I found this site quite by accident and looks like a good one to get involved with. I spent 8 months building my first pond and most of that time was with pick and shovel. Moving around boulders was real fun! So now I have 6 small koi that are doing great and the water is slowly clearing up.
I guess the water has been in for about 3 or 4 months so far. A gallon of bacteria went in the first month and I see that this is something that I should be doing regularly according to the advice on this site. If this pond is approx. 5000 gals., how much and how often do I need to be adding the bacteria? I live in the Phoenix metro area and as you might expect, it's 110* out today. I'm including a couple of pics. I hope to learn great things from all of you.
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Thumpik,
Thanks for the photos! Looks like you did a fine job! From the pics my only suggestion would be to add an aerator to the pond since you live in such extreme temperatures!
I would hate for you to loose your pump one day in the heat of the summer and not have a back up form of aeration. Unless you have a plan that I didn't see in the picture.
Bacteria! I am a huge proponent of Beneficial Bacteria in case you didn't notice!
On a 5000 gallon pond I would be using 5 teaspoons of dissolvable powdered bacteria weekly spread around the perimeter of the pond and I would also use 5 ounces of liquid bacteria a couple of times a month added to the intake to your filters.
You simply can't over do bacteria and yes it occurs naturally in all ponds but by adding beneficail bacteri to your pond as a form of routine maintenance you can stay ahead of the curve and keep your water quality pristine!
Stay Cool!
Thanks for the info and quick response Digger! I never thought about an aerator, but it makes good sense. I'll order up some of your products and sit back and watch. I'll let you know how things clear up. :O)
Skip
Thumpik! That is a huge pond! Very well done!!
Thank you so much. I think my hard work finally paid off. If I ever did this again, I do believe I'd get a backhoe. Moving that much dirt by hand was not such a great idea. I just ordered some bacteria from Pond digger and it came today. So hopefully it will turn the water crystal clear. I was having my doubts that it would clear up, but just like all the books I read said, it is looking much better. The fish haven't complained. :O)
A couple weeks ago my pond had finally cleared up and was crystal clear. Now after a few 90 degree days it's back to looking like soup. Very frustrating!
So Goldie, have you been using the bacteria and is the pond got good movement to allow aeration? I'm seeing 122 F. on my back porch this week and the water is looking better than ever. I did start with Diggers products this week and hope to be able to see the 3 foot level at the deep end even better than it is already. What part of the country are you in?
Skip
I have been using the Pond Digger dry bacteria and also went out and bought some liquid. Right now it's clear again and can see straight to the bottom. I have a waterfalls no other aeration. I live in Rochester, NY (not too far from Buffalo)
Here's a couple pics(please excuse the fishing line! but I have been very successful in keeping out the big bird!) ...
LOL! Looks like a kiddy pool next to yours!
It looks GREAT! I see you are having good luck with the plants. The sun out here is torture on the things I have growing, but they're not looking too bad in spite of the heat. Evaporation is really a big deal here.
What are the plants that you have growing on either side of the pond that are in clusters? I want some of those. :O)
I agree your waterscape looks great, strings and all! I have seen some bizarre things keeping the herons out bu the bottom line is when you walk up on a pond and see a bunch of beautifully friendly koi greeting you without the fear of being chowed on by the mighty bird, it doesn't get any better than that!
The patches of floating plants is called water lettuce. Some may call it water cabbage.
Happy Fourth of July!
The Pond Digger