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Ponds in the UK

Genie Max - Green Genie Filter & Maximus Pump

19 years ago

Does anyone have any experience of either the Green Genie filter boxes, or of the Maximus pumps by the same manufacturer?

I am still neeeding to replace my system and have seen this 'combination pack' at a reasonable price.

Does anyone have any comments on these two items?

Thanks,

Phil V

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Comments (5)

SandyN
19 years ago
Hmm I think I bought a Maximus pump the first time when I set up my pond nearly 3 years ago - it looked good but when I had a test run before using it I could not get the plastice cage thing back on and so decided it was going to be useless to me - thought about the green genie but it was too big to hide properly - have had a Bioforce 500 and a Cascade pump 1500lt - the pump has been run continuously since I plugged it in and the filter has been great - gives me crystal clear water and only cost me Â£24.99 from a local garden centre 3 years ago. I am sure that the other members will have had their own experiences though and can offer you their thoughts - after all what suits one person won't necessarily suit another and though we all give advice and tips, at the end of the day what matters is what suits YOU and YOUR circumstances at that time.

Sandy
pben
19 years ago
It depends on what type of fish and pond you have can you tell me more?
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Well, I'll do my usual thing and recommend a DIY skippy filter if you have enough space. Still very pleased with mine, it's into its second year of operation now. I have clear water, and so far NO maintenance or cleaning has been required whatsoever. For me this is a BIG consideration. No dreary filter cleaning... I just enjoy the pond, watching the fish and the teeming life in there. I don't use UV, so no extra on the electricty bills, and no new UV bulbs every year. Skippy's do need to be big compared to commercial filters, but mine is half buried, and forms part of my waterfall return, and is almost entirely hidden by plants and rockery around it, and watercress growing in the top. And it works WAY better than the commercial filter and UV that I had before. Note that although my water is clear, I have a LOT of mature plants in the pond and waterfall return, and about 60% surface coverage from lily pads, frogbit, water hyacinth, water lettuce, duckweed and azolla. This undoubtedly helps. Also, in my design the skippy filter is sitting in a lined "well", a few inches bigger than the skippy itself all around. So filtered water overflows into the well, and then overflows from the well into my waterfall return. ie. the well allows some additional settlement time for anything that gets through the skippy. By the way, the watercress and veggie filter stage (plants in the waterfall return) seem to be working extremely well, because the duckweed and azolla is not as rampant as previous years. Only need to scoop some out once or twice a month.
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Phil_V
Original Author
19 years ago
I have goldfish and tench, comet and similar, not koi. Pond is 2000 litre fibreglass. I have a little waterfall to feed. Wasn't so much asking whether the pump filter would work with my pond, but was more wondering about how robust they are, how well the filter treats green water, any problems anyone had had with them etc. etc.

Thanks,

Phil V
retropwr
19 years ago
I run a Green Genie 12000 with Aquamax 3500 pump. It has been running non stop (apart from during routine maintenance) for about 3 years with no problems.
In theory I could have got away with a 6000 (my pond works out at around 1900 litres but is quite heavily stocked) but decided to go up one on the basis that you canÂt over filter a pond. It also gives a better looking flow in the stream.
Having the bigger filter means that it doesnÂt need cleaning out very often, I clean the foam mats, and remove the sludge build-up twice a year.
The only ÂproblemÂ I have with the filter is the spray bar clogs up occasionally with dead vegetation and needs cleaning once a month or so.
I have had no green water since setting it up.
Whatever filter you go for I think you should try to get the next one up from the size the manufacturers recommend for your pond size as it will be under less stress and I believe it should work better.
awblessmesturgeon
19 years ago
i would reinforce wot ret said you cant over filter a pond! the larger the filter the better it works! just dont allow it to gon anerobic keep the o2 in there o/

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