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Thread: Water clarity using g nexus 220
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18-10-2019, 04:42 PM #1
Water clarity using g nexus 220
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and have only posted once during my pond build back in May from which I received some very useful replies.
I have an issue with my water clarity, it appears clear when viewing from above down to approx 2-3ft but past this depth it's quite murky and has a light greeny cast even when looking through the infinity window. I cant see the outer light grey plastic rim of my airated bottom drain now. Six medium sized koi were introduced on the 24th August, before this date the water was crystal clear running the nexus and PP the system to make sure all was ok.
The pond is 3000 gallon 12 x 8 x5 6" deep fibreglassed. I'm using a nexus 220 , a Evo 55 U.V , and a Thermatec 9kw heater currently at 15c. I have a skimmer which after water passes through the Internal collection basket is either returned back to the pond by underwater return or can be sent to a blade to return.
The k1 media in the nexus is turning light brown now and I clean it twice a week and added the pond bombs 4 times to increase the bacteria but I cant get the clarity right. Would a drum after be better or an additional item such as a bead filter. I'm at a loss of what to try. I have even changed the uv bulb to see if the uv was doing its job but no difference.
I'm feeding 2 times daily aqua source all season garlic. I've noticed this week a small increase in ammonia reading but nitrite is fine and oh.
Any help.would be appreciated.
Thanks Andy
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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18-10-2019, 06:21 PM #2
Time,
It's a new pond and will go through changes.
A drum would be before not after.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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18-10-2019, 06:23 PM #3
Thanks simon,
I've read that a new nexus can take anything from 6 weeks to a year to mature, I dont mean to appear impatient I just wondered if anything could be wrong or I've not done somthing should have.
Thanks for your help
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 12:17 AM #4
The nexus is poor at clearing fine muck, I have a 400 micron long bag at a point in my return to pick out fine bits. You can also run the water through fine sponge filters and cotton fleece but that is really messy to clean once a week
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 06:17 AM #5
Also are you back flushing and doing water changes. Of bottom drain.
Put a draco drum in the nexus.
Could also be the food. Colouring the water.
Took my 5000 gallon pond 18 months to mature properly.
320 nexus with draco drum plus a sieve on different skimmer line.
Keep an eye on your ammonia. Less feeding and water changes.
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Scamp Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 07:56 AM #6
Hi Andy
i agree with Fred. I have a 320 on my pond and took 18 mths to fully mature, where the readings were good and clarity improved. Winter and cold temps can extend initial bio film forming too.. Ponds can look hazy for the first months when new. Your 55w UV should be fine for your size pond. However as has been said a 220 on a 3k pond will struggle to keep fines out, and this can also lead to murky water. Your UV may be clumping the algae but getting through the nexus and also adding to a green tinge look?
I would go drum every day as a mechanical filter, tons to choose from. If you want to keep your Nexus then option is a Draco drum that drops into it and takes 20 mins to install. It’s not as good as a stand alone one in terms of capacity etc, but does a cracking job of clearing water if you want to upgrade.
with my Nexus I found cleaning too often meant more fines went in the pond..if the eazy is more blocked, less fines get through. Having said that I preferred to clean regularly and get the crap out rather than let it stay in..I guess you clean 2 x a week as it needs it? just saying don’t over clean it on a new pond..
As Simon says time is really needed, it’s easy to dive in and change a load of stuff, before the pond is mature...perhaps sit back enjoy it over winter and then consider options..?! Anyhow good luck with whatever you decide..cheers
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 08:34 AM #7
Thanks all,
That's some very good advice you have given me. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience.
Andy
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 08:38 AM #8
Hi John,
Can you explain a bit more what you mean by having a long bag on your filter..I havent heard of that before.
Andy
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 09:12 AM #9
I have had both the 220 and the larger nexus.
I think the smaller nexus is more prone to fines, not sure why maybe because we want to put more water through relative to its size.
I think if I was running one again I would use it with a sieve, drum or perhaps a bead after it (did that with the large nexus when running it)
Also when taking the 220s out I ran one pump fed and couldn't believe the fines in the bio chamber after only a month or so running.
It's amazing how much can pass through the filter, I do think the micro K1 does help trap a little more.
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19-10-2019, 09:28 AM #10
Hi John,
I've found the 400micron long bags you mentioned by google. Can you just explain how you fit them on the return, I see they have a draw string to tie the bag to a pipe so will the bag need to be I side a chamber of some sort.
Thanks Andy
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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19-10-2019, 10:02 AM #11
put a piece of jap mat vertically in the exit before pond and clean once a week,that will catch a load of fines,dont try to pull more than 8000lph through it as this is the best flow for it to work,and put a small filter on your skimmer as your just chopping things up through pump before sending back to pond,simples and will greatly increase clarity,,,,,andi
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19-10-2019, 10:04 AM #12
Thanks andi
I will try that and let you know the results thank very much.
Andy
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26-10-2019, 05:32 PM #13
I would agree with Scamp on this one based on your description.
Even with my 55w UV, the water went through a stage with a green tinge, also a stage with murky brown water. All of this was part of the pond maturation process.
The fines issue that you get with the Nexus would show itself as generally clear water, but lots of small particles floating around and these particles could be green (i.e dead algae that the UV has killed but too fine for the Nexus to filter out until they eventually clump together).
So if its murky water, green, brown or whatever colour then it should resolve itself.
If its tiny green particles, that should also resolve itself over time.
Longer term I think the Nexus will struggle to cope with 3000 gallons. My 220 was great at 1600 gallons, but failed miserably after I extended to 2600 gallons with 12 Koi between 25cm and 55cm. Had to buy a drop-in Draco drum in the end and that sorted it. I have a thread all about it if you want to read....(Well, its rather long, so scrolling and flicking through the pics would be easier)
https://www.koiforum.uk/water-treatm...es-issues.html
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26-10-2019, 06:49 PM #14
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26-10-2019, 07:48 PM #15
as Above, give it time.
Although your filter may mature enough to deal with ammonia, you'll notice that the pond wall, pipework and anything else in the water will be colonised with all sorts over the next few years, and these things will change over the course of the years & seasons. this biofilm is as much part of the pond as your filter bacteria and Koi. I wouldn't rule out 2-3 years for a pond (not filter) to mature.
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26-10-2019, 07:52 PM #16
Thanks Mitsufishi,
I did notice that the pond fibreglassed walls were coated in green after only 3-4 weeks from introducing the fish on the 24th August. It is blanket weed just a slimy green algi coating.
Thanks for the info
Andy
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26-10-2019, 07:53 PM #17
Sorry I meant it isn't blanket weed !!
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27-10-2019, 08:56 PM #18
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...