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Pond UV Clarifier
Do these really work? Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the
filter? Patty |
#2
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Pond UV Clarifier
"Coffee" wrote in message ... Do these really work? Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the filter? Patty Some say yes, some say no, some say yes but why use one? UV clarification is a religious topic not nearly as fundamental as "to salt or not to salt" but it's up there on the top 10. Many ponders believe that a proper balance in your pond negates the need for a UV clarifier. Those that prefer UV clarifiers swear by them. There is really no right or wrong answer. Some people like mechanical bio-filters, other like vegetable filters. Neither is right nor wrong. As for your beneficial bacteria...certainly bacteria flowing through the UV could be and probably would be harmed, but the bulk of your filtration bacteria is sedintary. They like to sit down on a rock and watch the pond go by, snatching their meals as they float by. So unless you are moving your ponds walls, rocks, etc, thru the UV, you have nothing to worry about. BV. Disclaimer: I am a VF user...and do not use nor intend to ever use a UV clarifier. Natural ponding, baby, natural ponding. |
#3
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Pond UV Clarifier
There are many types of ponders and ponding. BV says natural ponding. That's what I do but I suspect I'm a natural ponder because I am, at heart, a lazy ponder... I don't want to fuss with a UV line and change the light bulb and worry about it. Probably why I still don't have a skimmer, I'd have to skim it! That said... the universal problem of green water is what moves folks to UV lights so I will post my general list of green water fighting tips, of which UV is one of them. Algae fighting tips ~ Nutrients for algae are sun, new water, fish waste, fertilized run off, rotting plants, blown in dirt. ~ New ponds and spring ponds need time for plants to get established, algae is quicker at getting going. ~ add plants, of any kind, in the pond. Especially underwater plants. ~ Shade is good - provided by lily pads, floating plants or artificial shade for part of the day. ~ LOW fish stocking (20 gallons per goldfish, 100 per koi after starting with 1,000 gallons) and *not* overfeeding the fish. Too many fish and too much feeding is probably responsible for most pea soup water, followed closely by too much decaying plant matter, sludge and overall gunk in the water ~ adding a combination mechanical and biological filter to screen gunk and convert fishy ammonia waste. ~ build a veggie filter, to run water through plants, as easy as floating water hyacinth in your filter. ~ clean up dead plant matter and screen for falling leaves in the fall. ~ water movement, occasional water changes of 10% ~ add a sludge consumer, concentrated bacteria. many rec.ponders use http://www.united-tech.com/m-aq4u-toc.html ~ building ponds with bottom drains and skimmers. ~ do not use algaecides, they only make lots of suddenly dead algae and that will feed the next algae bloom. ~ do not worry about algae that grows on things (substrate algae) this is good for a pond ~ gently remove string algae ~ UV lights work on suspended algae (green water) - does cost some $$. ~ patience and time ;-) kathy :-) A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A |
#4
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Pond UV Clarifier
I've had the pond for 12yrs now just wondering about the UV. I do not get
any algae to speak of except over the waterfall at times. I read where the UV also fights off parasites and such. Just wanted some views on the subject. Might mention the fish are 12yrs old too. Patty "Ka30P" wrote in message ... There are many types of ponders and ponding. BV says natural ponding. That's what I do but I suspect I'm a natural ponder because I am, at heart, a lazy ponder... I don't want to fuss with a UV line and change the light bulb and worry about it. Probably why I still don't have a skimmer, I'd have to skim it! That said... the universal problem of green water is what moves folks to UV lights so I will post my general list of green water fighting tips, of which UV is one of them. Algae fighting tips ~ Nutrients for algae are sun, new water, fish waste, fertilized run off, rotting plants, blown in dirt. ~ New ponds and spring ponds need time for plants to get established, algae is quicker at getting going. ~ add plants, of any kind, in the pond. Especially underwater plants. ~ Shade is good - provided by lily pads, floating plants or artificial shade for part of the day. ~ LOW fish stocking (20 gallons per goldfish, 100 per koi after starting with 1,000 gallons) and *not* overfeeding the fish. Too many fish and too much feeding is probably responsible for most pea soup water, followed closely by too much decaying plant matter, sludge and overall gunk in the water ~ adding a combination mechanical and biological filter to screen gunk and convert fishy ammonia waste. ~ build a veggie filter, to run water through plants, as easy as floating water hyacinth in your filter. ~ clean up dead plant matter and screen for falling leaves in the fall. ~ water movement, occasional water changes of 10% ~ add a sludge consumer, concentrated bacteria. many rec.ponders use http://www.united-tech.com/m-aq4u-toc.html ~ building ponds with bottom drains and skimmers. ~ do not use algaecides, they only make lots of suddenly dead algae and that will feed the next algae bloom. ~ do not worry about algae that grows on things (substrate algae) this is good for a pond ~ gently remove string algae ~ UV lights work on suspended algae (green water) - does cost some $$. ~ patience and time ;-) kathy :-) A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A |
#5
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Pond UV Clarifier
On 3/12/04 1:02 PM, "Coffee" wrote:
Do these really work? Yes - very well. But not on string algae. Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the filter? Yeah, some that goes through, but not enough to make a serious dent. I have one that I used and turned off last July to see what would happen. At that point my pond was well planted. Guess what? No green water. It's been off ever since. That's not to say I'll get rid of it. Natural ponding is fine and dandy, but I want to see my fish and rocks. If a tinge of green obscures my view poof! Whatever technology I can use to attain that goal I will use as required. Joe -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
#6
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Pond UV Clarifier
Your pond is 12years old with fish as old and you are thinking
about getting a UV? I would say not to mess with success. - Just leave well enough alone and all that good stuff. You mean you can't think of any other place to spend $$$ ? LOL! Laughing with ya' ;O) Nedra in Missouri Zone 6 http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836 http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118 "Coffee" wrote in message ... I've had the pond for 12yrs now just wondering about the UV. I do not get any algae to speak of except over the waterfall at times. I read where the UV also fights off parasites and such. Just wanted some views on the subject. Might mention the fish are 12yrs old too. Patty "Ka30P" wrote in message ... There are many types of ponders and ponding. BV says natural ponding. That's what I do but I suspect I'm a natural ponder because I am, at heart, a lazy ponder... I don't want to fuss with a UV line and change the light bulb and worry about it. Probably why I still don't have a skimmer, I'd have to skim it! That said... the universal problem of green water is what moves folks to UV lights so I will post my general list of green water fighting tips, of which UV is one of them. Algae fighting tips ~ Nutrients for algae are sun, new water, fish waste, fertilized run off, rotting plants, blown in dirt. ~ New ponds and spring ponds need time for plants to get established, algae is quicker at getting going. ~ add plants, of any kind, in the pond. Especially underwater plants. ~ Shade is good - provided by lily pads, floating plants or artificial shade for part of the day. ~ LOW fish stocking (20 gallons per goldfish, 100 per koi after starting with 1,000 gallons) and *not* overfeeding the fish. Too many fish and too much feeding is probably responsible for most pea soup water, followed closely by too much decaying plant matter, sludge and overall gunk in the water ~ adding a combination mechanical and biological filter to screen gunk and convert fishy ammonia waste. ~ build a veggie filter, to run water through plants, as easy as floating water hyacinth in your filter. ~ clean up dead plant matter and screen for falling leaves in the fall. ~ water movement, occasional water changes of 10% ~ add a sludge consumer, concentrated bacteria. many rec.ponders use http://www.united-tech.com/m-aq4u-toc.html ~ building ponds with bottom drains and skimmers. ~ do not use algaecides, they only make lots of suddenly dead algae and that will feed the next algae bloom. ~ do not worry about algae that grows on things (substrate algae) this is good for a pond ~ gently remove string algae ~ UV lights work on suspended algae (green water) - does cost some $$. ~ patience and time ;-) kathy :-) A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A |
#7
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Pond UV Clarifier
On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 21:02:03 GMT, "Coffee"
wrote: Do these really work? Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the filter? Patty http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...Detail/ttid/80 Ultraviolet light can be very effective at eliminating viruses, bacteria, algae and fungi. The required UV exposure rate to irradiate common bacteria is 15,000 µW-sec/cm2, while the required UV exposure for waterborne algae is 22,000 µW-sec/cm2. Since it is the intensity of light that is doing the killing, we must know how much light energy to use and how much is reaching the target. Just as some sunglasses and sunscreens reduce UV intensity, so does discolored water, turbidity, dirty quartz sleeves, and even some dissolved salts, such as sodium thiosulfate. Even lamp temperatures can reduce output when operated in cold water (110°F gives maximum UV output). Page 449 of their 2002 hard copy catalog there is a chart giving exposure for different micro organisms. Sorry I couldn't find it on the web. The bacteria attached to the filter is in no danger since it isn't passing through the UV, but it may take a long time to build up on the filter, I wouldn't know. A fish farmer that used to hang around here mentioned they kill off microaquatics eaten by hatching fry. So, if you use UV and want to raise fry you need to feed them and he suggested boiled egg yoke. Regards, Hal |
#8
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Pond UV Clarifier
"Coffee" wrote in
: Do these really work? Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the filter? Patty Do these work, I can safely say yes, I put one into my pond last year when I had pea soup and in a week it was clear, this year it goes in at the beginning of the season. |
#9
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Pond UV Clarifier
"Coffee" wrote in
: Do these really work? Won't they harm the beneficial bacteria needed in the filter? Patty Do these work, I can safely say yes, I put one into my pond last year when I had pea soup and in a week it was clear, this year it goes in at the beginning of the season. |
#10
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Pond UV Clarifier
With Nedra on this, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. ) But you can send
that extra money to me. )))) ~ jan On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 23:00:55 GMT, "Coffee" wrote: I've had the pond for 12yrs now just wondering about the UV. I do not get any algae to speak of except over the waterfall at times. I read where the UV also fights off parasites and such. Just wanted some views on the subject. Might mention the fish are 12yrs old too. Patty "Ka30P" wrote in message ... There are many types of ponders and ponding. BV says natural ponding. That's what I do but I suspect I'm a natural ponder because I am, at heart, a lazy ponder... I don't want to fuss with a UV line and change the light bulb and worry about it. Probably why I still don't have a skimmer, I'd have to skim it! That said... the universal problem of green water is what moves folks to UV lights so I will post my general list of green water fighting tips, of which UV is one of them. Algae fighting tips ~ Nutrients for algae are sun, new water, fish waste, fertilized run off, rotting plants, blown in dirt. ~ New ponds and spring ponds need time for plants to get established, algae is quicker at getting going. ~ add plants, of any kind, in the pond. Especially underwater plants. ~ Shade is good - provided by lily pads, floating plants or artificial shade for part of the day. ~ LOW fish stocking (20 gallons per goldfish, 100 per koi after starting with 1,000 gallons) and *not* overfeeding the fish. Too many fish and too much feeding is probably responsible for most pea soup water, followed closely by too much decaying plant matter, sludge and overall gunk in the water ~ adding a combination mechanical and biological filter to screen gunk and convert fishy ammonia waste. ~ build a veggie filter, to run water through plants, as easy as floating water hyacinth in your filter. ~ clean up dead plant matter and screen for falling leaves in the fall. ~ water movement, occasional water changes of 10% ~ add a sludge consumer, concentrated bacteria. many rec.ponders use http://www.united-tech.com/m-aq4u-toc.html ~ building ponds with bottom drains and skimmers. ~ do not use algaecides, they only make lots of suddenly dead algae and that will feed the next algae bloom. ~ do not worry about algae that grows on things (substrate algae) this is good for a pond ~ gently remove string algae ~ UV lights work on suspended algae (green water) - does cost some $$. ~ patience and time ;-) kathy :-) A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A ~ jan |
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