Converted my two large vortex filers to K1 about 3 summers ago through the help of this forum and have had crystal clear water and stable parameters ever since. However, I always thought there was room for more fluidised K1 in the second unit so took advantage of a bargin offer at the National on Sat. This is brand new EA bagged stuff not the second hand ebay variety.
After rinsing in pond water I transferred about 20 liters of (mature) brown K1 from the static unit to the fluidised unit. Then I added a further 25 litres of new to the static filter and gave it a good mix to stop it sitting on the top. I also added some new - about 2 or 3 liters to the fluidised unit thinking I would be able to see how quickly it was maturing ie changing colour. I did this on Sat evening straight after returning from the show and after doing my daily filter clean. I've followed my usual routine of daily filter cleaning since then. Apart from maybe upping the feed rate a touch (it's been very warm this week) I've done nothing else differently.
Last night I got home and the water clarity was definately not great. Tonight when I got home it is murky!! Too late tonight to check parameters, but fish look lively and are feeding well.
Question: Could adding new K1 to an existing mature batch possible knock it back? ie is there any chance that the wax coat may be poisionous to the mature bacteria??
I'm really stuck, as I said, always had great water clarity now suddenly got a change. Anybody got any ideas?
I did this on Sat evening straight after returning from the show and after doing my daily filter clean. I've followed my usual routine of daily filter cleaning since then. Apart from maybe upping the feed rate a touch (it's been very warm this week) I've done nothing else differently.
DAILY? You should not need to clean a filter daily! Try leaving it for a couple of days and let us know how you get on. I do not touch my filters for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. The sieves I clean weekly.
Let us know how you ge on and give us a break down of your system.
Thanks for the feedback. I didn't want to get into a debate about filter cleaning, I guess everyone has their own routine.
I clean daily for the following reasons:
a. It's very quick & easy since I converted to K1 - I can usually do it in about 10 mins whilst feeding and watching the fish.
b. I'm able to do around a 15% water change per week using this method.
c. It has worked perfectly well for me so far.
d. I'm always amazed at the amount of crap that comes out of the filter drain - couldn't bear to think of leaving this for too long!
Filter set up is as stated, two large vortex units. First filled with static K1, followed by fluidised K1 in the second. Filters are gravity fed through 4" bottom drain and then pumped back into the pond via a water course. I drop the water from the first unit into a sump tank and then pump to drain.
I'm planning to add a sieve from this drain at some point in the future which might reduce how often I clean, however I'm still keen to get a good water change rate per week.
Is it just the clarity of the water that's suffering or the quality too? Has it affected your water parameters at all?
Maybe it could be the increased feeding, but I'd suspect that the new K1 may be causing all the media in the static chamber to float a bit higher than usual, thereby decreasing the depth of the K1 layer the water has to pass through before reaching the outlet - effectively reducing the amount of mechanical filtration!
Frustrating as it is, if your parameters are all OK, I'd sit it out for a month or so! Just a thought - but only time will tell.
Thanks Bob. Yeah I checked all parameters again at the weekend and as usual Ammonia & Nitrite = not registering (Palin test). Nitrate as usual around 25mg/l.
Pond is now a real soup although not really green....more grey and murky (visibility about 8"). I don't ever remenber it this bad even when the pond was new.
Like the theory of the static K1 sitting high but don't think this is the case. It appears to have achieved its normal bouyancy and mixes well with the mature stuff.
Looks like I'm gonna have to re-install the UV I removed two summers ago!!! I'm also looking to add a trickle tower using some alphagog I've got lying around. Do think this will help?
Mine's been cloudier than usual this year (but not down to 8". I put a new TT on mine a few weeks back and have done nothing but skim foam off the surface 2-3 times a day - and I've changed my UV bulb too!
I'd suggest fitting the UV again and fitting a protien skimmer if you can.
Have you changed your type of food as well as increasing the amount fed?
UV extracted from back of the shed. New lamp and rubbers fitted.
Protien skimmer also found!
Will install over the weekend coz it's p...ing down tonight.
Am sure the UV will fix it - my pond was crystal clear until I put the fish in, then within 4-5 days the water had a whitish, cloudy haze and much reduced visibility. I presumed this was a bacterial bloom and it was followed by the thickest, greenest pea soup algal bloom I have ever had, which sort of supports that view. The fish love it but visibility is down to about 6 inches. My plan is to leave it a couple more weeks until I am sure the filtration has bedded in and then I'll switch on the UV and put the sieve on overtime.
Pond now pea green soup, visibility zero......not seen a fish for two days!!
UV re-plumbed in tonight, protien skimmer installed and running, reserve air pump brought into service. I've just about thrown every thing I got at it now so guess I'll just have to wait & see.
