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  1. #1
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Andymadd's Avatar
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    Eco pond ? maybe

    So don't hate me but I have been experimenting.

    2 weeks ago, I turned off everything 2 pumps 2 UV so the bead filters are still and the sieves silent. I have 4500 gallons in the main pond where the fish are and it's stocked to a moderate level.

    Paranoia was nipping at me as I have had pumps running for the best part of 25 years of my life, so I tested daily for the first week all was normal no Ammonia fish all happy and feeding as usual. I am now testing every 3rd day with still no Ammonia and fish are fine. Now water clarity is another story gone a bit yuk but that is what I expected. So, the test continues.......

    This has saved me £80 on the electric over the 2 weeks so not insignificant. I am now planning on how to introduce plants from the veg filter so they can't be eaten, so could this be the start of the eco koi hobby?

    Still early days yet and I am considering a small solar set up just to move water from fishpond to veg filter and down the waterfall only a few gallons per hour, but we will see.

    Andy



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  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Interesting one mate ill be watching for the updates Eco pond ? maybe

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    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  4. #3
    Interesting for sure and no doubt there is more we could do to move in this direction but imo the problems such as ammonia etc may be silent/undetectable at first but once they start and you then decide to turn filters etc back on you’ll be so far behind with lack of bacteria etc that it’ll be an uphill struggle to get back on top,so whilst it may not seem an issue at the minute no doubt it will soon become one


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  6. #4
    I'd defo run a small air pump at least to move the water a bit.

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  7. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Andymadd's Avatar
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    I appreciate the concerns some of you have but I am keeping a very close eye on it and all is going well at the moment, got floating plants bobbing about and from my experience with aquariums, plants are the answer to most issues.

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  9. #6
    oh for sure, i'd not want the water to go "stagnant" hence why forcing a little bit of movement at least.

    but hoopefully it's all good

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  11. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Andymadd's Avatar
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    So, I am 3 weeks in with no filtration.

    Fish feeding well and no signs of change all water tests are exactly spot on, so I am now only testing twice a week. Water clarity has gone to shit but I think it's just green algae due to no UV.

    I am putting in a very small almost aquarium size pump (12v) to move a bit of water from pond to veg filter pond and back down waterfall, but this is small enough that I can run it on my caravan battery and solar panel that I robbed out of the van last week.

    Looks like I can go until spring with no power bill on pond then I will ramp it all back up to normal operation.

    Andy

 

 

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