I was told there is a pre-filter. The guy who installed it suggested not pulling it for cleaning, but to turn it off once a month to backwash it. It would actually be a major production to pull up those heavy rocks and pull the pump. I would almost rather wait till it dies and replace it! No, I do not have a waterfall box. Tubing goes from the pump up the side of the waterfall, through the UV, which is on the upper right side of the waterfall rocks, around the top, and down into the pond in three separate streams. I have not had any issues with the UV. I have pictures of the pond posted at http://gallery.mac.com/leslieweinberg |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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Since I agree with the other people let me tell you something else . I dont know how much money you paid for your Pondomatic vac but i suggest you cancel the order and buy a large wet / dry vac at Sears or a similar place. I have a 3000 gallon pond and I just used it to clean out my pond . It will take you a few days as its better to let the dirt settle down in the vac before dumping the clean water back in but it really works great . Also at this time of the year , everyones water is clear . As soon as the weather warms then the bacteria and algae will start clouding up your water .
P. S. , only use the vac for your pond , not for cleaning dirt so you dont comtaminant the fish . Rick |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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Not knowing what kind of prefilter is on your pump does put me at a disadvantage. But I see no reason why you could not tie into either the line going into or out of the UV and use that to run a biofilter. Yes the biofilter would have to able to trap debri with out clogging up or it would have to be easily cleaned as with a bead filter. If it is a pressurized filter the flow maybe cut down some. There are a lot of filters on the market or DIY filters that would work just fine. I can't see enough in your pictures to be able to tell what would be the best way for you to go with being able to hide the filter. But please tell me that the deep end is the end that is not by the waterfall.
Mike |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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| Sorry - deep end is at the waterfall. This guy insists bio filters do not work. He now wants to dig at the shallow end, put in a skimmer filter with UV, and hook it up to a separate pump. I am really not in the mood to go through that, and take a chance on the liner and landscaping being compromised. Very few people I interviewed, when looking for someone, suggested a skimmer. The guy who built the pond had suggested either a UV, or a bio filter, or both, but said he felt the important one was the UV, and to forget about the bio filter - so I did. I'm almost at the point where I want to settle for leaving just the UV, and having someone come in twice a year to do a partial water change and add whatever chemicals are necessary. Maybe someone can suggest a decent, and knowledgeable guy who works on ponds in Nassau County NY??? |
RE: Yes you Can install a biofilter?
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I would think very hard before I let this guy do anything on the pond as it is clear that he doesn't know much ponds at all. A skimmer can be a very important piece of equipment as far as maintenance goes and pond circulation but I would not let this guy install one. Try going on the IPPCA web site and see if they list anyone close to you. If they do call Gloria at the number for the IPPCA and ask her what she knows of the person listed.
Mike |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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| No one on that site in the vicinity who does any type of service. The one place which IS listed is a guy I spoke to before we built the pond, who was rather eccentric to say the least, and who quoted me $27,000 to build it. I don['t think I have to tell you what my reaction was to that. |
RE: Can I install a biofilter?
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| I hate it when someone is trying to learn his business at the expense of his customers. It sounds like he has made several suggestions that don't sound quite right but no two ponds are alike. Of course if you don't have basic knowledge, you can't challenge his proposals and that could cost you. I would suggest you lurk on this forum a while and ask questions when there is something you don't understand. It is a whole lot less expensive to run your ideas and problems through here first. There are forum members that have built many ponds and some that have only one but all of them love to explain what is going on. Newbies are always welcome. I am sorry you don't want to be involved at a more intense level with your pond. It can be quite enjoyable.Sandy |
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