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I have two small waterfalls into a koi pond. One of the waterfalls' strength diminishes regularly over 2 or 3 days to a trickle while the other is strong. I have backwashed, cleaned out both leaf traps in the pond and in the pump. This restores the waterfall but then it fades again. Each time there is not a lot of debris in the leaf traps. Just backwashing does the trick. Is there an air blockage ? Please help.
The Pond Digger
Hello Alan,

Tell me a little more about your filtration system.  More importantly about your PRE-FILTRATION system.  When running a bead filter it is super important to have great pre-filtration.

A bead filter is best served as a biological filter.  However most of the time bead filters turn into biological filters & mechanical filters.  When you ask a bead filter to become a mechanical filter too, it will ususally bog down very quickly. Typically, three days to a week and then you will see a decline in water pressure until you backwash the filter.

I don't think that you have any air blockage if you have good water flow for a couple days and once you see a decline in water pressure fix everything with a cleaning of your filter.

Tell me more about your plumbing in the waterfalls.  Is there a tee somewhere in your delivery line to the waterfalls?

If you have a tee in the return line to the waterfalls and one run is just a bit longer than the other, once the pressure is lost from a clogged bead filter, you will loose the pressure in the longest run.

If this is your problem then improving your PRE-FILTRATION will really be your solution.  Cool

Looking forward to your reply.

The Pond Digger
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