Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1

    Pump / system advice

    Hi everyone,

    I'm completely new to keeping koi and would appreciate some advice. Recently bought a house and it came with a pond (approx. 16,000 litres I think) with 9 koi included. I'm trying to get my head around the pond, pump, filter system and also keeping the koi happy. Previously the pond had a lot more koi from what I've heard, but they left us 9 (I'm grateful, though as a complete novice it's quite a lot to get your head around!).

    Currently I have what I think would be best described as a 'homemade' system. It has a 110mm inlet from the pond (a couple of feet down from the surface) with a 110mm equal junction socket (so two-into-one, effectively), one with a strainer and one with a plug with 5mm holes in. This then goes into a Cloverleaf filter (haven't checked/measured but I hope it's a CL3 as that's the right size). This is underground, water level is the same as the pond level. It then strangely goes via some UPVC pipe to a Flomasta 25-5-130 central heating pump and then back into the pond via some c.40mm UPVC pipe and an Evo UV 55. Guessing this is a fairly unusual setup!

    I've had a few issues with the pump stopping so I've supplemented this with a Hailea ACO 9820 to help aerate. On pumping out/clearing out the filter (previous owner left some instructions - isolated flow through the filter using slide valves) it has failed to restart when powering back up, not really sure why - sounds like the motor is running but no water comes out, maybe there is a blockage or airlock, sometimes the flow is low and sometimes non-existent. I've taken the pump apart and it doesn't look blocked. Eventually I've been able to get it running both times, but generally by disconnecting and reconnecting pipework (and realising that some washers are old which I will hopefully sort). Unhelpfully the central heating pump has screw-fit fittings with old washers rather than proper compression fittings. I'm not clear on what the problem actually is.

    Fish seem reasonably happy (from what I know), have checked the ammonia levels previously and they were fine. Pond is a bit murky green but I can live with that if the fish are OK.

    I'd really appreciate any advice you can give - is there anything obvious about the pump I should be looking for? And any things you think 'I would change that', that I could do to improve it without too much effort/expense? Don't mind a bit of hard work, just don't fancy redoing the pump and piping just yet (it's in a really inaccessible place).

    Thanks in advance for your help. If I'm missing any vital information let me know.



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Yonsai Tropheus's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    213
    Thanks / Likes
    229
    It's difficult to visualise. Can you post a few photos?

  3. #3
    Have tried priming the pump? Use a 5 gallon bucket of water. Turn the pump off, fill the pump until it is full, turn on the pump and close the lid quickly. You may have to do it a couple times to get it backfilled and primed


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1,539
    Thanks / Likes
    1746
    Green water and a 55W UB - sounds like the UVC isn’t functioning.

    16,000 is a decent sized pond. I agree - pics will make easier to diagnose.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Goonerharwood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Huntingdon
    Posts
    310
    Thanks / Likes
    465
    Hi there agree pictures would help alot also where are you maybe someone could pop round and take a look for you i;m in the cambridgeshire area if thats any help

    Colin

 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:04 PM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.