No the cobble does not effect the performance of the filter.

HOWEVER, using the same size cobble across the top of the filter is important for an effective backwash. Without AIRBOIL on the filter the backwash might not be as effective with the cobble on the top but your filter would do fine with some cobble on it.

Be sure not to put the cobble too high next to the waterfall spillway. You don't want to dam it up in front of the waterfall spillway or you might have water spilling out the back of the waterfall filter.

Stay cool today.

PD

The slime algae is now in my stream. I have treated the waterfall filter three times and the stream two times with Pond Digger Debris Scrubber, within a day or so it has started back. I have also been adding extra beneficial bacteria. Is there something else I should be doing. I don't want it to spread into my pond.

I googled slime algae to see what caused it and all I could find was red and blue slime algae that is in aquariums. I couldn't find anything that looks like what I have. Does this slime algae have a different name and what causes it?

The slime algae you are dealing with is not a real common thing for me. Personally, I have not ran across it enough to give you bottom line advise. I know you have brought in a great deal of unusual aquatic plants from a variety of suppliers so I can only think you brought a few spores of the algae in one of your shipments of aquatic plants.

The slime algae I am familiar with is in reef tanks and it's not even an algae. It just looks like algae so that's what they call it. It is really a cynobacteria that loves warm water conditions. Many aquatic plant suppliers grow plants in green houses hydroponically with warm water to encourage fast growth for faster turn over. I'm sure they deal with this slime algae regularly. Maybe you can hit up your aquatic plant suppliers and get some feedback.

Without knowing for sure, I would say you are dealing with a variety of the cynobacteria. In small aquariums it is treated with a medication. I can't say I would recommend that in your case.

As much as I hate to say it, you might consider looking into AlgaeFix for this problem. I think it is designed to battle your slime algae (cynobacteria). However, do a little more research on it and fill us in on your plan. A week or so after the use of Algaefix I would do your backflush water change and hit the pond hard with beneficial bacteria to help eat up the dead and or dying algae.

The Pond Debris Scrubber should knock the Cynobacteria down (as we have tested it on many reef tanks) for a week or so but it will return each week and be persistent as long as the water remains warm over the summer months. You will likely not have to worry about it over the winter.

The Pond Digger

I did some more research today, I'm still not sure if it cyanobacteria. It does not grow in sheets, more like little individual plants. I have not added any new plants, the last plants I added were the ones you gave me. When I purchase plants I wait at least a week before I plant them. I then plant them in a pot and keep the pot out of the pond for another week. If it came from a plant I wouldn't think it would have started in the filter pad. Here is what I found on another forum on cyanobacteria. If it only grows in stagnant areas, the areas mine is growing has the greatest water flow.

"Ponds:

Cyanobacteria are less common in ornamental ponds than aquariums but sometimes do occur, mostly in stagnant ponds of any size. In the summer of 2003, my 50 gallon lotus tub pond became covered with a bright green slime. The lotus had died that year so the pond had almost no plants in it and no animals and yet moderate sunlight. The water was not moving and stagnant. The green slime was blue-green algae, a cyanobacteria. It would fall apart into sheets when it rained or the water was disturbed. I added a small pond pump to agitate the water, and the algae was totally gone in a few weeks. If an algae sheet on the surface falls apart in the rain, it is probably blue-green algae. It is simple to get rid of it by surface agitation. Big ponds can use fountains or aerators. For small ponds, any water movement will work. For this reason, blue-green algae is not normally encountered by us high-tech ponders."

I just treated it again yesterday with Debris Scrubber so I will wait a few days, if it returns I will try algaefix.

Carolyn

Good logical thinking and deductive reasoning Carolyn. Keep us posted.

The Pond Digger

It has been two months, and I am still fighting whatever it is that is in my pond. I have treated it with Pond Diggers Debris Scrubber, Green Clean and Algaefix, nothing really seems to kill it. I cleaned the filter and vacuumed the stream again today. Here are some pictures of what the filter looked like before and after.











I have increased circulation in the stream, ran my air pump 24/7 to increase circulation in the pond, nothing seems to get rid of it, it keeps coming back. I'm open to any suggestions anyone might have.

It looks like Cyanobacteria. A mild antibiotic will kill Cyanobacteria, but it will grow back.

Interesting that you say that Ken. I feel the same but can't get confirmation from one of my geeky labs guys without a full analysis. Our debris scrubber works well on breaking down cynobacteria in reef tanks when used correctly but as you said can grow back quickly.

I do believe it came in from one of the many plant orders that Carolyn did this season. Unless a strict MEDICATED quarantine process for the plants is set up it is not hard to bring in an undesirable bacteria like this one.

Good news is as the weather cools down so does cynobacteria, IF IN FACT IT IS A STRAIN OF cynobacteria. Anything you do to kill cynobacteria will damage your good bacteria colonies too. Keep that in mind.

One direction I would consider is testing the water for phosphates. High phosphates can be good for the Cyno. With all the blossoms that hit the pond over the last couple months could certainly raise phosphate levels. Maybe a phosphate binder would be what the doctor ordered. Water testing first.

PD

Thanks for the information. I'm now convinced it is the algae that is making the filter pad come float out. On Thursday, I treated the pond with Pond Digger Debris scrubber. On Friday, I vacuumed out the stream and vacuumed the pond down to the plant shelf. The filter pad started coming out again on Sunday. Monday I took the pad out and it was packed full of dead algae.

I read that one treatment for cyanobacteria is to drain the pond, clean the rocks then spray them with a bleach solution. My thought was to see if it continues through the winter and if so either treat it with bleach or antibiotics early next spring.

Eric, have you heard of the treatment with bleach? What are your thoughts on what I should do?

The drain and spray bleach treatment might be good for a concrete pond but I believe a natural pond like you have is out of line. The back of the rock would not be bleached where spores could remain.

An anti-biotic treatment would be a better solution in my opinion. The treatment would be followed up by daily inoculations of beneficial bacteria. The timing would be something to consider. Over the winter months it would be best on the life support system and fish load considering feeding is minimal and beneficial colonies are in slow motion anyway. HOWEVER, you may find your dead algae issue does not exist in the winter months.

Look to test phosphates first.

Another consideration is to drop organic levels in the pond with a quality activated carbon. I have a great way to get the most out of your carbon. I've been plotting a new product design for years. Your yard and decorating style would be perfect for it! Yet do I reveal the idea...........We may have to do it secretly as part of a beta testing plan.

The Pond Digger