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| Think I may go the UV light route. Any recommendations on a good quality light that will last?
Or, is there a downside to going UV? I am filtering under a thousand gallon pond. Thank you for the assistance: ) Scott |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by pondbucket (My Page) on Sun, May 23, 10 at 11:32
| My only experience with UV Clarifiers are with the type that go into Skimmers. I have a reg size Savio skimmer. You can use an Aqua Ultraviolet 57 watt UV unit (to retrofit the Savio skimmer) for $169 from PracticalGardenPonds. Reg $219. A new bulb alone for Savio’s 50 watt UV bulbs are $109 each!... the Aqua 57 watt unit replacement bulbs are only $49…. A bargain compared to the Savio bulb. I hear they work well. I haven't had much need to put on my UV but it is good to have as a backup. My 2 cents. |
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- Posted by coachshaffett z8 LA (My Page) on Sun, May 23, 10 at 12:27
| Thanks Pondbucket. Unfortunately, I am still in the adding plants stage so the algae blooms are quite active as I type. I did clear it up for a few days with additives. But, that was a temporary solution. Also, I am not really into the additives. Can you tell about how long the user life of your UV bulbs are? By the way, I love the user name. Thanks again, Scott |
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| Best way to clear up algae bloom is plants and patience =] |
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- Posted by coachshaffett z8 LA (My Page) on Sun, May 23, 10 at 16:04
| Thanks Diggery, Where can I find this thing called patience: ) |
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- Posted by goodkarma_ 5b (My Page) on Sun, May 23, 10 at 17:16
| I too have the Savio 57 watt UV. It needs changed out every season. UV lights are great, and if you can control the phosphates, nitrates, ect in your pond then you will not have too much string algae either. Lisa |
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- Posted by nancym1956 (My Page) on Sun, May 23, 10 at 18:05
| As far as I'm concerned, there is no down side to using a UV. My first one was a small Garden Treasures brand from Lowes, and it still works, even if it's too small for my pond now, since I've expanded. They're good up to about 1,000 gallons. I'm now using a larger Cal UV, although I have not had to hook it up this year. I think one of the worst things to cause an algae bloom is the annual spring clean out that people with rocked ponds do. Since I've removed the rocks and installed a retro bottom drain, which eleminates the need to do a yearly clean out, I have not had an algae bloom. I do get string algae early in the spring, but a toilet scrubber helps control that. I also use very fine filter pads and quilt batting at certain times of the year. My water is crystal clear. |
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- Posted by pondbucket 5 - 6, KS (My Page) on Mon, May 24, 10 at 0:31
| Scott, RE: Life of UV bulb. Nancym1956 is right in that a year or two is all you get out of an in-use UV bulb. I've used my Savio UV for two years now but I don't have it on more than a week or two at a time, and I haven't had need for it at all this year. Also remember, that most people, and manufacturers, claim that they are good for controlling the suspended, floating, types of algae but not string algae. The string algae will never come in close contact with the light for one thing. If you just recently added your water then a green water algae bloom a week or so afterwards is commonplace if not expected. Diggery is right that plants are your best control, both pond and biofilter plantings. I don't have mechanical filtration, like a pressurized in-line filter, so I can't speak to that. If you have string algae then the brush or your own hand is the best way to pull it out. I find that at cool spring-like temperatures the string algae just out competes anything in my pond. At higher temps the aquatic plants that aren't string algae and the beneficial bacteria (BB) will eventually out-compete the stuff... think water hyacinths, parrot feather, water celery, etc. I think a lot of people add BB in large part to convert the nitrates in the biofilters but it can help control the muck and dying string algae in the pond / pond bottom too. Then once your water clears it will probably stay clear if you are doing the "controlling" that goodkarma mentions. |
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- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Mon, May 24, 10 at 2:54
| I like the UV and so do my fishies. They gather at the outlet and seem to play. |
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- Posted by coachshaffett z8 LA (My Page) on Mon, May 24, 10 at 18:00
| Thanks Everyone. I promise to be more patient. Ok I tried: ) Here I come UV. |
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