HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR NEW FILTER BOX
Filter boxes need to run 24 hours a day.
Filters take from 4-6 weeks to build up their bacteria which help to break down all the waste that is filtered through, therefore turning your filter off stops this process from happening and your filter won’t work adequately. Cleaning your filter during this time also delays the process.
To help your new filter build up its bacteria it is advised to add a small amount of Environ 8 to boost the growth of bacteria. Adding a small number of fish also starts off the process with the fish waste going through the filter.
Adding too many fish into a new pond and filter set up will cause an explosion of ammonia in the pond because the filter can’t break down the waste fast enough while it doesn’t have enough bacteria. The ammonia burns the fish gills and will cause certain death.
It is advisable to check the ammonia levels in your pond weekly (more often if fish start to look unhealthy) for the first 6 weeks until the pond and filter have balanced. In the case of finding your pond has ammonia in it you should do a 25 % water change to help reduce the level of ammonia.
To maintain a healthy filter the filter needs to be dirty, don’t clean out your filter unless the water flow rate coming from it slows down showing that it is blocked. Only ever clean one mat at a time with at least 1 week intervals. Get a bucket of water from your pond dunk and squeeze excess muck out of the mat, do not do it so thoroughly that it is totally clean. The idea is to just unblock it not take away all its bacteria.
NEVER USE TAP WATER TO CLEAN YOUR FILTER AS THE CHLORINE WILL KILL OFF ALL THE BACTERIA AND THE FILTER WILL TAKE 4-6 WEEKS TO BUILD IT BACK UP AGAIN.