On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 22:31:47 GMT, MattR
wrote:


Sure, plants alone won't work on a well stock koi pond, but they work fine
in a very low stock goldfish pond or watergarden with just minnows. IME

I wonder how many plants and how many fish. I had 6 small fish in 1300
gallons and going from 10 to 20 plants did nothing for the water. It
would be helpful if we could quantify some of these ideas.

My reason for bringing any of this up is that a year ago I was getting
frustrated trying any of the many ideas I've seen and not getting anywhere.

Matt


I have about 100 fish in 2000 gallons.

My experience is that my ultraviolet light ensures no algae blooms.
These algae blooms TOTALLY cloud the water until the plants come into
action, provided you have plants. Still, if you do not have plants,
but do have the UV light, THEN the nitrites will build up so high
that the fish are subject to a toxic environment even with crystal
clear water.

This past year, I wintered over a bunch of hornwort that fell to the
pond bottom and then I bought about 20 bunches of anacharis in the
early spring (next year I will buy 30 bunches). Everything did come
together this year. Also, I have been seeding and maintaining bacteria
(BZT) every week with about two teaspoons of the BZT. My filter with
tons of mesh material and bioballs is working without any (like none)
differential pressure across the filter. Like a Timex, it takes a
licken, but keeps on ticken.

Here is the result, as of mid-July 2003:

http://bmoke.freeyellow.com/cppg028.htm

My filter design is based on http://users.owt.com/jjspond.

I (my fish) could not be happier.


Bill M.