Messages

1

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: submersible filter for 850 gal pond?

« on: May 27, 2009, 08:08:50 AM »

Thanks for the info.  I was just wondering how the heck I was going to keep debris out of my pump if I had to go to an external filter.

2

Pond Construction & Filtration / submersible filter for 850 gal pond?

« on: May 26, 2009, 09:15:07 AM »

Greetings,
I'm trying to get a bit more serious about filtering our pond.  The pond is flat sided concrete at about 850 gallons and 50 sq.ft. of surface.  The pond is surrounded by patio, so any tubes or external filter will be highly visible. 

I was thinking about this kit:

http://www.pondmasterstore.com/home/pm1/page_52_14/pm_2950_kit.html

"Biological Filters and Filter Kits: PM 2950 Kit
Deluxe complete submersible filter system which includes 12" x 24" box filter, 950 gph mag pump, two types of filter media, connectors and fountain head. For ponds up to 2000 gallons. 18' cord."

Instead of running the water out a fountain top, I will be running it out a 10 inch wide waterfall.

A couple questions:

Is that too much filter and pump for 850 gallons?
Even when I figure in the added 14 feet of hose to do the job?
Are there better, 'unsightly' filters that I can use?


Thanks!

3

Pond Chat / Re: Our pond of 9 years failed.

« on: May 25, 2009, 08:42:48 AM »

Now that the pond needs a fresh start, I guess it's time to take the hobby to the next step and get serious.

The pond is a concrete rectangle, appx 875 gallons, with 50 sq feet of surface and 32 inches deep throughout.  We have  a small waterfall on one end, and a small'ish external filter.  It has well established lillypads, that cover half the surface in the summer.

I need recommendations on new 'quality' equipment, filter, waterfall, pump (or pumps).
I might be leaning towards a waterfall filter, we can do an external filter, but there is not a great place for it.

What would you guys recommend?

4

Pond Chat / Re: Our pond of 9 years failed.

« on: May 24, 2009, 10:19:31 PM »

Thanks for the insight, I'm going to run some tests on the water asap.  I suspect, we just hit a combination of items that tipped the pond over the edge.  I will take this opportunity to take our pond to the next level.

5

Pond Chat / Our pond of 9 years failed.

« on: May 24, 2009, 05:36:37 PM »

It's with some sadness, that I need to report our pond of 9 years seemed to fail over the course of a couple days.  We gained a 850 gallon pond with the house we live in over the last 9 years.  The state of the pond was never perfect.  I suspect our filtration was light, and our pumps were insufficent.. (350 gph range).  However, over 9 years we had no fatalities, so we did not change much..  The pond had survived pump failures, filter failures, algae blooms, raccoons, everything.

The other day, the pump to the waterfall stopped.  I estimate, it was off for several to 10 hours. A day after that, our large Koi and Catfish died.  Hearbroken, I assumed it was the lack of oxygen.  The smaller guys seemed to be doing fine.  Two days later, the smaller guys stopped feeding and died.  The waterfall was running for those two days.  I am at a loss for what happened..  It did get warmer here, it does seem like some of the algae died off.  Admittedly, we were more hands off than most, but we also seemed to enjoy a much higher survival rate than most.  ..We fill the pond an inch or so every couple weeks from the hose, could it have been something in the water?  could it been a cycle I was unaware of?  Why would the small guys die even if the waterfall was running well after the big guys died?

Thanks for any insight.