UV or Not to UV for newer pond

[MikeM]

I agree with JR (who doesn't? ), and would supplement his comments with the experience I had when my pond was first built. I had several koi that went straight into the new pond. I purposefully pumped green water into the pond. And, I was traded a bucket of mature kaldnes for new... from a friend I was confident to be KHV-free. I never had a cycling issue. There was no measurable ammonia, and it was weeks before even a trace of nitrite was detected... and that went to undetectable very quickly. The green-water algae provided the protective cushion while the nitrifiers got established. The nitrifiers were a bit slow, because the green-water algae was consuming their food; but the important point is that the koi were never stressed in the least, and fed well during the 'break-in' period. The important balancing act is to not let the algae get out of control. Sounds like you've reached the point where UV would be good. If your testing does not indicate complete nitrification is occuring, consider using the UV two days on, then two days off... or whatever gives you better visibility without eliminating the greenwater altogether. When nitrifier community is sufficiently mature to provide complete nitrification, then do as you please. (Although, I guess, Mike Snaden would be suggesting that permanently greenish water is best.)

[ootyboy]

Thanks for all the feedback. I turned on the UV light yesterday. After 24 hours there has been no change. How long does this process usually take? When I should I expect the pond to clear up?

[gspotmc]

Quote: Originally Posted by ootyboy Thanks for all the feedback. I turned on the UV light yesterday. After 24 hours there has been no change. How long does this process usually take? When I should I expect the pond to clear up?

roughly 4 to 5 days based on my experience with my pond.

[MikeM]

It depends on the degree of opacity, and the rate of flow, etc. through the UV. Once you notice clearing, the speed at which the water becomes clear seems to speed up. UV can kill the algae, but it can also damage the algae such that they do not reproduce, without outright killing them. In the latter case, clearing progresses rapidly when the damaged algae die a 'natural' death. But, with a 'natural' life span around 14 days, complete clarity can take a while.

[moikoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by ootyboy Thanks for all the feedback. I turned on the UV light yesterday. After 24 hours there has been no change. How long does this process usually take? When I should I expect the pond to clear up?

mine took about 20 days....80 watt Aqua UV on a 12K gal pond.

[ootyboy]

Moikoi -- that is amazing water clarify. The first picture certainly looks like my pond currently. I only hope that the clarity can be as good as your pond.

thanks,

[Shigure&HiUtsuri]

I have the same problem though currently my filtration is not as advanced as ootyboy's. My 3000 gallon pond with 30 ft long x 4.5ft stream has been up and running with roughly 300 gallons per koi for about 4 months.
Someone said a few posts back that the suspended algae helps establish the nitrifiers and keep nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia down during cycling and maturation.

A day or two before I introduced my koi to their new pond I seeded it with every bit of bacteria from their old ponds biological filter that I could and ammonia and nitrite were never a problem.

Also heard that algae cause pH swing but I am closely regulating with baking soda, epsom salt and calcium chloride for GH & KH.

I live in SC which has nightly lows in lower 40's and highs of upper 60's now on average so should I just go ahead and turn on the UV that I have coming in the mail or wait a month or 2 for it to warm up so that the beneficial bacteria begin to multiply at a much faster rate and can do the job on their own??