I'm a newbie with pond questions

[Chrissy]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and looking for some guidance and help. I live in Maryland. I built a 2500 gal koi pond last year, and we have a love/hate relationship!

 

[sissy]

do not use algaecide as that is no good for the koi and u.v.'s I got at top dog seller on ebay around 30 dollars for an 18 watt one

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Welcome to the group

Would love to hear more about your pond and maybe see some pictures.

 

[Chrissy]

Welcome to the group

Would love to hear more about your pond and maybe see some pictures.

 

[sissy]

Welcome and it sure is a pretty pond .

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Tell us more about your pond......and pictures are great if you have any you can share. Sometimes those can tell us more than a description can.

• how deep is it;
• what are the dimensions
• is it a liner or concrete [do they even make pre-forms that size....?]
• what kind of filtration do you have;
• what size is your pump;
• how many and what size are your koi;
  
• do you add anything to your pond such as chemicals or products to remove algae, sludge, etc.
• do you have city water or a well -- and if city water, do you use a dechlorinator
• do you do water changes
• do you have rocks or gravel on the pond bottom
• do you have a bottom drain
• do you have a skimmer
• do you use supplemental aeration;
• do you routinely test your water and what kind of readings do you get -- we ask for the actual numbers, though, not "water is fine"
• how often do you feed
• is the pond in full sun or is there some shade
• do you have any plants
• do you quarantine new fish
• is the pond built up enough that there is no run-off from your yard into the pond
• describe your "love-hate relationship"
• ....and that's all I can think of off the top of my head.....

Answering these will get us started........

 

[Chrissy]

Welcome to the group

Would love to hear more about your pond and maybe see some pictures.[/QUOTE

Hi there! I just posted a question in the

Welcome and it sure is a pretty pond .

Thank you, Sissy!

 

[Tula]

Welcome Chrissy, what a lovely pond! I think many of us have love - hate relationships with our ponds from time to time - LOL ! I love mine, but at times it's quite a bit of work and responsibility.

How many koi do you have?

 

[peter hillman]

First years can bring tears... But with a nice pond like that you'll get figured out, got tons of help here.

 

[Chrissy]

I have 10 koi in my pond. 6 large and 4 small, new butterflies. I posted a question earlier about pump and filtration issues. Should I re-address that here or should I wait for responses under my post? I don't want to fumble my first attempts on a forum! Lol.. I'm new to this.

 

[Chrissy]

First years can bring tears... But with a nice pond like that you'll get figured out, got tons of help here.

Awesome, Peter! Thanks for the support.

 

[Chrissy]

Hello and welcome!

Tell us more about your pond......and pictures are great if you have any you can share. Sometimes those can tell us more than a description can.

• how deep is it;
• what are the dimensions
• is it a liner or concrete [do they even make pre-forms that size....?]
• what kind of filtration do you have;
• what size is your pump;
• how many and what size are your koi;
  
• do you add anything to your pond such as chemicals or products to remove algae, sludge, etc.
• do you have city water or a well -- and if city water, do you use a dechlorinator
• do you do water changes
• do you have rocks or gravel on the pond bottom
• do you have a bottom drain
• do you have a skimmer
• do you use supplemental aeration;
• do you routinely test your water and what kind of readings do you get -- we ask for the actual numbers, though, not "water is fine"
• how often do you feed
• is the pond in full sun or is there some shade
• do you have any plants
• do you quarantine new fish
• is the pond built up enough that there is no run-off from your yard into the pond
• describe your "love-hate relationship"
• ....and that's all I can think of off the top of my head.....

Answering these will get us started........

This is a picture of my pump. I feel like it should work great if it can run a pool. My pond is about 22×11, 1 ft in the shallows, 4 in the deep. It is a liner pond. I have 10 koi, 6 med/large and 4 babies. I feed once daily. My pump runs into a filtration basket and returns via the waterfall. It gets full sun from 1 pm on. I have started using an algaecide and it has made my water crystal clear. I do not test it, but I should. I do not have gravel, rock or dirt on the floor. The pond is about a year and a half old.

 

[Chrissy]

This was my forum question.

I installed the pond last year and have had nothing but problems. My koi do fantastic, but my water, pump, and filtration are driving me insane. What type of pump and filtration do you recommend? I am currently using a swimming pool pump to draw the water and run it through my filtration. I have a milk crate wrapped in netting that the hose goes into under the water. It then runs through the small filtration basket, and out into my filtration bin. Then the water goes back into the pond relatively clear. I am also using Aquascape granular algaecide, which has helped tremendously. Over the course of this ponds life (16 months!), I have used a large sump pump to draw water, and 2 pool pumps. They have all burned up. I just read someones post saying they have had their pump for 25 years! Please help me keep my sanity and point me in the right direction.

 

[peter hillman]

This was my forum question.

I installed the pond last year and have had nothing but problems. My koi do fantastic, but my water, pump, and filtration are driving me insane. What type of pump and filtration do you recommend? I am currently using a swimming pool pump to draw the water and run it through my filtration. I have a milk crate wrapped in netting that the hose goes into under the water. It then runs through the small filtration basket, and out into my filtration bin. Then the water goes back into the pond relatively clear. I am also using Aquascape granular algaecide, which has helped tremendously. Over the course of this ponds life (16 months!), I have used a large sump pump to draw water, and 2 pool pumps. They have all burned up. I just read someones post saying they have had their pump for 25 years! Please help me keep my sanity and point me in the right direction.

Your pond is twice the size of mine with a different filtration set up. I run a medium size submersible box filter with bio balls and a pre filter pad at 1050 GPh. I don't think I'm the one to help with your system. But understand claririty isn't the only thing to think of.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Although Hayward is an excellent brand swimming pool pump, it is not constructed to run 24/7/365. A true Pond pump is needed here.
Need photos of your pre-filter and filter before any comment/suggestion can be made on their effectiveness.
Cease using any algaecides or other chemical/biological treatments. These are absolutely unnecessary in a pond with proper fish load, filtration and water flow.
All of us here on this Forum will help you in realizing a balanced pond that is a Joy and not a worrisome 'Money Pit'.
Best to take things one step at a time.