AARRGGHHH more problems..

[FB3333]

ive just checked my pond with various tests, and my nitrite levels are through the roof..

what can i do to combat this?

the box says possible symptoms are,

over stocking..
definatly not overstocked in my pond

incorrect flow rates..
i have 1100 gallons that turn over about every 40 mins.

inadequate filtering..
i have a pressurised uv bio filter that is capable of a pond 2.5 times the size of mine.

filter not yet primed..
what does this mean exactly.. my filter is about 4 months old. i cleaned it about a week ago using tap water. was this the wrong thind to do?

cheers,
Paul

 

[Cat]

Calm down Paul We,ve had a pond for about 5 years now and not once tested it and its been fine
Are your fish and plants ok in it?

All we ever clean in the pond is that giant sponge around the pump ,thats always clogged up and we wash it with tap water.

 

[FB3333]

fair comment,

but my fish have seemed rather timid lately and are keeping to the bottom of the pond,

ooh... thats an option....

we've turned off the uv for the last 2 weeks while we put some treatment in the water.. but the pump has still been running through the filter..

 

[Cat]

Any herons in your area?

Our fish took to the bottom of the pond ,neighbour told us a few days later .he had saw a heron in our garden. It spooked the fish for about a week (we had net the pond).

Another thing when the weather starts going cold the fish do stay at the bottom,soon they won't come up at all hardly.

 

[FB3333]

Yeah, there are herons about.. but we have the pond covered over with netting, and a fake heron aswell.. although ive heard kinky heron stories about these recently

 

[skimpy]

Hi Paul

filter not yet primed..
what does this mean exactly.. my filter is about 4 months old. i cleaned it about a week ago using tap water. was this the wrong thind to do?

This could be your problem. Tap water's chlorine will kill the bacteria that lives in your filter. I don't know if you mean you cleaned out your whole filter or just the sponges. The filter box should be left alone for the bacteria to live in and the sponges should be washed out in a bucket of the pond water, or at least dechlorinated water.

If nitrItes go too high you may need to dilute with taking out some of the pond water and putting in some fresh dechlorinated water.

It may be some other reason, don't know enough details about your pond but certainly cleaning filters with tap water can produce this problem..

Good Luck

 

[FB3333]

well,
knowing filters less than fish...
there are some stones in my filter after the sponges
ive been rinsing these as well...
all with tap water.

 

[FB3333]

well,

I've just checked my pond again, and the nitrite level is still just the same... how can i get it down??

 

[bribones]

how long ago did you build the pond ?

 

[ryan]

Try lowering the amount of food you are feeding so the fish produce less waste and perform several small water changes.

 

[FB3333]

im only feeding them twice a week now... I'll go for the water change option..
fingers crossed..

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'ved never tested my pond water either apart from when my LFS asked for a sample when some fish died that i bought and the water was spot on so he said.

I always clean the sponge filters with tap water straigth from the hose. I leave the bio rings alone in the bottom section though.

I'll be replacing the filters sponges soon maybe!!

Do you have leaves falling into your pond at all or something similiar?

 

[Cat]

Same here paul we've never tested our and clean the sponges in tap water,never had any trouble either.
Is it affecting your fish at all?

 

[FB3333]

every pond i see, the fish are always up at the top saying hello...

mine are always low and out of the way...

i really dont have a clue why.