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Clear Pond - Proper Pond
Filtration
By Carl Strohmeyer
Keeping a clear pond in the
warm or hot summer months
involves these key
ingredients for proper
filtration:
[1] Adequate water
circulation and movement.
A general principle (not a
rule) of about 100-200 gph
per 100 gallons can work for
this. This can be achieved
with more than one pump and
even a large aeration device
(air stone). As for the air
stone, I find they are
excellent for vertical
circulation, often better
than water pumps of greater
gph. A large double air pump
such as a Million Air 600,
Whisper 800, or Maxima with
two air stone can circulate
at a rate up to 500 gph. A
way to check this is to
place the air stone down a
narrow PVC tube or aquarium
lift tube, then place the
top of the tube just above
the water level and measure
the rate the water fills up
a gallon container (one
gallon in 15 seconds= 240
gph).
A good water pump is the Via
Aqua 2600, 3300 or 6500
hydrant pump. Both have
sealed electromagnetic
motors and ceramic shafts.
[2] Good Filtration.
I prefer pressurized pond
filters for their efficiency
and ease of hiding in the
ground. But there are many
excellent filters available.
For small ponds (and even
medium-large), large sponge
filters are excellent bio
filters and reasonable
mechanical filters. They are
inexpensive, easy to
service, and simple to
attach with either a power
head pump or and air stone.
Bio falls are also excellent
pond filters. I do not
recommend the old style
Becket or Pond Master
Submersible filters; they
clog easily, are hard to
service, and are not
efficient filters. Multiple
types of filtration are also
excellent, such as a
pressurized filter- bio
falls combination, or a
pressurized filter- sponge
filter combination.
[3] Plant Filtration (Often
called Veggie Filters)
This is a very important
part of pond keeping and
filtration. A well planted
and diversified planted pond
is VERY important for
clarity, pond and fish
health, and even fish
breeding. Any plant with a
good root structure that
grows fast and has the
majority of their leaves
above water is a good
candidate to start with. I
recommend water iris for
their strong root structure,
fast growth, great nutrient
absorbsion, and a great
place for baby fish (fry) to
hide feed and grow. There
are many other excellent
plants as well such as bull
rush. Make sure these types
of plants (plants with roots
in water and leaves above)
are planted in an area of
good, but not strong water
movement. This ensures that
they will do their job as
plant filters.
Other plants such as lilies
and hyacinth are excellent
for nutrient removal too,
but not at the rate of iris
and similar plants. They are
useful for shade, which will
slow algae growth
[4] UV Sterilization.
Although not always
necessary in a well planted,
well shaded, well filter
aquarium; they are still
very useful. UVs help with
algae control, disease
prevention, and the Redox
potential (which is
important for fish health
and proper filtration). For
the UV to properly function
in a pond, the flow rate
should not exceed 20-45 gph
per watt of UVC. In larger
ponds with high flow rates I
recommend more than one UV
sterilizer, with a by-pass
from the main line,
connected in PARELLEL not in
line together.
For more information about
proper UV sterilization and
how it works please visit
this site; ”Why use a UV
Sterilizer”
Many times I have heard of
complaints that their UV did
not help with algae control,
when I checked this client’s
pond, I found inadequate
filtration and an improperly
installed UV sterilizer.
Even a properly installed UV
Sterilizer cannot over come
poor filtration and a poorly
planted pond. And many
manufacturers make claims of
high flow rates that are
impossible for proper
contact time.
By Carl Strohmeyer
http://clear-pond.blogspot.com/
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Strohmeyer
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