Hmmm..... a hose algae scrubber..... interesting and cheap.
I can see resistance problems coming and a few other things but... I'd try
it out!
Rmemeber tho that you need to remove the alage to remove the bio-accumulated
nutrients outta the water!
In the past I have tried to use taro and duckweed for this purpose.
But I see the winter part here....
I think if you could grow flat 'matts' of algae like pizza gone bad and
remove that frequently it could be easier.
But even if you turn the whole pond green, then flocculate it and remove the
chunks it will have some effect.
Now if you were to use the hose algae scrubber to eat nitrates on a small
indoor aquarium (hose outside of course)
I think it would do a splendid job.
But on a big pond, prob gonna be a bit underpowered.
May also notice water goes a bit yellow, thats what happens to me when I try
to setup marine ones anyway.
Have a look for 'biosub' on google.... some ozzie dude with an algae life
support submarine.
Not sure how they store the algae but I recon it would have to be efficient
and prob give ya a few more ideas.
given me something to think about
but first where can I score heaps wide diametre clear hose?
wrote in message
...
my koi pond is without a good filter for a good 6 months out of the year.
I take my veggie filter out and dont put it back in until April or so
because it is too cold for plants. I let the pea soup algae soak up the
nutrients until my veggie filter is back up and running. I heat my pond
and it stays above 50oF for most of the winter. I feed my koi very little
and no more than once every 3 days or so as long as they are up and
begging. I did get some of that freeze dried krill etc to feed them so
there will be close to zero wastes. BTW, as a side issue, anyone know
where to get those multi test strips the cheapest online?
anyway. so all I got is 1. moss and 2. algae that laugh at winter. but
how can I harness them to clean my water? I think all of us have noticed
that our clear hoses collect algae inside, so I am thinking how about if I
get 100 feet of clear vinyl fish safe hose, like 3/4 inch, and run water
thru it pretty slowly so the algae eats up the wastes? can anybody figure
out how much surface area 5/8 inside diameter x 100 feet would have?
so what I think I can do is either hang it up in big loops on the fence
where it will get sun,
http://weloveteaching.com/mypond/winters/winter.htm
OR, I could lay it on the gravel (now that the snow has melted) where it
would definitely get warmed up.
Next year I can configure some way of looping it over the walkway by
putting up something more likely to hold it, put black ply under it to
heat
it up nice, and have it at perfect angle for the sun to hit maximum.
I am thinking about putting a little stepped thing on the back wall of the
pond and seeding it with that nice moss and letting the water trickle down
the back onto the moss. the backing is cedar and non-toxic. the algae
already grows on there lower down.
anyway... any comments? why it wont work, will work. etc?
Ingrid
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