So I was thinking (usually a chore I try to avoid), that I hope to get my pond pump and filter up and running in the next week or so. Knowing that it takes a few weeks (at least since the water will still be fairly cold) to get any bacteria culture growing in my pond filter, is there any reason that I couldn't take a scrubbie or two I am using in my biological filter and put them in the tank filter for about a week and then transfer it to the pond filter when I install it? Would this help to "jump start" the pond culture, or would the temperature change just kill it off?

Derrick

Derrick, I think you would be better off adding some bacteria after the water temperture reaches the mid fifties at a minimum and the pump has to be running for optimum colonization since the bacteria dies if it does not have adequate oxygen. Is your filter located in the pond? Have you ever tried any of the products sold by the pond supply houses?

Fm3

Hi Derrick! Ha Ha, that is funny you asked that question because I just did the same thing yesterday when I cleaned my big fish tanks. I added extra material to start up the pond. I have done this the last 2 pond filter start ups and I guess it worked ok??? I think Froggy is right though and the pond temp should be warmer
though for it to work??????? KK

I didn't mean I was going to be doing it today. Would wait until at least.....tomorrow! hahaha....Actually a week or 2 away yet since the ice is just off the pond. Was wondering if there was any reason that it wouldn't work though. It should (in theory) cut down on the time required to get a bacteria culture going, and therefore cut down on the dreaded spring algae bloom.

Derrick

I have heard of ponders adding dry and liquid bacteria weekly all spring summer and fall which I believe is over kill. The benifical bacteria(which from what I understand their are many varities that populate your filter)are like any organism they need food(fish waste) and oxygen to survive and it seems only to thrive above a certain temperture. Mistakes people make and beleive me I have made both of these in the past are 1) Turning the waterflow off to clean the pond or filters for and extended period of time in mid season and depriving the bacterial of the needed oxygen, thus killing most of the bacteria present. 2) washing the media with clorinated water which will have the same effect. From what my pond filter supplier told me( they raise and sell very expensive Koi also) oxygen is a very high priority to max out the effectivness of the filter, which is why I will have an airator plumbed into my waterfall filters.


Fm3

Yes, it might work if the pond is pretty small, and the filter material from the aquarium a good size. The only concern would be transferring any small organisms, bad parasites, bad bacteria, etc. that might be in the aquarium. You would probably know if that's an issue.

If your pond is established, don't forget that there is already good bacteria on every single surface in the pond. Thus, you don't need to seed an established pond in the spring. The bacteria will migrate to the filter on their own. You could move some gravel from the marginal area if you have gravel and put that in the filter. You can also add good bacteria. The bacteria are always there, even in the dead of the winter. They're just dormant when it's cold. I leave my filter going every day of the year so I don't have to worry about filter start up! It doesn't usually hurt to add more good bacteria but there are only so many places for it to grow and so much "food" for it to eat.