Help save my fish Filter set up questions

16 years ago

Sorry for long post. My water is so dirty, I can see only a few inches down. It is all suspended junk Â there does not seem to be lots of muck on bottom though.

Our pond/waterfall is 5 years old ~ 1400 gallons. There have been several changes over this time but we currently have a Hozelock 2000 biofilter (seen above rocks on right side). There is a Cal pump 4500gph in the pond which then sends most of the water to the top of the falls (left side) and the rest goes to the biofilter, then splits in two over those rocks.

I realize not enough water is being filtered, but the water quality has been very good until last fall. Last summer our 4 koi decided to procreate. There are probably 50 koi in there now. We managed to find homes for about 10 last year, but were stuck with the rest. I just cannot bring myself to kill any Â but of course am now facing a water quality nightmare. Free fish anyone?

Seriously, we plan to clear everything out next weekend and install a better filtering system. This is where I need advice. IÂm considering:

a) a larger biofilter placed at the top (behind shrubs) then split 2 ways down.

b) a bead filter? Does this require a bottom drain? Pond is landlocked.

c) other ideas/suggestions

I really need help with this problem I cringe everytime I look at the pond and feel so sorry for my fish!

Thanks in advance,

Caren

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Comments (18)

cathouse9
Original Author
16 years ago
{{gwi:199133}}
curb1
16 years ago
Very nice pond and area.

We have a pressurized filter, Ultima II 4000 for our 1900-2000 gal. pond. It works very well with very little maintenance. It wouldn't need a bottom drain, although I feel a botton drain is great. It is important to match pump size with filter size, however. What I like is the small amount of area that the filter takes up. Only maintenance is a turning of a valve to rinse/wash.
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mybusyfamily6
16 years ago
Well I sure wish you were in my area, I would love free fish.. I cant help you with your question but I can tell you to look up craigslist.com and see if you have a posting for your area and you can advertise free fish on it or on freecycle.com and you will probably get more calls than you want for free fish.
ccoombs1
16 years ago
As long as you have 50 koi in 1200 gallons, you will not be happy with the water quality. that works out to 1 koi per 24 gallons. A koi should have a minimum of 250 gallons each, and really it is preferable to have 500 gallons per koi. 1200 should have no more than 4 or 5 koi at the most. I know you don't want to kill any of them, but if most of them do not go away, you will end up killing them all. Sorry....but that is the cold, hard facts.
cathouse9
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the replies!

curb - So the filter size should be the same as the pump size? Yeah, that makes sense. Is the Ultima a bead filter? Do you think I should go with 2000 gal? What if I need to reduce the flow - a ball valve?

mybusyfamily6 - Thanks for the suggestion. I will try that.

ccoombs1 - Thank you. I do realize there are way too many fish in there. Ideally, I'd like to give away all but 6 of the fish.

Caren
curb1
16 years ago
Our pumphouse with Ultima II filter. You can google and get information. It has pieces of plastic inside.
{{gwi:195252}}

our pond
{{gwi:195598}}
loma_ponder
16 years ago
carenlynn,

I'm having trouble eye balling your yard's gradient, but what about adding another pond there in front of shrub? You could build a berm there downslope using the dirt from hole (maybe even an informal rock wall) For example, by adding a 8 X 6 X 3 pond there, you add 1080 gallons. You could tie it into your existing water fall feature.

In regards to equipment, looking at your set-up, I'd go with an external pump (probably Dolphin ES 3500 / 4500) to your new separate bio-filter. BD also of course. That's my two cents

seriously, I add the water landscrape,

LP

Here is a link that might be useful: Dolphin pump ES3500 / 4500
pikecoe
16 years ago
Carenlynn, Where are you in Ga? I'm not too far from Ga. I may know someone that would like some fish. Glenda
jmorris271 Morris
16 years ago
Carenlynn,
How far are you from Columbia,SC.? I would love to have some koi.

Jay
christianme
16 years ago
That's a beautiful pond!I like those big rocks!
cathouse9
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm in Alpharetta, a northern suburb of Atlanta. I'll try adding better pics later. Thanks!
phanso
16 years ago
Hi,

I'm in GA as well. I'm in Lawrenceville I'm not too far from the Mall of Georgia.

Do you have any fish still available. If you do I would love some.

Thanks
cathouse9
Original Author
16 years ago
Phanso - I don't know if you got my response. Guys are coming this Tuesday to drain and clean everything so the fish will all be in holding tanks. If there's any way you can come then or Wednesday, that would be best. I've learned from experience they are nearly impossible to catch with a full pond.

Just click the "My Page" link above to send me an email.
Caren
phanso
16 years ago
Caren, I didn't get an email but I'm glad I saw your message here. I sent you an email as well. Just incase you don't get it you can email me at phanso@yahoo.com
How many are you giving away?
mojack
16 years ago
Carenlynn,

I'm in Lawrenceville, GA as well.

If you have any fish still available, I could take some off your hands.
cathouse9
Original Author
16 years ago
mojack - It turns out there were actually 76 fish in there!!! Phanso picked up 12 and we took 12 to a neighbor so there are still about 50 in there. At least 40 still need a good home.

Click the "My Page" link above to send me an email.

Caren
buyorsell888
16 years ago
FYI, The My Page email links aren't working very well. You should keep checking back here.

You might post that you have free koi in the Atlanta area on other pond message boards. Koi Shack, JB's and American Ponders are three that I know of.

Your pond and patio and pool are gorgeous!

Koi do breed like rabbits. With 1400 gallons, I would not have over 3 or 4 Koi. They grow like crazy too.
pikecoe
16 years ago
I have a friend in Fl that would love to have some Koi for his pond. He would be glad to pay for shipping if that is an option. He works for Fed Ex. I can give you his phone # or if you will email me at glendaherlong@myway.com with a #, I will have him call you. Glenda

Help save my fish Filter set up questions

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