Veggie filter growing poorly

New pond had been up and running all Summer now, but the veggie filter
is growing rather poorly. (There are some pictures here after the first
planting: http://www.injection-moldings.com/EBPAGE/pond/.)

The first planting was eaten by the fish. Some minor changes and only
the smallest fish can get it now, but growth is not what I expected.
The pond gets 5-6 hours or full afternoon sun. Watercress and a few
other things grow OK, but the cattails and other reed type things all
died. I'm not getting the flourish of growth I had expected
I threw in some potash but no real appearance change. Poor color along
with death seem to be the primary symptoms.
Water parameters are all in normal range, PH stable and in the 7.8
range. All hardness levels are good as well.
On the plus side the filter is doing its job; the water is clear, but it
just looks like crap.
Any thoughts?

Mark B.

"mark Bannister" wrote in message
...
New pond had been up and running all Summer now, but the veggie filter is
growing rather poorly. (There are some pictures here after the first
planting: http://www.injection-moldings.com/EBPAGE/pond/.)

$$ It's hard to tell what kind of plants you have in that filter. The may
need Potash. The plants in our veggie filter are Arrowhead, parrots feather
and Pickerel weed. All get HUGE in the slow moving water.

The first planting was eaten by the fish.

$$ Fish don't belong in a veggie filter?!?!?!?!

Some minor changes and only
the smallest fish can get it now, but growth is not what I expected. The
pond gets 5-6 hours or full afternoon sun. Watercress and a few other
things grow OK, but the cattails and other reed type things all died.

$$ Could it be a lack of fertilizer? Some plants wont thrive in gravel.

I'm not getting the flourish of growth I had expected
I threw in some potash but no real appearance change.

$$ The amount generally used is 1 heaping Tbs. per 1000 gallons as needed -
perhaps about once a month. Again, if they're in gravel they may never do
well. It just doesn't hold enough nutrients for some plants.

Poor color along
with death seem to be the primary symptoms.
Water parameters are all in normal range, PH stable and in the 7.8 range.
All hardness levels are good as well.
On the plus side the filter is doing its job; the water is clear, but it
just looks like crap.
Any thoughts?

Mark B.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Reel Mckoi wrote:
snip

$$ Fish don't belong in a veggie filter?!?!?!?!
Well that's why I kicked them out g. Small design error on my part.
On the other hand they REALLY like it. I had three large fish flop over
the barrier to get back in which meant they had to leave the water.


$$ Could it be a lack of fertilizer? Some plants wont thrive in gravel.

This seems to be the bottom line. I've really got to get some height
going for aesthetics so I guess I'll use a shallow pot.

Thanks
Mark

"mark Bannister" wrote in message
...
Reel Mckoi wrote:
snip

$$ Fish don't belong in a veggie filter?!?!?!?!

Well that's why I kicked them out g. Small design error on my part. On
the other hand they REALLY like it. I had three large fish flop over the
barrier to get back in which meant they had to leave the water.

## Wow! They must have known the plants were there somehow. Out Veg
filter sits on the berm with a pipe pushing water up into a crude aeration
tower. It then runs slowly through the plant roots and parrot feather
tangles, then out 2 pipes back into the pond - opposite the filter itself.
There is a 3rd pipe to act as an overflow. When it's cleaned in the fall
there are literally POUNDS of sludge in the bottom.

$$ Could it be a lack of fertilizer? Some plants wont thrive in gravel.

This seems to be the bottom line. I've really got to get some height
going for aesthetics so I guess I'll use a shallow pot.

## For veg filters I found using cheesecloth lined POND plant pots work the
best. It gives the roots opening to grow out into the water flow and yet
holds soil with the needed micronutrients. If you use regular pots punch
extra holes in them. The roots eventually take over the whole 40 to 50
gallon filter. I don't fertilize these plants individually but do add
several Tbs. of Potash every month or so. The Pickerel is excellent for
height as are water iris - I used to use them but they got 5' tall and
blocked too much of the view.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Hi Mark,

How large are your fish? My fish feed the veggie filter quite well. Maybe
you just have to let your fish grow large enough to feed the filter ;-)
I always have a few fish that make their way into the filter. I think the
eggs get sent through the pump and stick to the plant roots. Some grow
quite well there during the summer.

--
Bonnie
NJ

Bonnie NJ wrote:
Hi Mark,

How large are your fish?

My fish are bigger than yours

"mark Bannister" wrote in message
...
New pond had been up and running all Summer now, but the veggie filter is
growing rather poorly. (There are some pictures here after the first
planting: http://www.injection-moldings.com/EBPAGE/pond/.)

Do the plants get enough sunlight?
Try thinning out some of the plants, maybe you have more plants then the
fish can feed.

-S

Snooze wrote:

Do the plants get enough sunlight?
Try thinning out some of the plants, maybe you have more plants then the
fish can feed.

-S



They should be getting plenty of sun. And it is possible I don't have
enough fish yet. There are about 15 goldfish in 750 gallons, sized from
quite small to 10" or so. I stepped up the feeding to see if that would
change anything and now I have very fat goldfish but the plants are the
same.

Mark B.

"mark Bannister" wrote in message
...
They should be getting plenty of sun. And it is possible I don't have
enough fish yet. There are about 15 goldfish in 750 gallons, sized from
quite small to 10" or so. I stepped up the feeding to see if that would
change anything and now I have very fat goldfish but the plants are the
same.
=============================
That's plenty of fish for 750 gallons. I'm going to guess these plants need
to be put in soil, perhaps with a 1/3 spike of Jobe's Rose fertilizer added.
Always cover the soil with gravel to help keep it in place.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"mark Bannister" wrote in message
...

They should be getting plenty of sun. And it is possible I don't have
enough fish yet. There are about 15 goldfish in 750 gallons, sized from
quite small to 10" or so. I stepped up the feeding to see if that would
change anything and now I have very fat goldfish but the plants are the
same.

Rule of thumb is atleast 20 gal per full grown goldfish and 100 gallons per
full grown koi, so you can put a max of 37 fish.
As someone else already suggested, plant your plants in clay or soil instead
of gravel.

What I do, is fill a terracotta pot with supersoil potting soil, add in the
plant, then cover the top inch or so with pea gravel.
I personally have never added any fertilizers, but give it a try, maybe it
will work for you.

-S