11 replies to this topic

[belfiorn]

I hope someone can give me some good suggestions here.

I was about to start my pond and notice that I have a crack in my Aqua 25 watt sterilzer. Last year I had a lot of string algae and the UV didn't work as well my water was green. I now need to purchase a new UV so If I get a stronger UV will it help me to control the algae? My specs are 2000 gallons a cal pump 5200/waterfall and a bio waterfall/filter. I get a lot of afternoon sun as well. If anyone can help me keep a good healhy pond I would do all of any suggestions.

Thanks..

[koiguy1969]

if you start using it before the algea starts barley extract works well. u.v.s dont do anything for string algea anyways, just single cell floating algea. barley extract will help on filimentous string algea and blanketweed. and cant you epoxy the u.v casing with high temp epoxy?

[belfiorn]

I wasn't sure if I used epoxy that it would work on the casing. Thanks, and I'll try that this week when it stops raining here in NJ. How much bails of barley should I use?

[koiguy1969]

DO NOT USE THE BALES use extract its cleaner, faster working, and doesnt add to the bio load on your filter as it decays. bales work by decaying, fermenting and releasing humic acids, wich slowly turn to peroxide... the extract is already broke down and full of humic acids, it just slowly turns to peroxide. if your fish spawn the fry will find a home and a food source in the bales, other than that go with the extract!!!

[belfiorn]

I will purcahse Microbe-Lift / Barley Extract. Do I start treating it now when I start up my pond and how much do you recommend treating weekly, montly? On another question my butterfly koi had some fin rot last season and I been treating with melafix at the end of the season when I closed my pond but I saw him come to the suface and his fins are still not well. any suggestions

[koiguy1969]

Ive not had to contend with any fish diseases yet, myself so i cant really comment on that. maybe cause my water parameters are always perfect due to a excellant filter. start your barley treatments as soon as possible just follow their directions as far as amount and frequency.
P.S I use TETRAPOND BARLEY & PEAT EXTRACT available at Meijers, they also carry ORGANICA products, both very good

[belfiorn]

Thanks again for your help I was searching on the net and I saw Barley Straw Extract Plus PEAT should I puchase that?

[koiguy1969]

yep! unless you live near a meijers or walmart even carries pond chemicals. read my last post

[belfiorn]

I tried to epoxy but still wouldnot work. My pond is about 2000 gallons. What size UV should I actually have and the max GPH that can flow through it. I was lookin at a Clear Reef 72 watt on ebay. Below is the link..thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/...%3A3%7C294%3A50

[DoDad]

If it were me I would go with a 40 watt uv, they have a maximum
flow rate of 2900 GPH.

[koiguy1969]

SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. my 9 watt tetra pond worked great on my old 500gal pond

[DoDad]

On my new 13,000 gallon pond I'm going with a 400 watt viper or a 240 watt Aqua UV.
On my 4200 gallon pond I'm using 2 Savio 57 watt Sterilizers.
On my 700 gallon Q-tank I use a 25 watt gamma.