A full sheet of the Green Matala pad arrived today. I'm going to cut it
into two sheets, add it to my filter falls and remove a bag or two of
the lava rock. My filter is an odd size and I needed to order a full
sheet to cut out two pads. (I couldn't cut one from a half sheet. Go
figure. My wife's experience cutting patterns helped me figure it out.)

I thought about ordering the black pad (larger pores) but decided
against it because it couldn't be folded over for shipping and was going
to cost a bunch to ship. Turns out, I'm glad I got the green as I
wouldn't have needed two black pads with it's super large pores.

This will give me the two green Matala pads, three filter pads that came
with the filter/falls and a couple of bags of lava rock (maybe just one)
and a bag of bio-balls that I've had for years.

Had to replace a GFI outlet that tripped the other day during a heavy
rain and wouldn't re-set. (I have some LED lights circling my pond.
They've been much better not to trip than the "Christmas" lights I'd
been using.) Anyone else have problems with GFIs wearing out too quickly.

JB

Hi JB,

I've got my matala to do my 2nd barrel, ordered early so I'd get on the
free shipping, plus prices had gone down since last fall. Course it makes
me a bit pond $$ poor till I can start selling plants later in June.

(For those that didn't see it, pictures of old & new he
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108362)

Anyway, many of you may remember my stories about the Demon Pond (in the
Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden)? This is it's 10th anniversary next
weekend and the local paper is doing an article on it. I worked on both the
lilies & filter the first 6 years, and then just the filter for 2 more.
Gave it up as I found out working during the school year meant I needed all
my time in the summer to do my ponds/yard/family chores. The paper should
have pictures on-line and I'll send that website when it comes out
(assuming I don't look fat or too ugly in them. ;-))

Anyway, after a couple years of neglect, compared to what myself & co-chair
put in time-wise, another member of the club, and also an MG, is chairing
it this year. Her first question was regarding the filter. My first comment
was, get approval to spend some money on matala for the filter (same filter
design as mine because my DH & DS built it). They did the matata a bit
different, not using as many sheets, bending it to a slight U shape to fit,
but so far so good they say. They don't have near the fish I do, so they
should be fine. The pond looked great when we were there for the photo
shoot... and they can always add more matala if necessary.

I'm sold on this stuff, it is pricey, but it is light weight and should
clean easy and last... probably forever if protected from UV. After all...
it is some type of plastic. ;-) ~ jan

On Fri, 28 May 2010 18:49:16 EDT, JB wrote:

A full sheet of the Green Matala pad arrived today. I'm going to cut it
into two sheets, add it to my filter falls and remove a bag or two of
the lava rock. My filter is an odd size and I needed to order a full
sheet to cut out two pads. (I couldn't cut one from a half sheet. Go
figure. My wife's experience cutting patterns helped me figure it out.)

I thought about ordering the black pad (larger pores) but decided
against it because it couldn't be folded over for shipping and was going
to cost a bunch to ship. Turns out, I'm glad I got the green as I
wouldn't have needed two black pads with it's super large pores.

This will give me the two green Matala pads, three filter pads that came
with the filter/falls and a couple of bags of lava rock (maybe just one)
and a bag of bio-balls that I've had for years.

Had to replace a GFI outlet that tripped the other day during a heavy
rain and wouldn't re-set. (I have some LED lights circling my pond.
They've been much better not to trip than the "Christmas" lights I'd
been using.) Anyone else have problems with GFIs wearing out too quickly.

JB
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us