yes, zeolite absorbs the ammonia so it is not used as food by the bacteria. then the
zeolite must be removed and regenerated in salt brine.
this is not how to cycle a pond nor a tank.
I was in same situation when plans for pond didnt progress as fast. I was cleaning
the whisper filters every day. if there was algae on the back and sides it can
absorb quite a bit of wastes. gravel that is not part of UGF only has bacteria
functioning on the very top as the biobugs are aerobic require oxygen to convert
wastes. if the gravel gets coated with sediment the bacteria cannot do their job.
I have had bare bottom tanks with nice algae all on walls and bottom and 4 large GF
in a 55 gallon and BOTH filters stopped for some reason. The water was getting
cloudy, but no ammonia, no nitrites.
bioballs are not very good surface area for biobugs. polyester batting is probably
the best, gravel next best. the ammonia or nitrites may be getting too high and
killing the biobugs. water changes have to be done every day or more than once a day
to keep the ammonia barely detectable by the test kits and then the nitrites the
same. temp also affects how fast it will cycle. at 75oF with lots of aeration
cycling goes faster add a bit of salt and if you have low pH add some organic
dolomitic limestone. low pH will kill or slow the biobugs down.
http://puregold.aquaria.net/pg/care/...AVITY%20FILTER
There is good biobug starter, BioSpira that actually works.
use the bottom gravel in the drip system, will help much more.
stop feeding the fish. dont know what is boosting the ammonia levels unless you got
chloramine and when you dechlor there is leftover ammonia. ???? check the tap water.
also, drop some of the fish food into a cup of water and check for ammonia... some
foods give off ammonia. you really must get the ammonia levels down or the "pond"
wont cycle. BTW, here is the veggie filter for my basement pond
http://puregold.aquaria.net/mypond/V...ie_filter.html
some of those plants have their roots directly in the water and pull out wastes.
water cress is good at this. Ingrid

"Richard Holub" wrote:
Now for the final question: If the water amonia reading is 1.0 and I change
85% of the pond water then wht does the next water test show the amonia
still high. I would think that changing 85% of the water should reduce the
amonia level by at least that amount. Next day water change same situation,
and the next.

By the way...fish as at bottom of pond but still alive...

Rich




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