Dear all,
Before I put the situation for your discussions and experiences, here are some details of my pond mentioned in my previous posts:
2400 gal, 17X8 ft, depth between 1,5 – 3,5 ft. Epdm liner. Zone 9, no shade,about 24 kois largest abt 7-8 inches,2 cambarus, water lilies, 3 japanese umbrella, 2 water cannas, countless amount of egeria densa and etc etc. Stocked since april 2008.
Well, since I started it up, I have a very simple DIY filter, simple aeration pump used for the aquariums and bought a little later 40 Watt UV. Used no chemicals at all.
The first few months I put the system on for only some hours/week and the UV not more than let's say 10 hours in total. I had some times soupy water not possible to see any below the water surface but other times also clear water. Had one time algae boom. Did no water change, only added some when necessary because of evaporation.
As having read all the proposals and experiences (hundreds of them, as you know) written on how to keep the water clear, on the net, to leave the pond water into the “arms of the mother nature” with the help of the plants, attracted my interest more than the others.
Since beginning of august, I have never turned on the water circulation pump and filter, did not use the UV, and no aeration pump but allways kept my eyes on the fish behaviors and also permanently making the nitrate and ammonia tests (all results were perfect).
Since then it has been nearly 6 months and I have a permanent clear water, which I did not have such before. I can see all the tiny details of the bottom that amazes me.
Bottom of the pond was plain liner, no sand or pebbles etc. now is covered with a black residue, which freightened me at the beginning but seeing the kois happily enjoying in this stuff cooled me down.
Last 2 months, it rained allmost every day and the pond is discharging extra water. PH test I did not make any.
Actually I am mostly anxious about the lack of aeration but the koi looks happy.
Now what I want to hear from you friends, are your ideas and comments on this positive result of the 6 months without any finger touch of mine; if all the natures miracle is going to be stable like this or if some danger or catastrophe will be waiting for me in the coming period?
Thanks in advance.
Before I put the situation for your discussions and experiences, here are some details of my pond mentioned in my previous posts:
2400 gal, 17X8 ft, depth between 1,5 – 3,5 ft. Epdm liner. Zone 9, no shade,about 24 kois largest abt 7-8 inches,2 cambarus, water lilies, 3 japanese umbrella, 2 water cannas, countless amount of egeria densa and etc etc. Stocked since april 2008.
Well, since I started it up, I have a very simple DIY filter, simple aeration pump used for the aquariums and bought a little later 40 Watt UV. Used no chemicals at all.
The first few months I put the system on for only some hours/week and the UV not more than let's say 10 hours in total. I had some times soupy water not possible to see any below the water surface but other times also clear water. Had one time algae boom. Did no water change, only added some when necessary because of evaporation.
As having read all the proposals and experiences (hundreds of them, as you know) written on how to keep the water clear, on the net, to leave the pond water into the “arms of the mother nature” with the help of the plants, attracted my interest more than the others.
Since beginning of august, I have never turned on the water circulation pump and filter, did not use the UV, and no aeration pump but allways kept my eyes on the fish behaviors and also permanently making the nitrate and ammonia tests (all results were perfect).
Since then it has been nearly 6 months and I have a permanent clear water, which I did not have such before. I can see all the tiny details of the bottom that amazes me.
Bottom of the pond was plain liner, no sand or pebbles etc. now is covered with a black residue, which freightened me at the beginning but seeing the kois happily enjoying in this stuff cooled me down.
Last 2 months, it rained allmost every day and the pond is discharging extra water. PH test I did not make any.
Actually I am mostly anxious about the lack of aeration but the koi looks happy.
Now what I want to hear from you friends, are your ideas and comments on this positive result of the 6 months without any finger touch of mine; if all the natures miracle is going to be stable like this or if some danger or catastrophe will be waiting for me in the coming period?
Thanks in advance.
with mrunlucky07, as of now you have a somewhat ecological balance in the pond. With all the rain Mother Nature has been doing the water changes for you and aerating the water too. 
and the water tests must go on.
.