Cutting poly tubing all afternoon

[DrDave]

Sounds like you are on the right track. Once you get the right balance of floating plants and the bio filter matures, you can get rid of the UV. It will never be needed again.

 

[addy1]

Rule of thumb is whatever works for you and your setup. Sounds like you are doing great.

 

[Telkwa]

There's been a whole lot of guessing during this pond rebuild. Much more than I'm comfortable with. Sometimes the guesses didn't work out, but in this case maybe we guessed in the right direction. I was surprised to read Pondmaster's post a few days back about how the good bacteria are most effective in water that's about 80 to 90 degrees. Our water hovers at 65 to 70 in the summer, where the bugs are already goofing off at roughly 50% of their peak performance. So maybe the "way too big" tote isn't so oversized after all?

Things are already cooling off here in Western WA. Pond thermometer said 55 deg. F yesterday.

 

[addy1]

We are still breaking heat records here and so darn dry.

There is guessing and some educated guessing, shared knowledge, shared failures. We all are guessing what will work best for our own situation and area. Hopefully we guess in the right direction, sounds like you did with your filter.