newish pond

hey all, we built a 3-3.5k gal pond this year and it's been up and
running for about 6 weeks. we have it piped through a ultimate fluid
art filtration system (rated for 5k). it's got the vortex, bead
filtration, uv (36w), etc. the pond gets full sun and algae has been
an issue since the first week. i have about 20 koi in there now
(4"-10") and they seem ok. i'm thinking of dropping a stronger uv in
there but have noticed that some of the fish are feeding on the algae
and all are always hungry (i swear i could feed them, turn around and
feed them again 30 mins later). they are growing quite well (all were
about 4-5" when i got them and some have doubled in size in this time
frame). PH has peaked in the low 8's during the day dropping back to
mid-high 7's at night.

should i be concerned and go with the larger uv? also, how often
should one be backflushing the system? i've done it a few times now
and it didn't seem too bad. shouldn't the system be taking care of the
algae yet?

wrote in message
oups.com...
hey all, we built a 3-3.5k gal pond this year and it's been up and
running for about 6 weeks. we have it piped through a ultimate fluid
art filtration system (rated for 5k). it's got the vortex, bead
filtration, uv (36w), etc. the pond gets full sun and algae has been
an issue since the first week. i have about 20 koi in there now
(4"-10") and they seem ok. i'm thinking of dropping a stronger uv in
there but have noticed that some of the fish are feeding on the algae
and all are always hungry (i swear i could feed them, turn around and
feed them again 30 mins later). they are growing quite well (all were
about 4-5" when i got them and some have doubled in size in this time
frame). PH has peaked in the low 8's during the day dropping back to
mid-high 7's at night.

should i be concerned and go with the larger uv? also, how often
should one be backflushing the system? i've done it a few times now
and it didn't seem too bad. shouldn't the system be taking care of the
algae yet?
=====================
If you kill off the algae you'll need a lot of pond plants to remove the
nitrates and phosphates that will rapidly build up in the water. You didn't
mention plants or a bog filter. Do you at least have a good size patch of
floaters like water lettuce or water hyacinth? I'm in the USA so have no
idea how large a 3.5k pond is.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killf..._troll_faq.htm
Make sure of which McKoi you're replying to - the TROLL from
alt.religion.jehovahs-witn is using other people's names to bypass
killfiles. There are now TWO Reel McKoi's posting here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

about 1/3 of my pond is covered with plant, mature hyacinths (that
often clog up my skimmer), large and small lilly pads, cattails. 3.5k
= 3500 gal pond ;-)

wrote in message
oups.com...
about 1/3 of my pond is covered with plant, mature hyacinths (that
often clog up my skimmer), large and small lilly pads, cattails. 3.5k
= 3500 gal pond ;-)
============================
Then I would say go for the UV lights to get rid of the algae. :-)
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killf..._troll_faq.htm

" wrote:

hey all, we built a 3-3.5k gal pond this year and it's been up and
running for about 6 weeks. we have it piped through a ultimate fluid
art filtration system (rated for 5k). it's got the vortex, bead
filtration, uv (36w), etc. the pond gets full sun and algae has been
an issue since the first week. i have about 20 koi in there now
(4"-10") and they seem ok. i'm thinking of dropping a stronger uv in
there but have noticed that some of the fish are feeding on the algae
and all are always hungry (i swear i could feed them, turn around and
feed them again 30 mins later). they are growing quite well (all were
about 4-5" when i got them and some have doubled in size in this time
frame). PH has peaked in the low 8's during the day dropping back to
mid-high 7's at night.

should i be concerned and go with the larger uv? also, how often
should one be backflushing the system? i've done it a few times now
and it didn't seem too bad. shouldn't the system be taking care of the
algae yet?

Where are you located? I had a UV my first year. Now my plants keep my algae
under control year round and my UV is for sale. Algae will be under better
control after your plants have matured. I would at least wait until next
year before plunking down more cash.

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

Nix on the larger UV, provide shade to the pond either directly or with
lilies, parrot feather etc. What is your plant situation like? More is
better. Lots of plants will use up the available nutrients in the water and
literally starve the algae. Remember when you feed the fish, you're really
adding plant fertilizer to the water, it just has to pass through the fish
first. My suggestion is to feed the fish minimally, they'll be fine, shade
the pond some and add more plants. Then just wait, maybe even a year. Oh,
your fish load is OK for now, but as the koi grow to size, you will need to
have fewer fish. 20 full size koi will be too many for a pond your size. (
Pause while I put my flame suit on ) Some would say 20 koi would be alright,
but you already have water quality issues. Koi really need 200+ gallons per
fish in a well balanced pond.
Just my $.02, feel free to spend it as you like,

Paul

How often are you guys feeding your fish? I do so once in the morning
and again once in the evening. About 3 handfuls per feeding.
Financially speaking, I wouldn't mind toning it down some ;-)

Though I do enjoy the respite in the morning watching them eat.

wrote in message
ups.com...
How often are you guys feeding your fish? I do so once in the morning
and again once in the evening. About 3 handfuls per feeding.
Financially speaking, I wouldn't mind toning it down some ;-)

## Don't buy the overpriced koi/GF foods. I buy catfish food for $11 per 50
lb bag at a farm store, Tractor Supply Company. This year I bought 20 lbs
of trout chow to add and give them some variety. I also mix in a small
amount of kitten chow with the fish food and feed them twice a day. I have
loads of fish in 2 ponds and an assortment of pools and a 500 gallon tank of
young koi. It costs us no more than $20 to $30 a year in fish food. I also
toss in worms and grubs I find in the garden and compost pile.

Though I do enjoy the respite in the morning watching them eat.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I feed them every jap beetle I happen to come across in our rose bushes
:-)

wrote:

I feed them every jap beetle I happen to come across in our rose bushes
:-)

Good one. One of the long-ago regulars here (Jim in JawJa) once took the
bottom out of one of the beetle-pheromone traps, and hung it over the pond.
The male beetles would hit the trap, be momentarily stunned and fall in the
pond - where they were promptly gobbled up.

He figured it was the only way those traps were useful, because otherwise
all they really did was attract _more_ beetles to your garden.
--
derek