I would like to find out more about the filter pad that you are beta testing. My pond is 3 years old and it has been green all summer. I did my first cleanout this spring. It's not so bad that I can't see my fish but I have spent a small fortune on bacteria. I even used your bacteria and put it in daily. It has been hot in Riverside County this year. There is a lot of particles in the water that floculants don't seem to help either. That's why I thought some other filters pads would help. My pond is 3300 gals. Thanks for your help.
Hey Peggy,
I'm glad you made it out to our clean out seminar last weekend. I hope we sent you home with all the dirty details you needed to snap you pond back into shape.
As far as the filter pads go, because they are in the BETA TESTING stages I am extremely limited as to what I can say IN PRINT about the product. I hope you questions were covered at the seminar regarding this new amazing filter pad.
As soon as I can spill the beans on this exciting new product, everyone here on the message board will be the first to know!
Keep us updated on the progress of your water clarity after you do the steps we outlined for you.
Thanks,
The Pond Digger
Hi,
I did what you suggested and overnight my pond was crystal clear. There really was a lot of dirt. Had to do it again 3 weeks later. Now with all the rain washing in who knows what, I am really getting a string algae problem and it's starting to get a little cloudy. So I guess I should get some of your liquid barley straw. Been using the cold water bacteria. Still can't get my husband to stop feeding the fish. Since he is out of work he is out there a lot and always says they look hungry. At least he is using the wheat germ kind. Had a small Heron hanging around in the morning last weekend, but haven't seen him in a couple of days since I hooked up the scarecrow again.
Thanks again for your help,
Peggy
Peggy
What did you do to get your pond crystal clear? I am having a similar problem with my pond.
Hey Peggy,
Great news that your efforts gave you clarity! Each and every pond has it's own set of unique circumstances.
If you are starting to get string algae in your pond then that is a great time to start adding
barley straw extract. Keep your filter clean and keep up the usage of the
scarecrow motion sensor device!
As far as feeding your pond. 50 degrees is our suggested magic CUT OFF temperature. I am very happy indeed that you are on the Cold Temperature Fish Food wheat germ diet.
Even at low 50's I will often soak the food in water for my fish for ten of fifteen minutes before tossing it into the pond. It helps the fish break it up that much faster to begin the digestion process for them. Call me Crazy!
Froglover - give me some details of your pond and I will gladly give you some pointers. I spoke to Peggy at one of our seminars and made some suggestions to improve her pond after a short interview.
What size pond do you have?
How many fish are in the pond?
How big are your fish?
How often are you feeding the fish?
Tell us about your water treatment regmine.
Tell us about your filter system.
Photos are always a BIG help!
Looking forward to helping.
The Pond Digger
My 8' x 11' pond was installed by your crew in May 2007. It has a flow ranger skimmer and bio-filter. I also have a trickel tower filter I run with a 1700 pondmaster filter. During the summer I used Pond Digger beneficial bacteria weekly. When the pond tempature reached 50 I started using Microbe-lift Autumn/Winter bacteria. I backflush the bio-filter monthly. I have about 12 small gold fish, which I do not feed.
The problem I am having is with string algae all on the sides and bottom of the pond. Also the water seems really dirty and a lot of debris seems to be accumulating on the bottom of the pond and not making it to the filter.
I attempted to attach a picture of my pond taken this fall to the other thread announcing your forum changes, but I couldn't get it to work. I will try again with this one. I still couldn't get it to post but here are two I took today.
The other picture gave me a message that it was a file type that is not allowed. I don't know what the difference would have been.
Hey again,
I have never used the autum blend of bacteria that you are using before but have heard plenty of good things about the product. If you are getting a lot of settiment across the bottom of the pond I would suggest tuning the pond off for a couple of minutes. Mix the recommended dosage into a bucket of pond water and then add it around the perimeter of the pond letting it settle down into the rocks and gravel.
We are using our brand of Cold Temperature Dissolvable bacteria with great results. We shut the pond off and then broadcast the powder aross the surface of the pond. The powder immediately starts to sink and dissolve. The bacteria settles out in the gravel at the bottom of the pond and goes to work eating up the lose sludge and debris.
When you have a good layer of debris on the bottom of your eco-system I suggest using a fine net to scoop the debris off the bottom of the pond. You usually make a mess of your water during this process but with your backflush on your waterfall filter you can simply rinse your filters 24 hours later and your pond should look 100 times better.
THEN, I broadcast the cold temp bacteria over the surface of the pond and let the beneficial bacteria work on what ever is left over.
As far as the string algae that you are seeing on the edge of the pond, it will diminish as you remove the excess organics from the pond and of course will clear up as you water temperature increases.
Because you are getting a little debris across the bottom of your pond, if it's not too much trouble, I would suggest backflushing your pond every three weeks instead of every 4 weeks and see if that improves your eco-system. I think you'll be suprised. Remember for optimal results, use a fine net to remove larger debris on the bottom of the pond a day or two before you backflush.
Happy Pondering,
The Pond Digger