Gravel

[koifishgirl]

How many people have peagravel in their ponds? I did have and removed yesterday and today, had no problems for three years then all the sudden bad bacteria. Has anyone used pea gravel with good luck?

[luke frisbee]

you are kidding right?

[koifishgirl]

No Im not kidding, the pea gravel that was in the bottom of my pond had turned black and stunk like crap. The pro's put my pond in and that is what they put down, I will never have gravel in the lined pond again, you can get it clean.

[aquitori]

I remember the style of filter using pea gravel before J-Mat was readily availible, but never in the pond. Usually they pea gravel in the pond for water gardening.

[keokoi]

Yup. sounds about right ALA rock bottom ponds. Everything is alright until one day the Good Bacteria just can't handle the bad guy anymore.. and then Whammo!!!

Good for you for taking out Pea gravel..

Joe

[bekko]

Dang Judy! If I had gravel in the bottom of a pond I sure would not admit it here in front of the hard core.

-steve

[MikeM]

Some time back, DickB asked for a published reference on proper filtration techniques. I searched through the books I have on koikeeping. I was amazed at how outdated they were. Guess I had not reviewed any of the chapters on filtration and pond design in a long time. Except for Koi Kichi, every book mentioned gravel filters etc. as simply being another technique, giving the impression gravel was equally good as other media. The koikeeping books AKCA liquidated from its inventory of sale items about a year ago (reprints of articles from old Koi USA issues) were heavy on gravel filter articles. When I joined MAKC about 2 years ago, I received a "welcome" package that included koikeeping hints, including reprint articles on the benefits of gravel filters as cutting edge.


Until someone discovers the internet boards and Koi Kichi, the chances are that every where they look will include references to gravel filters as a good thing. The old ways can work with a lot of labor, but for the pondkeeper seeking to become a koikeeper, the misimpressions are sure to create confusion and failure. It is no wonder that Aquascape designs and rock bottoms can be sold to the unaware. Even if they try to research it at their library or buy books at Barnes & Noble, they will be led to believe gravel is great.

[junglegeorge12]

gravel is great, for driveways..... and white gravel looks good in garden beds. It also can be used as a filter media, but it isn't the best media and needs regular vigorous cleaning. It does trap poop though, lots of it. I believe a while back a gravel and sand combo was the thing. As long as it gets backwashed well it still works mike. I don't use it, but it isn't 'bad', just not the best.Also, kfg, after all your anti bakki comments, to let us know you had gravel in the pool really opens to the door for some fun counter attacks.....but I'll be nice! Just out of curiosity, did you check the nitrate level just after cleaning it out?

[Ryan S.]

Gravel filters, with large air blowers, that are backwashed frequently are still in use for many CA ponders. This is different than gravel in the pond itself that is left static on the bottom.

[koifishgirl]

Im not ashamed of this, at the time when I had my pond built I did not know this, having had good result for so long with gravel in my pond, I was thinking not true untill I had problem myself. Now I know that pea gravel should not have been put in bottom of the pond. One reason for being on this forum is to learn . If I had not had the ulcer problem with my koi I would still think pea gravel ok in the bottom of pond. I had people tell me that gravel will cause bad bacteria but I misunderstood thinking that they were talking about gravel in the filter, not in the bottom of the pond. I wanted to do a bog filter and was told not to because it will cause bad bacteria. Im still learning about mud and outside ponds. A little different from the aquairum, gravel in bottom of the aquar. is easy to keep clean, gravel in a large line pond is not.

Water is good just a little hi ph. 9.0 Everthing else is right on.

I dont know what you are talking about anti bakki?