Ask an Expert
| Question | Date |
|---|---|
| do you recommend adding both dry and liquid bacteria weekly to ecosystem ponds or do you recommend something else for optimal water qualityIn the spring, if the water is cold, we recommend Cold Water Bacteria until the pond water warms to 55 degrees or above. Then we recommend using a Liquid Bacteria in the spring as it is faster acting. You do not need to use both at the same time. The dry Bacteria is more economical to use. Remember on start up to use the bacteria everyday for 14 days and then back off to once a week and then schedule dosage on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule. If you are not using Aquascape products then follow the dosage schedule on the product you are using. | 7 Mar, 2011 1:47 PM |
| I need the filter net that goes in the micro skimmer. any ideas?Debris Net for Micro Skim There are two different MicroSkim boxes. The old style is rectangle/square in shape. It would be 5 or more years old. The SKU # 99219 for the old style debis net. The new Signature Style Micro Skim box is U shaped and looks like a small version of the Signature Series Skimmer SKU # 99775 debris net. | 10 Feb, 2011 2:04 PM |
| If I get a new IonGen algea treatment system, do I still need to use my UV lamp as well?When using the IonGen, you will NOT need to use the UV lamp. It can be disconnected. The IonGen will take care of the debris build up. If you are using the IonGen in a pond, we still recommend you use beneficial bacteria on a regular basis. | 12 Feb, 2011 3:25 AM |
| We have string algae in our water garden - BAD - What would be the best product to use to clear it up? Also, if I order online how long will it take my order to ship to South Georgia (approximately)? ThanksPlease allow 3 to 5 days for delivery of products. You should receive a confirmation from us soon. String algae on the waterfalls and rocks with EcoBlast and treat the pond water with SAB. Our new product the IonGen when installed properly will treat the string algae in both these areas. Please read about the IonGen on our website. | 16 Feb, 2011 8:41 PM |
| I have an approx 1400 gal koi pond built about 4 yrs ago with your products and let me say first that I have not had any problems with the equipment! We have throughly enjoyed the experience. My question is concerning algea that has settled at the bottom ...my water is very clear but the fish "stir" up this on the bottom. It appears to me to be dead algea. I use algeafix. I want to vaccum but have heard that they don't work very well. Any suggestions ? THANKS !Glad you like your pond. Have some questions for you: 1. Have you ever cleaned out the pond? Should be done in the early spring. 2. Have you been using any bacteria product? Now is the time of year to use the Sludge Cleaner which is composed of mostly bacteria. We have tabs that work very well in digesting the sludge. We do carry a pond vac which works well but if you have gravel on the bottom of the pond which is recommended by Aquascapes and the gravel makes it more difficult to use. AlgaeFix works at getting rid of string algae but when it works it kills the algae and that algae falls to the bottom of the pond and then this matter has to decompose. And the cycle begins all over again. If you have a large amount of debris on the bottom of your pond then you need to vac it out, use the sludge cleaner tabs, or shovel it out. This means as it decomposes it creates nutrients which feed the plants and whatever is left of these nutrients then feed the algae and the vicious circle begins again. Your pond can become dependent on this chemical. Break the cycle by removing the debris at the bottom and begin using beneficial bacterias and less of the AlgaeFix. | 4 Sep, 2011 10:40 PM |
| I have twin inter-connected (by a short canal) goldfish ponds totaling approximately 5,000 gallons of water. My pump has an approximate flow rate of 5,000 gph. I want to install a UV light to control algae. Do you have a product to recommend? Thank you for your assistance, George We do not recommend UV lights because they only control the green water algae that is suspended algae. They actually sterilize the water as it passes through the light. Usually the UV lights are connected to a pressure filter and they are high maintenance. Our recommendations include two items: 1. IonGen clarifier will take care of string algae and will assist in keeping the water clean and clear. The only other product you need is the bacteria. You then will not need UV sterilizer, or algaecides. Watch the video posted informational videos on aquascapes.com 2. To keep your pond ecologically balanced, we recommend using beneficial bacteria. Bacteria will keep the pond from forming suspended algae. It should be used on a regular basis throughout the growing season. Water plants also help in keeping the pond water healthy. Bacteria should be used in addition to adding an IonGen to the pond. If you have further questions, call us at 877 780-1174. | 12 Apr, 2011 2:33 PM |
| I have a Micropond kit that I installed 6 years ago and I need some replacement parts. I need a new debris net. , the sponge like product that keeps the front flap at water level and the 5 brush lkke objects that are locazted behind the debris net and the pump. I cannot find any of these in your catalogue. Thanks Ed MPlease understand that there are two different styles to the Micropond. 1. Old style is square/rectangler in shape and there are 4 brushes in the skimmer which hang on a replaceable metal rod. 2. New style Signature Series Micro is U shaped, meaning it is rounded around the back. The Skimmer has 4 brushes with a rod but it is all one unit. The sponge like product with flap is called a Weir Door Part #29257. The brush set depends on which skimmer you have. These parts are located under, filters, skimmer units, aquascapes, microskim. After you determine which skimmer you have, you will find the brush sets and the debris nets here. You can always call customer service at 877 780-1174 Thanks. | 8 Apr, 2011 5:32 PM |
| is EcoBlast and SAB safe for fish? I even had string algae in Feb. I see you have this new product iongen. I was reading the information and it said that your pond has to be completely clean. I don't feed my fish they eat from the bottom,so I'm wondering if this is not a good for my pond. If not what do you recommed I'm getting too old to climb into my pond every week to clean the waterfall rocks and inside the pond.The SAB and EcoBlast work well but it does require physical work to clean off the debris from the rocks. Safe for fish and plants. SAB is for the pond water and the EcoBlast is for the streams and waterfall rocks. Use as directed. The other product you can use for the bottom of the pond is sludge cleaner. Sludge Cleaner comes in a liquid or in bubble tabs. Our customers have had good success with this product for cleaning up the bottom of the pond. However, if you install an IonGen in your system, it will take care of the string algae and keep your rocks clean. You still have to use bacteria in your pond. We recommend you watch the informational video about this product before you purchase. On the left side of the site is link to the Informational Videos - just click on this. You do need an electrical outlet to operate the IonGen and it is recommended that the pond be clean before installing. If the pond is not clean, it is going to take a lot longer to clean up the pond and rocks of this debris. It is completely safe for fish and plants. | 8 Apr, 2011 7:53 PM |
| How often do i need to clean my filters? Is there an easier way to do this? It takes me forever to clean them and my hands get filthy with what i am assuming is fish waste and gunk. The Biological Filter only needs to be cleaned once a year in the spring. However, the skimmer filters can be cleaned as often as you feel it needs to be cleaned in order to keep the pump running efficiently. Also, you debris net or basket should be cleaned once a week. The best way to clean the mats is just to use your hose and spray them off. You basically just want to remove the debris that may be lodged into them. | 9 Apr, 2011 5:21 PM |
| We installed a pond, appx. 20,000 gls. last year. We installed the Ion-Gen filter with the pond. The customer wants to know about the replacement duration for the probes. I told him the indicator light should indicate when they need replacing. Any other information I can share with him? ThanksThere are two videos about the IonGen on our site. Look for the Information Videos on the left side of the Home page. The life of a probe all depends on the pond owner's use of the IonGen and the settings. The higher the setting the more probe use there might be. There are many variables that come into play with the size of the feature, the settings of the IonGen, condition of the water and even the location of where the IonGen is installed. | 29 Aug, 2011 3:20 PM |
| I started my pondless waterfall up for the year. and filled with fresh water. however im getting a lot of foam at the bottom of the collection area. what can i add to resolve this? Thanks Foam is a result of too much protein in the water. This will eventually take care of itself. However, there are products such as the Feature Foam Free that we carry. | 27 Apr, 2011 11:29 AM |
| I have the Aquascape SFA 7500 pump in my pondless waterfall. I did not take it out this winter and one of the plastic plumbing parts cracked. I think it is the check valve, but I am not sure which one to order. How can I make sure before ordering?Your check valve has cracked. In the winter, if you are not running your pump, you must disconnect the check valve from the pipe or it will freeze and crack the check valve. A clear sign that the check valve has cracked is that the water will just trickle out of the waterfall. Check valve replacements are determined by the skimmer that you have installed. Determine which skimmer is installed in your feature and look at the 2" check valves available or call us if you need help at 877 780-1174. | 30 Apr, 2011 7:02 PM |
| I'm starting to see what looks like black spots or blotches on some of my customers fish and its happened over a few days recently. What do you think it might be and what can we do for them?We do not sell fish. We would recommend you go to a few websites to determine what the black spots are. There are bacterial, fungus and many other infections that fish might get. Look at koivet.com or koicrisis.com. There probably other sites on the internet that might be able to help. | 3 May, 2011 10:37 AM |
| My crystal clear pond that received a full spring clean out about a month ago is not clear anymore. We had a full water change and all of the rocks pressured washed. We treat the pond weekly with beneficial bacteria and eco barley. How do keep our pond clear all season? We have several aquatic plants in the pond as well, and we are developing string algae in the waterfall stream. Please advise. Thank you Dan Every pond is different and the balance of that pond might require different treatments. In trying to create an ecosystem and in trying to keep it balance, there are some guidelines: 1. Use bacteria and if you have algae blooms - use it more often 2. EcoBarley helps somewhat for string algae but will not stop it 3. Load up on plants in your pond as they will absorb the extra nutrients 4. Watch the fish load - too many fish compromises the water quality 5. Use a product like the EcoBlast for the string algae. It's simple to use and will clean it off your waterfall and rocks. Watch the video on the Informational Videos about this product. 6. Having some filter material in the biofalls or bioballs in the pond will help establish a colony of good bacteria that helps keep the water clean. 7. Read some of our Pond tips about algae | 9 Jun, 2011 10:58 PM |
| Do you recommend using Nature's Defense Pond Health and clarity along with Muck Defense. My algae is not too bad but I have a lot a sediment in the pond and suspended particles. All of the above will work well. Nature's Defense and Clarity Defense will take care of the green water but you have to follow the regular dosage chart. Muck Defense will help break up the debris on the bottom of the pond. All these products are natural bacteria enzymes and are not chemical based. | 6 Jul, 2011 5:44 PM |
| I accidentally put a small tear in my liner and i have purchased a patch to repair, it says it is self adhesive, and I assume that it means clean and stick it over the hole, but not sure if there is something I need to do before applying to prepare the liner surface, I just scrubbed the area with pond water until clean,is that all I need to do? Please advise thanks HeidiYou must clean off all debris off the liner where the patch will be applied and it must be completely dry. To guarantee a good seal, there is a Tape Primer for the liner that preps it for seaming or patching. Look under the installation items. | 10 Jul, 2011 12:12 PM |
| will i get faster moving water if i go from a 1.5" outlet hose to a 2" hose i have a 20' pondless waterfall with a 6550 gph pumpYes, you may get more volume. The 1.5" pipe will only allow 2800 gallons to pass through the pipe. However the 2" pipe will allow 4800 gallons to pass through the pipe. Purchasing a larger pump is not the answer unless you have the pipe capacity to fit the pump volume. | 10 Jul, 2011 1:11 PM |
| Recently had a pond less system installed about 6 weeks ago. After a few heavy rains, the water is extremely merky/muddy. What is the best way the clear up the water? Remove/replace water?You can flush out the basin. You also need to fix where any locations where you are getting runoff. | 16 Jul, 2011 5:29 PM |
| Is there a filter required and or needed to be installed with a pondless waterfall. Using the new waterfall Spillway there is no room for filter media. Since there is not a pond or fish, I wouldn't think you need a filter. Please advise. Thank you, Shaina No filter media needed when you do not have a pond. | 19 Jul, 2011 4:13 PM |
| My koi have been acting very strange. They have not been eating nearly as much as they have in the recent past. Most are spending a lot of time under the waterfall or where the shallow pond meets the deeper pond and have been jumping out of the water. I can not see any noticable signs of illness.The hot weather is difficult on the fish. Use a pond thermometer and test to see if your water temperatures are above 80 degrees. If so, do not feed them as much as they cannot digest the food as well in hot water. We suggest that you might feed them the cold water fish food to help with the food digestion. Also if the water temp gets over 85 degrees, you should consider doing a 10% water exchange to cool down the water. | 29 Jul, 2011 4:06 AM |
| Our pond water is murky how do I get clear water again? It was suggested to me to lower the water level and refill, what do you say? Thank youThe solution to murky water is using bacteria. You must use bacteria on a regular basis and if you have murky water, you need to use it more often then suggested on the bottle. | 29 Jul, 2011 4:57 PM |
| We have murky water in our pond and I have been reading about the IonGen Electronic Clarifier will this product clear murky water? Thank you It will help but if you have murky water, you need to add the bacteria to the pond. The IonGen works to keep the string algae off the feature. It is not the cure all for all pond concerns. You should always use a bacteria in your pond on a regular basis. If you have biological filters, you should only clean them once a year in the spring. aquascapes.com | 31 Jul, 2011 2:33 AM |
| No question, just a thank you. I added the Microlift to our pond as directed and have had great results. I will continue as prescribe on the package our murky water has cleared. I will turn the UV in the skimmer back on this weekend. It's good to have someone out there who understands and will assist you. I am reading more to obtain the knowledge about what's the best ecosystem for our pond. I told my husband every pond is different and we will have to learn what works best for ours. Take careWe appreciate your reply and are glad you had good results. Customer Service | 3 Aug, 2011 4:58 PM |
| Did the Beneficial Bacteria Dry used to be called Aquaclear Extreme? I have a customer that used to buy Aquaclear Extreme and I am trying to figure out what the new name of the product is. Please help.Yes, the new name is Beneficial Bacteria. | 9 Aug, 2011 2:44 PM |
| My pond water was clear until fall leaves fell into the water. Now I have dark stained water - coffee color. It is to cool for an Algie bloom. Any idea how to clear up this water? Thanks When the leaves fall into the pond, they have to decompose and if there are a lot of them because of their organic makeup, the process could change the color of the water to brownish. To avoid this from happening, use a pond net to keep the leaves out. If you could use a fish (skimmer) net now, to net out the leaves settled on the bottom, this might help. There are two ways to get rid of the brown water: 1. Emptying the pond and refill the pond with new water or wait till spring when you clean it out. 2. Use the pond carbon which comes in a mesh bag and needs to be placed in the Biofalls or where you get flow through the carbon. 4 lbs treats about 800 gallons. It will last 6 months. Here's the link to the product: http://www.aquascapes.com/shop/water-treatments/water-conditioners/activated-pond-carbon-4-3-lb.html Thanks for visiting aquascapes.com | 6 Oct, 2011 2:41 AM |
| Have a pondless Waterfall. The waterfall rock has green slime (algae I assume) on it. How do I get rid of it. I am letting pondless waterfasll run thru the winter. I also put clokrine one time in it assuming it would helf but it just wound up foaming.t The green slime is string algae. String Algae is more prevelant in the spring and fall and in areas of the country where the winter has been warm. Your choice is to ignore it, use an Algaecide such as Algaeway, manually clean off the algae from the waterfall with an Algaecide like EcoBlast, or in the spring after a clean out, install an IonGen. The IonGen is an electronical system that irradicates the string algae and prevents it from forming in the future. When using algaecides, remember that it will kill the algae, algae goes to bottom of pond and then decomposes. Then the nutrient load will cause the string algae to begin to form again. You have to use the Algaecide on going. Investing in the IonGen is the best savings in product purchase and in your time. We will soon have the new 2nd Generation IonGen available. Don't use chlorine in your pond. If you install an IonGen, the only product you will need to purchase will be beneficial bacteria. | 9 Jan, 2012 2:27 PM |
| can i use the iongen 2 with the iongen1 fitting or do i need to repipe it . it looks like the probe does not scew in on the ion gen2Yes, you can use the old probe with the new unit but you will need to order an adapter wire. Call us a 877 780-1174 to order the adapter. | 24 Jan, 2012 8:00 PM |
| Is there any significant difference between the G1 and G2 iongen other than looks? I have a 10,000 gal pond using two aquascape waterfall filters, a aquascape uv light and also a ultima II biological filter. Would the iongen create any problem for the biological filter? Thanks for the help.Yes, the G2 is much improved. It's easier to use and has many new features. Check out the product specs at Aquascapes.com | 29 Jan, 2012 3:57 AM |
| We are having to fill our pond on a daily basis and are begining to think there may be a leak in the pipes. Is there a way to check the pipes for leaks without digging up the yard and pond?Check out our Pond Tips/Troubleshooting Leaks. | 4 Feb, 2012 5:51 PM |
| my customer wants to add chlorine tablets to her pond to get rid of the algae she has building up. the pond is in direct sun and she is tired of seeing all the algae. she has fish in the pond, but doesnt care if she has to get rid of them to add the chlorine. is this safe to add even though she has plants in pond. also can she add chlorine and still keep the fish. any help would be great. thank you. Chlorine is deadly to fish and some plants. Check out the IonGen for maintaining the string algae and always add bacteria to a pond throughout the growing season. | 4 Feb, 2012 8:40 PM |
