filter cleaning

[k conover]

Just wondering if there was a general rule of thumb for how often to clean
out the pond filter. I've got a very simple pump immersed in a box that
has a bio filter (net bag filled with things that look like dish scrubbies
and plastic hair curlers in it), topped by a square 1" thick spongy pad that
sits inside the lid. I inherited this pond, which is why I don't know what
I've really got. I've been cleaning it when my water spitter starts to
get clogged and doesn't shoot up as high, but that's not very often. I
know you don't want to kill the "good" microbes, so how often is good?
Thanks,
Kirsten
(And to reiterate my other post--do I need to fertilize my water lilies to
get flowers?)

[Benign Vanilla]

"k conover" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> I've been cleaning it when my water spitter starts to
> get clogged and doesn't shoot up as high, but that's not very often.
<snip>

You've answered your own question! That is a perfect indicator.

BV.

[Pinkpggy]

> I've been cleaning it when my water spitter starts to
>get clogged and doesn't shoot up as high, but that's not very often

Thats a good way to know when it needs cleaned.

>And to reiterate my other post--do I need to fertilize my water lilies to
>get flowers?)

Some say yes, and some say no. I for one say yes. But each pond is different
so everyone has to find the best thing to do with their own pond and plants.
Jan
"Our Pond" Page
http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html

[San Diego Joe]

"k conover" wrote:

> (And to reiterate my other post--do I need to fertilize my water lilies to
> get flowers?)

It sure helps! Water lilies are very big feeders. I feed mine at least
monthly and even more in mid summer. You can use tabs specifically designed
for pond plants, or you can use Job's tomato stakes (they are the correct
formulation)


San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Goldfish, a RES named Colombo and an Oscar.



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[Ka30P]

Kristen wrote >>Just wondering if there was a general rule of thumb for how
often to clean
out the pond filter.<<

Another thing is to watch the *ewww du pond* smell. If it is bad, you need to
clean earlier. If it smells like fresh river water you're okay and watching the
spitter is a good indication.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Newbie Bill]

In a still wind, my pond always seems to have that slight fishy smell, not
sewer or sulfur like, just fish trip on your hands and clothes smell.
(Which I havent done for years, but remember) Yes my water parameters are
excellent and bottom pretty clean, but I do have slight concerns about
aneroabic (sp?) bacteria in one of my filters. It is just a storage tote
with a foam mattress pad stuffed in it. When I cleaned it, 2-3 months ago
now, there were folds with stinky gunk and blood worms. I have read passing
comments about dead spots in filters. Mine might be a candidate for that
since I did put a couple of 'path of least resistance pipes' near the bottom
to make sure it didnt gunk up, overflow and drain the pond. What u thank?
Bill Brister - Austin, Texas


"Ka30P" > wrote in message
...
> Kristen wrote >>Just wondering if there was a general rule of thumb for
how
> often to clean
> out the pond filter.<<
>
> Another thing is to watch the *ewww du pond* smell. If it is bad, you need
to
> clean earlier. If it smells like fresh river water you're okay and
watching the
> spitter is a good indication.
>
>
> kathy :-)
> algae primer
> http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[matrix j]

I clean mine every 3 months.
I drain my filter while gently shaking the media. I live in the deep
south and having a UV light has major advantages "no burning plants" and
"over heated water" but dead algae in the filter does build up after 3
months.

[bluegill phil]

I was cleaning my filters every 2 weeks and my water was green. I
added GRUBBER's venturis 2 weeks ago and my water has already cleared
up and when I went to clean my biofilters they were already clean. So
air made a big difference along with time, because my Nitrification
Cycle finally cycled. It took close to 5 months first the ammonia was
high then the nitrite, now it looks good and clear for the time being.




On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 18:39:57 GMT, "Newbie Bill"
> wrote:

>In a still wind, my pond always seems to have that slight fishy smell, not
>sewer or sulfur like, just fish trip on your hands and clothes smell.
>(Which I havent done for years, but remember) Yes my water parameters are
>excellent and bottom pretty clean, but I do have slight concerns about
>aneroabic (sp?) bacteria in one of my filters. It is just a storage tote
>with a foam mattress pad stuffed in it. When I cleaned it, 2-3 months ago
>now, there were folds with stinky gunk and blood worms. I have read passing
>comments about dead spots in filters. Mine might be a candidate for that
>since I did put a couple of 'path of least resistance pipes' near the bottom
>to make sure it didnt gunk up, overflow and drain the pond. What u thank?
>Bill Brister - Austin, Texas
>
>
>"Ka30P" > wrote in message
...
>> Kristen wrote >>Just wondering if there was a general rule of thumb for
>how
>> often to clean
>> out the pond filter.<<
>>
>> Another thing is to watch the *ewww du pond* smell. If it is bad, you need
>to
>> clean earlier. If it smells like fresh river water you're okay and
>watching the
>> spitter is a good indication.
>>
>>
>> kathy :-)
>> algae primer
>> http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html
>

[Ka30P]

When we had mechanical media in our upflow filter we used black vinyl
screening.
It never went bad.
It did gunk up and last fall I had seepage over the back of the filter.
This year I didn't put it in and when the filter drained after the pump died
there was no gunk down there...
which means it is in the pond and we'll have more to clean out next spring.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html