| My experience with BS,which I have used for last 10mths...
Previously,my filtration system comprise a settlement chamber,2 pararell vortex ,followed by 2 bio-ceramic chambers,total filter size abt 35% of pond,making total water vol of system approx 50 mt.
I overstocked; system was not working well.Rectified by adding 2 BS as well as replacing the ceramics in the 2 bio chambers with "Bacteria House" ie I am using the BH in fully submerged form as well as in the BS.
Where I am weather is hot year round with water temp ranging bet 25 to 30C. With strong sunlight all day long,year round,algae bloom is a natural if kept unchecked. Fortunately my pond is 90% shaded.
Before rectification,water readings were "acceptable"parameters but there was a smell and water is mildly mulky and will turn greenish if UV are switched off more than 2days.
After rectification,water para have improved;with amm and nitrite non detect and nitrates abt 10ppm. Water is very clear,smell is gone and there was a bluish tint in the first mth after rectifying. I continue to overstock and overfeed..50 koi ranging from 45cm to 90 cm,but mostly abt 70 cm. The smaller ones are jumbo tosai.There is one "freak" that is 55cm and is 2 weeks short of 12 months! Its a kohaku,not chagoi!
With the total biomass in the system growing rapidly,keeping the water quality up is a constant challenge! Fresh water trickle flows changes abt 5% daily and on weekends settlement chamber gets emptied and cleaned which accounts for ano 15% change.
About the BS and the BH!...after 10 mths,the BH in the top tray of the BS are covered with a thick blankrt of algae.I had to take the whole lot out for some heavy flushing to remove the algae. My verdict on the BS and BH,based on my own experience thus far is that it definately helped to improve and handle a growing load system but if you are going to be as crazy as me in overstocking and esp if weather is hot year round,there is no way the BS is going to function effectively and adequately without the assist of settlement or other mechanical filter And UV And some hard work on regular basis! |