Messages

121

Pond Chat / Re: FILTERS ULTIMA II ? PRESSURE ? Rocket scientists need not reply!!

« on: April 16, 2007, 01:13:33 PM »

Nope, no bottom drain either, I think we can add one to the savio skimmer though. I've seen kits for it.

Yes people do that, me included. I wish I hadn't. You have no control over how much water flow goes into BD or into Skimmer. You have to clean the skimmer much more with BD gunk going in there. I've bulked out the filtration in mine for that task. If you actually read what the inflow is for in the Savio it's called a mid level input not a bottom drain port. Mid level water isn't gunky like a BD. You truly want your BD to flow to its own mechanical filtration unit.

The Savio bio filter is actually very small at ~30 gallons. It can be hidden away from the pond buried flush with the ground—I used the Versatile and it's about 6' away from my closest pond behind a bush and some trees...

I hope the sales person told you how much head pressure your pressurized filter will require after it gets a little clogged. My understanding is they need to be flushed frequently—not exactly what is best for biofiltration. I don't want to pop your bubble, I just hope you know what your in for.

When you get around to the BD plumb it with 4" pipe. I used 2" and it's almost useless.

122

Pond Chat / Re: filter install question

« on: April 07, 2007, 11:11:12 PM »

Wouldn't it be easier to use something light weight? I mean gravel is heavy and doesn't provide a lot of surface area compared to many of the medias that folks use. What do you do when the 20 something step kid moves to the other coast?

The "gravel" filter in my second link simply used an air blower.

123

Pond Chat / Re: Shade plants

« on: April 07, 2007, 09:53:13 PM »

How about some carnivorous plants? They'd need to be in pots. Possibly a water hawthorn—they bloom in cool weather, even under ice... not sure of their light requirements. She could do stuff just outside of the pond... bleeding hearts, cyclamen, coral bells, lily of the valley, primrose, streptocarpus,...

124

Pond Chat / Re: skippy vs biofilter

« on: April 07, 2007, 09:46:25 PM »

You don't give much info there to go on...

Filtration is mechanical, to physically remove crud. Then to the pump, then to the biofilter. Yes the skippy is a biofilter, but it could also supplement the mechanical if your mechanical is not adequate and your sending crud to the skippy. Some folks think they need UV which is in line some place before the falls depending on where they can install it. Skimmers are mechanical too. Depending on your skimmer, like mine that's all the mechanical I have. Not the best way but what I have...

A bottom drain is a really important filtration accessory if your in a place to put one in.

A mat around the pump is not much mechanical. Some folks put a milk crate with foam all around the inside with a pump inside of that. Some folks use 55 gal drums with mats or brushes or it's just a settling chamber if the flow is slow enough...

It really depends on what your trying to do as to what you need.

Some folks have said there's also chemical filtration—basically achieved by dilution with water changes.

The easiest way to beef up an existing set-up is to improve your filtration media. Like Esther adding brushes to her skimmer...

125

Pond Chat / Re: filter install question

« on: April 07, 2007, 09:30:35 PM »

The Savio is a little small, ~30 gal I think, I have one—the Versatile. I've added a roll of Matala round and an extra mat on top of the existing spring flow—the old mat from the skimmer. I've also added some box strapping and nylon junk to it.

Here is a modification you should consider if you get the Savio—for the bottom drain in the unit, it's a ways down in the thread.

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15829 You'll have to join to view the pics, and there are a lot of them.

Yes the idea of cleaning a skippy once a year? I don't think so... I don't have one but I know when I clean my bio filter unit, with a pond water rinse the pond is clearer after a day. I do that several times a year or more. I may pull all the mats and junk out once a year... but pouring water through it with the drain open gets it pretty clean.

Not sure what kind of filter your looking for but if you like to tinker around and build stuff here's a great project:

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36550 again join to see pics...

126

Carnivorous Plants... / Re: How to make a simple Carnivorous Plant mini bog...

« on: April 07, 2007, 09:15:59 PM »

Here's the link...http://www.californiacarnivores.com/ it needed the www. We're several hours south of there. There's another nursery I need to visit in Sebastipol too, for some native dogwoods. But it's a long drive...

That's where I got my plants, they were on sale at the time. They sent more than I ordered , they were a little small but cheap price, all seem ok so far.

Patsy, I'm not sure what kind of moss it is. Some was on the CP plants that were sent to me, most was from the woods next to our house—the big wood chunks with moss. That moss on the rock was a gift from the recycle gods, after the trash guys came and went there was this big hunk of moss in the road, I couldn't just leave it there...

My friend was staying I think N.E. of kalispell. Kalispell's where the p.o. box was...

Yes this time of year is awesome with everything leafing out, flowers blooming, of course the folks in Florida have been there done that already—our crocus were probably a month or so ago.

127

Pond Chat / Re: filter install question

« on: April 06, 2007, 07:42:19 PM »

Skippies can always be buried... just looks like another section of pond. Lets see you do THAT with a pressure filter...

You can read the links at koiphen just can't see the pictures if your not a member. Sometimes they can be worth thousands of words...

128

Pond Chat / Re: Started to get a little annoyed.... whats with the conflicting info on planting.

« on: April 04, 2007, 08:32:02 PM »

You have to decide if you want the plant to grow in your garden. I read Sunset's Western Garden Book, don't know if they have an east version. You have to take all of what you read with a grain of salt. There are so many micro-climates—from the north to south side of your house, to if your in a low or high spot on a hill. Our neighbors frequently have frost—across the street, and we don't. Read what the plant wants and give it the best you can to that. If it dies, I try again if I really want it.

I look at native plants and where they grow—sun, shade, soil, water... Do I have a way to provide that at my house. I had a local nursery tell me I couldn't grow quaking aspen, Sunset said CA native dogwood are extremely difficult. So far they are both doing well. You have to experiment, no guarantees with plants.

129

Pond Chat / Re: Brushes for the skimmer

« on: April 04, 2007, 10:21:08 AM »

A standard Savio works great with six brushes, unless your running UV. Across the back is not very effective IMHO.

This is a previous version. I now have mat in the mat holder in addition to the big wrap around piece in picture I've also updated a hold down for the inside of the skimmer. I'll dig up a link...



OK here's a link with current picture and details...

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47378&highlight=savio+modification

130

Wakin, Shubunkins and Goldfish... / Re: goldfish change color?

« on: April 03, 2007, 10:11:44 PM »

The soot is invisible until it attaches itself to goldfish then the true color shows, it's really nasty stuff, sometimes it can take 5 years to appear... Just can't heat the pond with coal even with filtration, some soot always gets by and dirties the fish eventually...

Does it look like it could be a disease type color change? Fish still acting healthy? I haven't any idea why, but no one else seems to be paying attention. You may want to post the question on a different forum section where it'll get more traffic?

131

Pond Chat / Re: Brushes for the skimmer

« on: April 02, 2007, 05:12:31 PM »

I had gotten my black knight brushes from kevin at http://www.aquaticpondsupplies.com/brushes.htm he's a bit more on brush price compared to AZ, I didn't check shipping just now. I think I got a good price through koiphen when I bought mine, not sure—I know the brushes are cheaper than mat.

It does look like you need two more as the water will go around the sides. If you had some extra mat or plastic, like a half gallon size plastic milk/orange juice carton—something to block the sides so the water the goes through those brushes you'll be a lot more happy with what they accumulate. It took me several tries to figure out how to get them to work best in my skimmer. Looks like you may just have to go for a couple more.

Another idea would be to form a partial circle with them around the weir opening if there is enough brush to do that space. Put a 45 in the center bar instead of that straight. Lay them sideways?

That's some nice clear water you have running through there...

132

Pond Chat / Re: Pond Snails.....Good or Bad?

« on: March 30, 2007, 06:16:35 PM »

My first year I had an explosion of the little corkscrew shelled ones maybe 1/4" big as adults. Then the population fell off and I don't see them much. Now I have some rather pretty looking ones about an inch or so big. More the garden snail shell type. A nice light tan with black camouflage speckles. I'll have to photograph them so someone can ID them... I see clear areas 3/4" wide—trails where they have cleaned the moss/algae off rocks, liner and left droppings. So far so good. Looks like their population is on the rise and waiting to see if I need to hand pick them out later.

133

Pond Chat / Re: I gotta rock!!

« on: March 30, 2007, 06:06:30 PM »

Wow! that's awesome. Can I have one?     

It should make a great pool for the little critters. I can see the beautiful moss growing on it already where it spills over into the pond.

134

Carnivorous Plants... / Re: How to make a simple Carnivorous Plant mini bog...

« on: March 30, 2007, 06:02:04 PM »

Yikes! Kalispell is cold. I had a friend housesit one winter there. Her steering wheel cracked in her car during a spell of minus 34* or so. It's warm here now a little frost a few days ago but warm days again. I'm hoping my little carnivorous additions start putting on some growth.

The places where I saw them growing in the wild—the water is pretty pure. Snow melt in the middle of nowhere... I haven't had any problems with it in the pond. I bought half a dozen more after reading this thread. They were mail order and cut down in size... I built a little bog around the edge of the pond in a couple of spots. Pulled back the liner on the backside of the border rocks adding a few inches of width about 1/4"–1/2" deep of water then backfilled with peat/sand mix. I got a couple of mature plants a several smaller ones.

Seems everything around the pond is an experiment. The one from last year did really well, so I'm hoping for good results.

135

Pond Chat / Re: Alot of us will be potting and repotting.......What works for you?

« on: March 30, 2007, 05:13:51 PM »

Oh Happyout, they are trying to guilt you with those eyes... don't look, pretend you've just noticed a new flower bud on your lily. Then point high in a neighbors tree and say heron! Quick, swim!... Go! Hurry! ........I'm sure they won't listen....

I can see that look in their eyes—they have you wrapped around their little pectorals.   

136

Wakin, Shubunkins and Goldfish... / Re: goldfish change color?

« on: March 29, 2007, 06:35:00 PM »

Ah you cleaned the filter and some soot got stuck on it...

My rosy reds get dark patches, blotches, when it comes time for breeding. I have one GF that was pretty small not real dark black but smoke color, it has been getting lighter as it's getting bigger.

Here are two rosy reds—they were the same color originally.

137

Pond Chat / Re: Alot of us will be potting and repotting.......What works for you?

« on: March 29, 2007, 06:28:13 PM »

Ok now tell me you can resist this?

Wave your hand like your saying good-by and say Shoo! Several times...


I've repotted all my potted lilies. I use the aquatic pots with weed cloth liner inside the bottom and up the sides. I put a few handfuls of recycled aquatic soil in the bottom. Dump in a bunch of two year old horse manure—from last years veggie garden, mix in some sprinklings of Osmocote throw in a few handfuls of grey sand, mix it up some then put in the lily with any growth parts up above the soil. Top it off with a layer of recycled aquatic soil, a few rocks, rinse with the hose and put in the pond. I have several large lily tubers from a friends pond that I just put a large rock on the hold down roots and put on the bottom. I used some nylon string across the pots this year for lifting and moving them. I have a stick with a thick coat hanger wire in a tight loop for lifting them. The wire I've used on the pots in the past rust away.

I can't say it works... My first year I used only aquatic soil with the expensive plant spikes—they grew very well. Next year I tried using some coconut hair on the bottom with aquatic soils and cat litter with chunks of tree spikes—didn't grow too well or bloom nearly as well. The coconut hair stuff collapsed after a little while, so the pots were only half full of soil. So this years attempt is yet another variation...

138

Pond Chat / Re: Johns......

« on: March 24, 2007, 08:41:46 PM »

Uh Jerry, maybe she's got kids... with them it's definitely wipe...   

139

Pond Chat / Re: The old and the new.

« on: March 24, 2007, 08:37:38 PM »

If you put that pvc grate a little more forward you could wrap a half circle of mat from back corner to back corner around the pump to get two layers of mat in there. I'd probably try a brush laying down under your screen, or forgo the screen altogether and put a full row of brushes across in front of your mat...

I'm always trying to figure out how to get more filtration stuffed in my skimmer. If your bottom drain does draw, you'll get more glop in there and it will load up your mat in no time. Brushes are easier to wash out.

Looks like you've made a nice solid improvement there.

140

Pond Chat / Re: What new plants are you getting/wanting this year?

« on: March 24, 2007, 08:26:19 PM »

I'll be trying some Arc-en-ciel again and an almost black. Wish I had the acreage to grow more. Also added some white birch and magnolia stellatta—(centennial) to the mix, but they're only rooted cuttings so it'll be a while before they get to much size. I think that's all the "new" stuff but the season is early...

141

Pond Chat / Re: Hiding the barrel liner lips- fun project!

« on: March 22, 2007, 11:02:25 PM »

At a plant show last year there was a person who makes ceramic tiles to fit a barrel rim. They look very nice but they are quite pricey. She's even making a set-up for electric wire to top it to keep the raccoons out...

142

Pond Chat / Re: Beginner's Luck???

« on: March 22, 2007, 10:58:11 PM »

Overwinter? For me that's not the problem it's over summer and a lack of consistent heat. My lotus puttered along last year till we had record breaking heat—then they threw up leaves and flowers with in a week. If Al Gore is correct, maybe I should try them now?...

143

Pond Chat / Re: How to add skimmer to existing pond

« on: March 22, 2007, 10:53:28 PM »

First you have to decide what kind of skimmer you want. A pool like skimmer with minimal filtration or a Savio type skimmer filter that can be modified to do a large amount of mechanical filtration. Do you want an external pump to draw water from skimmer to next filtration device or a submersible in the skimmer it's self—not as good a way to go IMHO. I suspect you could almost install the skimmer without draining the pond. A Savio has an extended throat so the big excavation isn't right up against the liner. A pool like skimmer would also be relatively easy, if it has a two part faceplate that sandwiches the liner—don't have to cut the hole for weir until the faceplate is already screwed in place.

Do a search at koiphen about skimmers and installations. There are many pond redo's and new builds and lots of pictures and tips. You have to join to see the pics... Try a search of "Kent Wallace" and "skimmers" together.   

144

Pond Chat / Re: Retrofit bottom drain

« on: March 21, 2007, 11:13:19 PM »

I'm not sure you will get a desired effect. I have a Tetra bottom drain. It is a 3" that I foolishly plumbed in 2" to the mid level input on my skimmer. (It's the biggest mistake of my pond build) I do get water draw and I'm very happy I put it in, but the amount of crud that freely chooses to go to the bottom drain is minimal. It works well as a in pond vacuum when I use a metal hose extension to flush debris into it with the pond full of water. So I'm glad to have it.

The issue with the retro BD is that you won't have the benefit of gravity as stuff has to rise to the outlet rather than fall into it. Secondly by plumbing it to your skimmer you loose the direct water draw through it because your skimmer weir has much less resistance to flow. You can't separate the draw to the BD when it's plumbed into the skimmer. I close my weir door by hand but the BD doesn't draw enough to feed my pump.

I would strongly suggest you plumb the BD to it's own filtration unit—55 gallon barrel or? The BD will provide a great deal more glop to your filter. If your skimmer has adequate filtration that is good, but you'll need to clean it very frequently. If plumbed separate this sets you up to later do an external pump. In this way you have some control of the draw. The pump could go in your settling unit for BD and plumb the skimmer into it if you only want a single pump set-up. This way you have full draw on the BD and can valve down the flow from the skimmer. Essentially a skimmer doesn't need settlement but doing it this way saves on an extra pump.

It would also be beneficial to use larger diameter pipe for your BD. The aqua art is one I've heard recommended before as it will accommodate bigger diameter pipe.

Gravity flow for 2" is 750 gph, 3" is 1500 gph, 4" 3000 gph—http://www.aquaart.com/pondFLC.html

I have six brushes and two layers of mats in my skimmer/BD filter. It loads up pretty quick this time of year.

145

Pond Chat / Re: water garden institute

« on: March 21, 2007, 09:48:43 PM »

I wrote to someone listed as a moderator there awhile ago. He said he had nothing to do with the site anymore, but would notify the appropriate people... nothing happened. I posted a topic about the site needing a moderator and nothing happened. I finally deleted my bookmark, as there was no way to contact anyone and the porn folks were having a field day. I guess like kids and an abandoned building...

Someone is still paying to keep the board on the net, I just don't get it.

146

Pond Chat / Re: Rule of thumb ??

« on: March 21, 2007, 10:01:09 AM »

Johns that was good.

I also believe there are to many variables to make any kind of scientific conclusions for ponds in general. To have a valid scientific experiment you need to reduce the variables down to one—the one your changing. I don't think that's possible in ponds. Even if you could, the ponder next door has a whole different situation. Temperature and light exposure to name only two. Duplicating the results in another pond, not likely, unless your adding a large volume of bleach.

So we try things and make conclusions but there's nothing to say the results are from what we did.

The real test of any manufacturer is how they take care of a customer after the sale—even if they are selling snake oil. If they claim their product produces a given result they should try to make those results happen for their customers.

147

Pond Chat / Re: Rule of thumb ??

« on: March 20, 2007, 08:21:34 PM »

The price of good advertising is making unhappy customers happy.

I have no intention to debate. I simply disclose my Microbe lift experience when ever I see people recommending it. I wrote to the manufacturer and they didn't care enough to even respond. In one of my posts awhile back someone said they started working for them and that never would have happened with her working there, yet did she offer to do anything to make it right?... what do you think?                   


My W.Lim Wave pump flooded during a 6" rain downpour one night. My fault—bad pump vault design. It got noisy, but ran ok.
The sales rep said send it back to William. I eventually did send it back to W.Lim, who not only replaced the bearings, but changed the impeller which increased flow at higher head at no charge and shipped it back free.      


I just wrote to a potato chip company (Kettle brand) today about two bags of chips that were really bad. In less than two hours they had written to tell me they were sending coupons to replace said product.            

Those are an example of very good customer relations—Microbelift has none, zilch, nadda... I'm not afraid to say so.   

148

Chit Chat / Re: Remember my thread about JB Weld

« on: March 17, 2007, 10:03:39 PM »

Wowzers! that's awesome. They obviously know how to take care of their happy customers.

149

Chit Chat / Re: Hummingbirds?

« on: March 17, 2007, 10:00:53 PM »

We have Anna's all year, and not long ago the Allen's showed up. Most of the time they are very territorial, but I love this time of year when they must be doing the nesting thing as they tend to share a feeder. Then it suddenly stops, and one stands guard again.

Yellow jackets I hate'm. They are constantly after the feeder. I kill them one by one. The yellow jacket trap isn't much of a help. It maybe better this year as we now feed the cat on the other side of the house... will see. The one feeder I have that has a built in moat doesn't stay wet long enough, but ants so far haven't been an issue.

My problem is the warm weather builds up pressure in the feeders and makes them drip a lot. The one flat feeder that doesn't drip lets small insects into the juice to drown...

150

Pond Chat / Re: Rule of thumb ??

« on: March 17, 2007, 09:30:48 PM »

The only time I bought Microbe lift pl, as it's so highly recommended, I got it home after driving an hour to the place that sold it for a mere $25.00. I found that the seal on the bottle had been broken and that the bottle had leaked some prior to my obtaining it. I smelled the bottle, and there was no smell—that everyone says it has. I used it, and found it didn't make any noticeable difference, in fact the dry powder pondzyme product I had been using prior for $12.00 made a more noticeable difference. I wrote to the pondzyme folks and asked is this right? They never responded and I will never buy their product again. When given the opportunity to disclose a crummy company I will—it was their option to respond and chose to do nothing...

Koiphen had a good explanation about bottled bugs. The fact is, the good bacteria begin to die in as little as four hours. The stuff they put in bottles is a different kind of beast. So the gist of the discussion was, don't waste your money.

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51017

post #17 explains the difference between bugs in a bottle and bugs that convert ammonia.