Pond Filter

[jurutera]

Hi guys im new to this forum and have read most stickies on the filter forum.

Im still so very confused on the concept of what is enuff and wat is not enuff.

I just got 2 rtc and 2tsn 4" in size and keep them in a fibre glass tank 6' by 4' by 1.5'. (160 gallons). I have 5 yrs experience in keeping 4' aquariums but from what i ve read here, watever experience i have is worth zero. i just grasped the concept of cycling water, water quality etc and apparently ive been doing it all wrong

I got a cheapo powerhead which claims suitable 7000 gallons capacity tank.
Tetrapond pondfilter 7000 gallons capacity and a 9W UV-filter at 10000 liters capacity, numbers are all as manufacturer claim.

I am somewhat skeptical on this numbers and if i were to follow it i would have an overkill system that should require minimum maintenance.

And as i see here, u guys have bigger filter systems for smaller tanks and it confuses me.

I ve done a search on tetrapond filters here but couldnt find an answer.

Pls help!!!!

 

[Dr Joe]

Experience is what you make it. And if you learn from your mistakes...What fun is that!

Your going to be over-filtrated with those mini-MONSTERs but it won't take long for them to catch up.

"I am somewhat skeptical on this numbers and if i were to follow it i would have an overkill system that should require minimum maintenance."

I'll get back to the #'s in my next post.

"And as i see here, u guys have bigger filter systems for smaller tanks and it confuses me."

And you will notice the size (and usually an over abundance) of the fish in the smaller tank .

Large fish = large detritus (look it up ).

If you have a grasp on the nitrogen cycle there is hope for you .

Dr Joe

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[jurutera]

Thanx Dr Joe, for the advice and making me feel welcomed.

Looking forward to the next post from the good Dr.

Will post some pics as soon as i learn how to post multiple pics.

The bodies of dead organisms or fragments of organisms or fecal material=detritus

Fancy!!

 

[excuzzzeme]

Over-filtration is not possible to the extent of under-filtration is. Most of us often "over-filter" for many reasons. Along with the bigger detritus you also have to take into account if the fish is a messy eater or not. If the fish is messy most filters will not do the job well enough alone. By going to a larger filter you have more room to accumulate waste, larger media capacity, higher water turn-over rate.

Some fish need pristine water to be healthy. The only way is to over-filter. Manufacturer rating is done under ideal conditions and not a realistic situation. Sometimes over-filtering it is done to promote spawning.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[jurutera]

Thanx for the welcome.

Thanx for sharing a piece of ur knowledge

 

[Dr Joe]

If you can give links to the equipment you have it will help alot .

You have a right to show concern with a UV rated at 9watts and 2600gph flow thru .

You will also find some manufacturers rate the flow of their filters 'without' media . (It makes their #'s look better).

Pond clarity is different from aquarium clarity. With ponds your only looking half way thru, so you don't filter as highly (not to say you can't).

Pond water volume is turned over @ a rate of from .5x to a high of 6x (usually display ponds).

Circulation is a concern and can usually be corrected with directing the filter returns and powerheads.

And just to clarify... powerheads ie http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3454/product.web
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11467/product.web
are for water movement as the are not made to cope with head pressure that a pump ie http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/15913/product.web
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11479/product.web
can. They can be used for sponge filters, undergravel filters and in-pond filters where the water level is at the same level as the pump.

How long has the pond been up and running?

Do you have a substrate in the pond?

Plants?

Are you running the UV on the output of the filter or on it's own pump?

You should be able to find all the help you need here (sometimes too much ), hope you enjoy the site, here is something here for almost everyone .

If you have a question you think is too dumb to ask (never seen one that was real) then go read the "Lessons Learned" section http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34 and see about the one's that weren't asked

Dr Joe

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[jurutera]

If you can give links to the equipment you have it will help alot .

The filter can be found on this link,
http://www.thepondcode.com/member/tetrapond-pf-comfort-garden-pond-filter-pf-7000/
For the powerhead, it seems that i made the mistake of callling a sub-pump a powerhead.(i can thank ATMAN for that)
Both "powerhead" and UV filter is made by ATMAN, a brand that doesnt even have its own website

And just to clarify... powerheads ie http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3454/product.web
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11467/product.web
are for water movement as the are not made to cope with head pressure that a pump ie http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/15913/product.web
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11479/product.web
can. They can be used for sponge filters, undergravel filters and in-pond filters where the water level is at the same level as the pump.

Thanx again, i cud have made a totall *** of myself by calling a sub-pump a powerhead.

How long has the pond been up and running?

Its been running for only 4 days and the fishes went in 2 days after the pond was set up. Thanx to this forum i've took the time to add a biostart w the hopes of establishing the bio filter.

Do you have a substrate in the pond?

None.

Plants?

None.

Are you running the UV on the output of the filter or on it's own pump?

I place it after the filter becoz to me it doesnt make sense to put it before the filter where the light cant go thru the water thoroughly. But i guess it doesnt make sense now either since the flowrate is too much for 9W.


Thanx for giving those tips and contributing Dr Joe.