I agree. I believe my 11x16 pond - 2 1/2 - 3 foot deep pond is about 1,200 gallons or less. That is why I went with just 5 Koi for my pond load.

Wow, if the rocks and plants displace water at the rate you suggest, my pond would probaly be more like 800 gallons. Although my measurements are 8x11 I have a good 12" plant shelf all the way around at 1' then a 2' depth in the center. My pond is also bean or figure 8 shaped somewhat. I used calucalted mine using LxWxD for each level and then added them together. Then rounded down a little bit curvature of the edges, which brought me to about the 1000 gallon estimate, but again its probaly much smaller with all the rocks, gravel, and plants.

Good to know.

I have been looking at a UV light called the Turbo twist. It takes water in a twist around the light to lengthen the exposure time. Anyone use it or heard anything about that light?

Metropig

The turbo twist is a great name and yes the water is twisted around the light bulb for longer contact. Listen to the speed limit, and pond size ratings on the UV filter and it should work fine.

Good Luck,

The Pond Digger

This is a good thread. So when I bought my supplies, it came with (2) 55w Laguna UV's. With a pond volume of somewhere around 2000gal from my figures. That 55w light is going to be way too much right? It says no more than a 1300gph, But I was only planning on using my 560 pump I have now, That will probably KILL everything then won't it?

Might need to sell these two and get something smaller huh?

I would get a bigger pump as well. They say you need to pump at least half your pond every hour and the more the better. I would get a pump that is at least 1000gph, if not more like 2000gph. You really can't over filter your pond with in reason anyway.

Well the pump I have for my main waterfall is 5500gph. I was just going to use my 560 for the UV light outside of the biofalls. Since I have two skimmers I was planning on using one for main filtration and one for more debris pickup and UV protection. I have a large amount of picking up after trees. So the more skimming I have, the better. But from reading this post I'm still thinking that the UV I have is going to be too big for my pond.

Well 5500gph is more than enough filtration. But yea trees can be a problem. I bet that waterfall is like Niagara in your pond.

We'll see in about 3 more months. I don't know if I'm using both 5500 pumps or just one. Looking now at Y pipe work to maybe split the second pump into another filterfalls in the stream and also hitting the UV at the same time.

What I bought from a guy came with everything doubled, but just one 25x50 liner. And I already have more for a 20' stream. So even that could be cut in half if need be. So I'm still just wondering if the UV would be good or not? Would it be too strong for the size of pond I'm building?

if I had the supplies like that and the land to do it I would make a huge pond.

Hey Dillon,

The UV that you have for your pond is not going to be overkill, so plan on using it. No green water for you! The smaller pump you are contemplating for the UV in the skimmer might not get the job done. A skimmer will need at least 1500 gph coming through the weir to provide adequate surface skimming, more if the the weir is larger. Skimmer weirs are coming in 6", 8", 10", and larger. The larger the opening the more flow you will likely need for optimal operation.

PD