Survey : Drip/Trickle Water Changing

[xiaohuang7]

Particularly in light of the cholorine and related chemical residuals discussion in this older thread (Water Changes) , I wanted to survey the Koi-Bito board to see who employs the non-dechlorinated, straight from the tap, drip method or "constant trickle" as Waddy calls it, to do water changes.

If we get enought answers, I'll compile them in a chart at the end.

John

[luke frisbee]

I would...and may.....later

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by xiaohuang7 Particularly in light of the cholorine and related chemical residuals discussion in this older thread (Water Changes) , I wanted to survey the Koi-Bito board to see who employs the non-dechlorinated, straight from the tap, drip method or "constant trickle" as Waddy calls it, to do water changes. If we get enought answers, I'll compile them in a chart at the end. John

Hi John
We have a constant drip going into our pond 7/24, we routed a water line with a faucet up in our waterfall. We also dump settlement tank daily. and do a 20% water change 1 time per week.

[dcny]

I didn't have a constant drip but I did have a sprinkler controller spray water into my pond daily without using dechlor.

-Dan

[Mobert]

I have a constant trickle but it goes through carbon cartridges first. I flush the vortec and back wash the filter every day or two.

[MikeM]

No constant trickle on my pond, but if disposal of the overflow was not an issue, I would give it a try. However, I would want to dechlorinate.

[Sangreaal]

I have a constant flow through of well-water, doing a turnover of about 10% per day at the moment--but on the hot days (105-120 degrees) increase anywhere from 25% to 100% to keep a stable temperature of 75 degrees.

[dick benbow]

I run my constant declorinated trickle 24/7 . i have used a trickle long before anyone else mentioned it in their book. As a fisher keeper as a kid I learned early.....

For those wanting to learn, the reason I do it is that the koi especially the youngsters take a lot of minerals
etc out of the water to use to build bone structure and internal organs.
the bacteria in the filter also has their needs. By constantly recirculating the same water it becomes worn out (stale) and does not provide the needed benefits. So a constant 10 % a day is perfect for maintenance.

The secret with anything you do with koi is to maintain a constant. If we were to graph those ponds with no water change/trickle the chart line would be slowly going down. If we would chart those who change, say on a weekly
basis, the graph of water quality would show up and down. Those who change 24/7 would show a level consistant line and that's what you want.

[Dale Torok]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow I run my constant declorinated trickle 24/7 . i have used a trickle long before anyone else mentioned it in their book. As a fisher keeper as a kid I learned early..... For those wanting to learn, the reason I do it is that the koi especially the youngsters take a lot of minerals etc out of the water to use to build bone structure and internal organs. the bacteria in the filter also has their needs. By constantly recirculating the same water it becomes worn out (stale) and does not provide the needed benefits. So a constant 10 % a day is perfect for maintenance. The secret with anything you do with koi is to maintain a constant. If we were to graph those ponds with no water change/trickle the chart line would be slowly going down. If we would chart those who change, say on a weekly basis, the graph of water quality would show up and down. Those who change 24/7 would show a level consistant line and that's what you want.

Dick,

Is your constant trickle straight tap water? Or do you dechlor it with carbon or some other method?

Do you know how long it would take the chlorine in a small amount of unchlorinated tap water to disburse or off gas the chlorine if no dechlorinater was used for the trickle? Say, maybe a trickle of 450 gallons per day into a 9,000 gallon system with more than adequate filtration. That would be adding 5% on a daily basis. I've always wondered if dechlor is absolutely necessary for that amount of water in my pond.

Dale

[dick benbow]

my trickle is run thru an RO machine that has charcoal, micron mechanical filters and the membraine. the fun stuff my city goes thru when water is drawn from a reservoir in the winter (good stuff) and from wells in the summer.(yuk) This constant back and forth made me do something to stabilize the water input
as the wells had lots of iron etc. before I knew this I would have issues and couldn't figure out why. So get to know your water dept and any reports of info you want!

Chlorine is easier to handle than cloramine, so you have to know what's there.
Chlorine can be eliminated thru a spray/mist or by storage/aireation and then use 24-48 hrs later. the problem with working with municiple water systems is if they add a new addition of homes, discover something they want to kill, they will unknownst to you hit with a heavy dose
where if your spray works on maintenance levels, it will not work for this extra heavy dose and a price can be paid thru the gills of your koi.

as tedious as it seems, whatever you do pls plan for the overkill coverage to keep your "babies' out of harms way.

while to the unknowing, a personal well may sound good where you don't have to deal with something you don't know about, remember water up from the ground usually has a lower ph and minimal oxygenation and the same spray/mist addition has to be accomplished.

ain't being a good water keeper grande?