Better filtration/UV system for 400 gallon godfish pond

[elbmd]

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

I have an inground fish pond that is a little less than 400 gallons currently with 4 goldfish and some plants. My current system for keeping it clean and healthy (see attached pictures) is a box with filters that feeds a 1 inch corrugated pipe that goes to a PONDMASTER 20 Watt UV Clarifier #02920 and then through 1 inch pipe to a small pump. This system was here when I bought the house and I replaced the clarifier last year because the seal that holds the bulb had broken.

When the clarifier works it is OK - I can clean the filters about once a month and it accumulates green algae that is not bad. The store I have bought my supplies from says I really should not ever be having to clean it and wonders if the water is going through the clarifier too fast. Unfortunately, the bulbs burn out in a couple of months ( I am using the name brand pondmaster bulbs - not a generic replacement) and are not cheap. I am in South Carolina and run the clarifier from April to December.

Is there a better system I should be using? I am open to changing everything, the clarifier, the filter box or anything to make it work better and be less work for me.

I appreciate your help with this.

Eric

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome to the forum @elbmd! One thing you didn't mention is what the overall problem is with the pond. Green water? Sludge? Bad water parameters after testing? It looks to me like your filter system is pieced together from whatever...
What is the brand and GPH of your pump?
The filter portion is inadequate (too small) for your pond. From the image, it looks like a box with a bunch of hand scrubbers piled in. That is why it gets clogged up. As you said, something is wrong with the UV system. It should not be failing like that especially with that brand. Yes, the pass through is probably too high but...I would discontinue the UV. You don't need it. I won't go into all of the details because it is all on this site but in short, the UV kills everything including your algae. The dead algae is returned to the pond and decays contributing to your problem. Get a larger filter (not pump) to help your situation. Pondmaster makes excellent modular filters that fit their pumps. Another suggestion is to add more plants. Again, welcome to the forum!

 

[j.w]

and welcome @elbmd

 

[Lisak1]

.I would discontinue the UV. You don't need it. I won't go into all of the details because it is all on this site but in short, the UV kills everything including your algae. The dead algae is returned to the pond and decays contributing to your problem. Get a larger filter (not pump) to help your situation.

Agree agree agree. UV is only "good" for killing off floating single celled organisms, and many of those are beneficial to your pond. And then you're left with more dead organic material in the pond which just feeds more algae.

Filtration can be A. mechanical (think filter pads) and biological (plants). Both are important. Too much algae is an indication that your biological filtration balance is off. Biological keeps the water healthy; mechanical keeps it free of debris. Which issue are you having?

 

[Flymac1]

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

I have an inground fish pond that is a little less than 400 gallons currently with 4 goldfish and some plants. My current system for keeping it clean and healthy (see attached pictures) is a box with filters that feeds a 1 inch corrugated pipe that goes to a PONDMASTER 20 Watt UV Clarifier #02920 and then through 1 inch pipe to a small pump. This system was here when I bought the house and I replaced the clarifier last year because the seal that holds the bulb had broken.

When the clarifier works it is OK - I can clean the filters about once a month and it accumulates green algae that is not bad. The store I have bought my supplies from says I really should not ever be having to clean it and wonders if the water is going through the clarifier too fast. Unfortunately, the bulbs burn out in a couple of months ( I am using the name brand pondmaster bulbs - not a generic replacement) and are not cheap. I am in South Carolina and run the clarifier from April to December.

Is there a better system I should be using? I am open to changing everything, the clarifier, the filter box or anything to make it work better and be less work for me.

I appreciate your help with this.

Eric

 

[Flymac1]

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

I have an inground fish pond that is a little less than 400 gallons currently with 4 goldfish and some plants. My current system for keeping it clean and healthy (see attached pictures) is a box with filters that feeds a 1 inch corrugated pipe that goes to a PONDMASTER 20 Watt UV Clarifier #02920 and then through 1 inch pipe to a small pump. This system was here when I bought the house and I replaced the clarifier last year because the seal that holds the bulb had broken.

When the clarifier works it is OK - I can clean the filters about once a month and it accumulates green algae that is not bad. The store I have bought my supplies from says I really should not ever be having to clean it and wonders if the water is going through the clarifier too fast. Unfortunately, the bulbs burn out in a couple of months ( I am using the name brand pondmaster bulbs - not a generic replacement) and are not cheap. I am in South Carolina and run the clarifier from April to December.

Is there a better system I should be using? I am open to changing everything, the clarifier, the filter box or anything to make it work better and be less work for me.

I appreciate your help with this.

Eric

 

[Flymac1]

this works more than great

 

[Sisha]

Have you thought of a bog as filtration? I wouldn't have a pond without one. No UV needed and much less cleaning. Google ozponds.com on how to make one for your size.

 

[elbmd]

I thank all of you for your very helpful responses. After 5 days of solid rain I was able to get out and get more info.

1. Pump is:

PM5 Danner Model 5 Utility Pump 18ft Cord 500 gph​

2. Filters are 6 x 11.5 black
3. pond water is not terrible but the greenish-brownish goop is all over everything

I am attaching more pictures

Is the pump adequate?
Would a filter like https://www.pondmasterstore.com/pondmaster-1000-submersible-filter-02211 be adequatemor do I need something more like what Flymac1 suggested?

 

[Lisak1]

That greenish brown goop isn't an issue... it's normal and natural in a pond setting. You'll see it come and go as you move from one season to the next. I wouldn't worry about that one bit.

 

[elbmd]

The goop looks like that every week if i do not clean the filters - it was better when the UV light was working - only had to clean them once a month or so

 

[Stephen Noble]

I can't see any problem except that your filter does not have enough surface area. It is not the correct filter for that application. But any filter, regardless of size, that is not periodically cleaned will look like what you see. But as @Lisak1 said above, what you see is normal. Really, you don't want 'crystal clear' water. That is not found anywhere in nature. Your water will always have some tint. More plants will help. Consider a small bog filter too. I am struggling to determine what is your question? Are you still considering using UV? Your pond doesn't need it. Something like this will work better than the filter you have:https://dannermfg.com/collections/filtration-systems?pond-waterfalls
You can even daisy chain them if needed.

 

[elbmd]

I can't see any problem except that your filter does not have enough surface area. It is not the correct filter for that application. But any filter, regardless of size, that is not periodically cleaned will look like what you see. But as @Lisak1 said above, what you see is normal. Really, you don't want 'crystal clear' water. That is not found anywhere in nature. Your water will always have some tint. More plants will help. Consider a small bog filter too. I am struggling to determine what is your question? Are you still considering using UV? Your pond doesn't need it. Something like this will work better than the filter you have:https://dannermfg.com/collections/filtration-systems?pond-waterfalls
You can even daisy chain them if needed.

Thank you for your suggestions. I have purchased the Danner 1000 filter and it seems to be working well. I have 2 additional questions:

1. Should I use the exact filter pads they include in the package when I have to replace them? I see that they make others and that there are other brands - does it really matter what type of filter pads i use?
2. When I connect it to my pump (which sits on the bottom of the pond) it will not stand up straight. I know I am not really supposed to have it on the bottom due to risk of it falling over and pumping out all of the water - what is the best way to put the pump so it is stable and stands up properly.

I really appreciate all of the advice all of you have provided here

 

[Stephen Noble]

Use the filter pads that came with the unit. Some companies sell 'carbon' pads and other stuff that will fit but it is best to just use what came with the filter. Use a rock to hold down the filter. There are two reasons it floats: air trapped inside that will eventually dissipate and if the filter is dirty, nitrogen bubbles. In the second case, the filter will never settle down until it is cleaned. Here is something I do: Take a pond planting basket and put some gravel in the bottom. Then take the filter and wedge (flat wise) it into the top of the basket. It prevents the filter from floating and also keeps it off the bottom.