newbie,first post

[EL GOLFO]

Wonderful forum,have had small ponds in the past but now need help with larger pond.
We live in Sedona,az,our local wine/beer/restaurant has a large pond,guessing 800 gal,the owners have done nothing but add water as needed.No fish,no plants but the water is a dark green.The water fall shows the water is clear but the main pond is very green.The owners would like to put plants and fish in the pond.I used a dip stick to see how the water was.
ph-above 9,gh 180,kh above 240,no2 0.5 and no3 20.
So the question is,should I shock the crap out of it to kill everything,drain the pond,clean everything and start from scratch?
the pump/filter is just a 12in by 6 in membrane with the water flowing thru it,
They just want the water to be clear and put some plants,basic fish in it so the customers can view.
I have pics,i do not know if I can upload them,any help would be appreciated!

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

 

[MitchM]

Welcome!
Drain it, clean it, add a proper filter system, let the pond cycle, add the fish and plants.
For adding pictures to your post, get the pictures on your computer desktop and drag them into the text box next time you post a reply.

 

[Lisak1]

Welcome! I love Sedona - one of our favorite vacation spots.

Is this a cement pond?

 

[DutchMuch]

welcome!

 

[Usman]

welcome! do u have uvfilter? u might want to clean pond bottom and filters , dont scrub alot then add new water and plants let it run for some time then add fishes and give it time .
u might need to add some mechanical and bio media to filter and may need to increase its size im guessing havent seen ur setup .

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our group!

You could drain it, don't strip clean it, the biofilm on the liner, or cement or what ever it is, will help the new water cycle. Draining might be a good option, there might be a lot of muck on the bottom (old leaves, branches etc). Just don't strip clean it.

Or you can start with where it is at, add some filtration, get that going, add some plants, lilies, marginal, etc, the pond needs something to eat up the nutrients in the water.

Test the water going into the pond, is your city water high ph? ours is very low ph.

I lived in Arizona for years, went to college in Flagstaff, then to Phoenix to work. Love Sedona, it is so pretty!

 

[addy1]

To load pictures you can drag and drop, or click upload a file and select the picture(s) you want to upload.

 

[sissy]

Welcome and plants first as they will also help clean the pond and a good filtration system will help greatly .Is the pond in sun and do you know the temperature of the pond water right now .

 

[j.w]

@EL GOLFO

 

[EL GOLFO]

Wow such good responses!
Will try to load pics,

FILTER PIC

tHANKS FOR THE RESPONSES,IN ANSWER TO TYPE OF POND IT IS CEMENT,WOULD A BOG TYPE FILTER WORK ON THE UPPER WATERFALL AREA? MY SMALL POND HAS ONE IT WORKS GREAT.
thankS AND STAY COOL!

 

[sissy]

plants and aeration are always great for a pond

 

[MitchM]

Actually, I think the filter/skimmer setup you have there might do the job once cleaned up.
What is not known is how much detritus is sitting on the bottom of the pond.
If it was my pond, I would probably just increase water circulation throughout the main area of the pond and keep cleaning the filter regularly until the system was cleaned up.

Seeing how it is a business and there are no fish at present, I think the quickest route is to drain, clean and start over.
I can't help you with plant suggestions though. You're just slightly out of my climate zone.
Perhaps others can give you some plant suggestions.

I like the pond!

Please tell us what the current water pump is rated for in gph.

.

 

[EL GOLFO]

Actually, I think the filter/skimmer setup you have there might do the job once cleaned up.
What is not known is how much detritus is sitting on the bottom of the pond.
If it was my pond, I would probably just increase water circulation throughout the main area of the pond and keep cleaning the filter regularly until the system was cleaned up.

Seeing how it is a business and there are no fish at present, I think the quickest route is to drain, clean and start over.
I can't help you with plant suggestions though. You're just slightly out of my climate zone.
Perhaps others can give you some plant suggestions.

I like the pond!

Please tell us what the current water pump is rated for in gph.

.

 

[EL GOLFO]

ok WILL TALK TO THE OWNERS AND FOR A "FEE" IE WINE WILL RECOMMEND TO DRAIN THE POND,CLEAN OUT THE BOTTOM,CLEAN THE FILTER AND REFILL AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS?AWESOME SITE BY THE WAY!