Longevity of biofalls bacteria

[jimbo]

I have two biofalls that feed my 20X25 foot pond. Depth 4 ft. I like to turn off one of the falls at night to reduce noise. How long can bacteria survive without water running through the biofilter? Jimbo

 

[DrDave]

5 hours is what I have read.

 

[addy1]

I have two biofalls that feed my 20X25 foot pond. Depth 4 ft. I like to turn off one of the falls at night to reduce noise. How long can bacteria survive without water running through the biofilter? Jimbo

Can you just reduce the flow to one or both of them?

 

[DrDave]

Install a small, low volume, low wattage pump to run at night just to keep a flow going. Harbor Freight has some pumps for under $15 that will do it. I use about 8 of them for various things here. Some have run nonstop for 3 years.

 

[koiguy1969]

or an aerator and a couple of stones in the filter could possibly extend the bacterias life span...since the cause of its demise is greatly due to oxygen depletion

 

[jimbo]

Can you just reduce the flow to one or both of them?

No, they are separate pumps and I don't have reducers on them. But that is a good idea. Thanks Jimbo