Pics of green pond and New UV light to take care of it

[dennis]

Ok broke down yesterday and installed a UV light.  We shall see what happens

[miguynmkoi]

Nice pond and good pics of how your uv works.  Do you have enough filtering?  I over filter and I have many water plants and do not experience green water.

[Jerry]

My UV did nothing for me.  When I got the Skippy I dumped the UV.  I have had clear water ever since.  It has been about 4 years.
Smarter people than me swear by UVs.  But that has been my experience.

[Sandye]

I have a Skippy and never have green water.  I do have trouble clearing up the tannin after the leaves have fallen in it all winter.  I guess I really should get another net and try to keep that from happening this year.   

[dennis]

umm whats a skippy?????

[SueSTx]

http://www.skippysstuff.com/

A DIY filtration system.  I made mine out of a 35 gallon trash can.  It sets inside my 8' stock tank for lack of space outside.  Sometimes it takes a little tweeking to make it work...or maybe just time and patience.  My 24" water is clear enough to see the bottom...of course...so are my unfiltered unpumped lily tanks 

[dennis]

Hmm, I am running a Oase's BioTech10 at the top of my falls.  have probably 30% coverage this year, normally over 50% and have always had  pea green soup every summer for 4 years now.  My other pond at my last house had same setup was probably 30 inches deep and was always clear.  This one is 36 inches deep and only clear in winter!! Soon as it warms up goes green for rest of summer. Tired of using chemicals to clear it for maybe a few days at a time. Probably spent $$$$$ on chemicals last 4 years.  My fish are happy, when they come up to eat is when I see them!!!!

[-Greg-]

I am with Jerry, I currently do not have a UV light on either of my ponds. 5 foot deep pond at home has a diy sand and gravel filter and you can see right to the bottom, and my old preform that is now installed at my work has a small skippy, you can see right to the bottom as well. But just as Jerry stated, there are smarter people than me out there that swear by their UV lights...

Greg

[Reedman]

Another vote for a "skippy" type filter from me.  I have a 100-gallon skippy style for my 1300 gallon pond - keeps the water crystal clear.

[dennis]

Suppose you all spent signaficantly less then $600.00 for your Skippy setups huh.... :'( :'(
So are there instructions how to make one of these and how big do I need???? Can I keep my current bio filter at top of falls or replace with skippy???

[Ky Kim]

I also use a skippy type filter, and the water stays clear.  Every now and then after a storm its getting a little blah, but quickly clears up.


I never use chemicals either.  See it might be a quick fix, and maybe it does clear it for a few days or so.  What happens is it kills the algae, then it settles to the bottom and in a few days you have another algae bloom.  The dead alage is like fertlizer for it.  More plants to take up the extra nutrients.


Kim

[-Greg-]

Dennis, here are a few links for you:

http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

This is a great diy venturi that you can add to your skippy:

http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/venturi-mods.shtml

This next one is for a DIY 55 gal sand and gravel filter (I built this one for my pond, substituting the final layer of sand for crushed oyster shells):

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36550

Keep in mind that you can make your skippy out of many things, not just the rubbermaid stock tank. There are great versions out there made out plastic pots, storage containers, plastic truck tool boxes, etc. whatever your imagination can come up with!!

Let us know how it goes, and any questions, just ask away!

Greg

[happyoutsidegirl]

Suppose you all spent signaficantly less then $600.00 for your Skippy setups huh.... :'( :'(
So are there instructions how to make one of these and how big do I need???? Can I keep my current bio filter at top of falls or replace with skippy???
[/quote
No Dinnis, you don't need to replace it. A skimmer with mecanical filltration takes the water up to your bio falls. You just run a line from skimmer to bio falls.

[Esther]

I have a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank also installed using the Skippy concept. Never had green water in 7 years. I've had String algae but not pea soup. Of course I also filter, filter, filter too if I think the water is looking cloudy or greenish. I don't give it a chance to go green.

[Monica]

I have a skippy too but my water stays clear with a uv the skippy doesn't keep my water clear just clear of debreis, but the uv keeps my water from turning green.  Last year my water was green and within a week of hooking the uv back up it was clear.

[Jerry]

I was being polite and diplomatic with my "there are smarter people than me' crack.

Deep down I think UV is just something they sell!

[dennis]

ok 4 days into this and I can see a difference!!!   Will still look into doing the skippy thing eventually(like next spring when I also put in a Skimmer and external pump) For now will see how my overpriced UV does