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| Overdosed the Koi Clay | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 26 2012, 01:25 PM (645 Views) | |
| tlc | Apr 2 2012, 03:55 PM Post #16 |
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Big Fish Moderator
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You almost have to double fence to keep the kids from feeding the horses. Used to be you never had to worry about your pets being harmed by other people but nowadays........ |
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| Its Just Don | Apr 2 2012, 05:01 PM Post #17 |
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Bluegill
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Might help to also add about 12,000 volts of juice to the fence, too. :batterup: |
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| 43freckleface | Apr 2 2012, 05:20 PM Post #18 |
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Bluegill
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Poor parenting.... :'( |
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| 43freckleface | Apr 2 2012, 05:21 PM Post #19 |
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Bluegill
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:iagree: |
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| tlc | Apr 2 2012, 09:05 PM Post #20 |
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Big Fish Moderator
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:thumbup: |
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| tlc | May 8 2012, 08:22 PM Post #21 |
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Big Fish Moderator
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I was just looking at your floating planter and noticed that your pond water is looking pretty clear, is that right? |
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| 43freckleface | May 9 2012, 02:26 AM Post #22 |
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Bluegill
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The water is really clear but I still have tons of string algae. One thing, even though I overdosed the koi clay the algae came back with a vengeance. It seemed to kill it all on the bottom only. The liner on the bottom was completely clean. After about a week it was covered again. I think I will have to just accept the algae. :swear: All my research tells me it is difficult to remove and can say I do agree with that. I still add Koi clay and I have a bale of barley straw in the pond. I am using beneficial bacteria as directed. I have a UV light and have put quilt batting in the filter. Nothing is working really well. I am not even feeding my fish. One good thing the trees have leafed out. I am hoping the shade and the plants will help some. When Don was here he told me it didn't look bad at all. At least I can see my fish. I think green is just a part of ponding. At least the water isn't green. :) |
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| Its Just Don | May 9 2012, 05:45 AM Post #23 |
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Bluegill
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Melanie, Most of what you are using for algae control is for planktonic (single-celled, dispersed algae that causes "pea soup" water). UV does nothing for string algae as it does not pass through the UV filter. Likewise, quilt batting is not for string algae. It's debatable whether barley does anything for either and may actually contribute to the nutrient level in the water. I have found that MOST of the string algae will subside with increased water temperatures and competition from other plants. I didn't pull any out of the bottom of your pond, but what I did see is not what I would call the string algae of nightmares. It looked more like the short filamentous algae that grows on pond linings and provides food for fish, although it was in more-than-normal abundance. Rather than spend money on koi clay, uv sterilizer bulbs, barley straw or extract and bacteria cultures, control the two things that algae need to grow -- nutrients and light. Allow your water lilies to cover 60% or more of your pond and/or purchase a couple of water hyacinth plants to reduce the amount of light available to the algae. In your size pond, manually removing the majority of the bottom-growing algae will satisfy your need for a "cleaner" pond and also remove nutrients from the water. As that algae grows, it is using up nutrients and removing it effectively remove nutrients, which will result in less growth of it. Finally, learn to love that bottom-growing algae. Without it using up the nutrients and until other plants grow, the alternative is to have planktonic algae take over, resulting in the water itself becoming an opaque pea-soup green color that prevents even seeing your fish. I think most pond people, given the choice of string vs planktonic algae, would opt for the string algae. Try removing your bottom algae with a toilet brush. Count your blessings, Melanie, you have delightfully clear water. That bottom algae is serving you well. |
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| tlc | May 9 2012, 07:54 AM Post #24 |
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Big Fish Moderator
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You are right on the money there. :thumbup: I prefer the green on the liner. I don't, at this time, have much algae growing in the pond itself (other than the green liner algae). I do get a build up in the stream where all the "goop" (nutrients) collect after is has passed through the filter. Last year I made a HUGE mistake by hosing out the whole stream. What a total mess of the pond. Pea soup water for most of the summer is what I had even with all the flushing I was able to do. I was so PO'd at myself. I don't mind some cloud to the water but not to the point where I can't see a darn thing when I have to wade it for pond chores :swear: My pond gets full on sun for the most part. I have no shade at all other than a little bit that is provided late, late in the day when the plants around the outside of the pond gets tall enough to provide it. I normally have lots of lilies that provide quite a bit of shade once they get growing good. I tried barley extract when I had my little pond and was not impressed with it (just my opinion). I did see benefit from the koi clay with the little pond the last year that I had it. |
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| 43freckleface | May 9 2012, 03:19 PM Post #25 |
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Bluegill
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Thank you both for the help. I have 5 lily’s in the pond counting the new almost black. Right now all but the one have about 3 or 4 pads each. Hopefully once they get growing good a lot of the surface will be covered. I only have one water hyacinth. It was looking pretty shabby when I bought it so I have it floating in the waterfall tub. I was waiting on it to get a little stronger before I put it in the pond. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks what they have at the pond stores will be looking a lot healthier. Whatever I put in the pond has to be contained somewhat because of the skimmer. That is the reason for the ring with the water lettuce in it. Don, the reason you didn't see much algae in the pond was that I had cleaned a lot of it up the day before you got here. A couple of times a week I have to as it is sticking out about 3 inches along the sides of the pond. I can see it just walking up to the pond. I am thinking it is too long and thick to be the filamentous algae. The plant baskets also have a lot of algae. Right now it extends upward I bet 4 or 5". My next big job will be to give the baskets a thorough cleaning and scraping. I am glad I don't have the planktonic algae. I have seen ponds with that before and could not even see any fish. That stuff is really ugly. When I was setting up the filter again I decided to add the quilt batting. Most sites note the planktonic algae will affect ponds in the spring so I was just taking precaution against it. Don, just curious but you don't add any beneficial bacteria to your filter? I thought that was a common thing to do with all ponds. I have been adding some each week since I started the filter running. It is supposed to remove problem nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. I actually purchased both liquid and powder and have a lot left. T, I did find out one thing about the barley straw. It won't work on existing algae which I have. They advertise that barley emits natural enzymes that thwart the growth of string algae. Like Don says whether this will work or not is debatable. They also say barley is more effective if placed where the pond water will run through it and distribute the natural enzymes. I might just put it up in the waterfall tub to see what happens. The barley has been in the pond since March and has not dissolved much. If you do decide to try it this year maybe you might try putting barley straw where the water flows good into your pond. Just a thought. |
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| Its Just Don | May 9 2012, 08:13 PM Post #26 |
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Bluegill
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When I first set up my pond some years ago, I bought some Microbelift and added it. My senses were assaulted by the strong hydrogen sulfide smell and to me that is a sure sign of anaerobic bacteria. I wouldn't put that stuff into my pond on a bet. Hydrogen sulfide is poisonous. Period. I used to measure pH and all the other parameters. Haven't done that in years. My attitude is -- if the water is clear and the fish seem healthy and aren't gasping at the surface, the pond will take care of itself. I clean out the junk somewhat in the fall, but mostly in the spring, regularly wash my Matala filters with a hose and grow and maintain lots of plants. The pond finds its own balance. The less I mess with it, the more balanced it seems to be. Of course, I do things like use a floating heater when the winter gets severe. I've also found from the posts on various pond forums that the people who mess and fuss most with their ponds seem to have the most problems. People would measure pH on a daily basis, fret over variations and attempt to adjust it with vinegar or baking soda and it wasn't long before they had belly-up fish or pea-green water or dead plants. I believe that you'll have problems with a new pond for 2 to 3 years until the pond finds its balance and if you constantly fuss with it, it will never achieve a balance and there will be constant problems. The most important factor in successful pond maintenance is patience, patience, patience. Build a pond with lots of filtering capacity and there will be few ecological problems. |
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| 43freckleface | May 10 2012, 03:28 AM Post #27 |
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Bluegill
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I do agree with you Don. I read too much and tend to fuss with the pond.This is only my second year for the pond. Guess mine is still not balanced yet. I have taken classes at the pond store and most likely a sales gimmick but have listened to their directions. Your pond always looks so nice. Now I understand why. Time for me to sit back and enjoy and not worry so much. :thku: |
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| tlc | May 10 2012, 04:58 PM Post #28 |
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Big Fish Moderator
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Yep. |
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