My koi were in and out of the pond for the last 2-3 months and putting them back, I had quite a few problems with fin rot, etc, causing me to start all over again with my biofilters every time

I first used a bio activator bought at King Koi, size approximately 200g, for nearly R200. The guy dissuaded me from buying the mix with koi clay, which was about the same price. I used it, BUT, then we had a power failure for two days, the water turned green and I started again. In the mean time I also constructed a bakki shower.

I bought "Filter Start" from Loolilocks for R50 and has started to use it a few days ago. The container is 200g. I divided it in three and poured a third in every night, except for tonight.

I know the biofilters usually take time to kick in, but tonight my water is clouded again. The parameters are OK, except for the nitrate that measures between 25 and 50.

My questions are

• Do this stuff really work- especially after paying a lot at King Koi?
  Secondly- should I just add the last third of "Filter Start" all at once, or gradually over a few days?

Just interesting that the ingredients are not mentioned- is it hormonal like the stuff we use to get shoots grow?

Hi Albie

Nice to hear your filter is running.

Your Nitrates is very low and it is no problem even up to the 450 mark

Your old media should activate that filter very quickly,
Add some clay to help clear your water. and do more water changes.

Albie who know's if it is working, we can only believe that it does, how do you prove it, I don't know.

But I can promise you that the one that looks like saw dust and used to activate French drains, works, you can see it and smell it.

Now I have come across one that is called Bactegrow it is same as the septic tank one except this one is Nitrifying bacteria.

You add it to a 10 Lt container half filled with Luke warm water, then aerate for 15 minutes and gooi it into your filter or pond. Now sit down have a beer and believe that it works, that is all you have. At least this one is cheap I sell for R40.00 for 50 Grams.
and recommend that it be used after every filter clean up at least

Maak so twee koppie koi kos nat, maak fyn en gooi in jou dam.

Hi Jaco

Klink na my soort van idee!

Dankie. Hoop dit gaan goed

(Daardie 2 visse van jou lyk goed)

Groete
Albie

Goed dankie Albie.
Daar moet net nie vis in die dam wees as jy dit doen nie.
Ek laat altyd 'n nuwe dam so maand groen bly voordat ek die uv aansit.

I have tried and tested this method for many years.

Please have a look at this article.

Regards

http://www.koi4u.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=54

Hi Pieter en Jaco

Pieter, 'n baie interessante artikel, MAAR my visse is klaar in die dam! My toets resultate lyk eintlik goed, maar ek sal ander stokkies moet koop, want dit toets vir alles behalwe ammoniak.

So, ek gaan maar die laaste van die poeier vanaand ingooi. Ek is net nie seker dat daardie poeier wel iets nuttigs bevat nie. En die eerste klomp geld is in elk geval in die water gegooi!

Lekker aand