I recently set up a 9x9x2 pond. I built a filterfall system. However, I am a first timer and want to know if the media I used for bacterial growth is okay or if any one has ever used it. For my filter I used a 30 gallon muck bucket which my 2 300gph pumps feed water into the bottom of. Inside this bucket there is air conditioner filter and 3 water hyacinth. I noticed today a slimy appearance to the surface of my water. My fish and plants appear to be doing well, although most of these plants are new to me. They seem to be starting slow but every day they have some new growth. There are 3 koi ranging from 10-4 inches and 2 small goldfish. I was wondering if and for how long I should allow this process to proceed before trying some other methods. I was also curious about your experience (Robyn) with activated charcoal as part of the filtration method. Should I add some barley straw bales if so how many and at what time of year?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your advice and your wonderful internet resource, it has answered so many questions.
kris

"Inside this bucket there is air conditioner filter and 3 water hyacinth. I noticed today a slimy appearance to the surface of my water."

Do you know what materials are used to make those filters? I'm not sure myself. I would be worried that they may contain chemicals that could leach into the water. You can buy filter matting to put in there instead. I get mine from Aqua-Mart. Here is a direct link to the product to which I'm referring:
http://www.aqua-mart.com/show.pl?cmd=shows...ts&subcatid=300 (I buy the 8th one down the page).

"My fish and plants appear to be doing well, although most of these plants are new to me. They seem to be starting slow but every day they have some new growth. There are 3 koi ranging from 10-4 inches and 2 small goldfish. "

Where do you live? My plants are still mostly dormant here in MD, USA.

"I was wondering if and for how long I should allow this process to proceed before trying some other methods."

I would replace the air conditioner filters just in case they're not safe. As for whether or not you need to make a larger filter or buy one, that's up to you. The bigger the filter is (unless it's too huge, not likely), the fewer problems you'll have. You can use rubbermaid garbage cans or storage containers to make your own larger one. People use all sorts of things, as long as they're non-toxic and hold water and don't degrade too quickly.

"I was also curious about your experience (Robyn) with activated charcoal as part of the filtration method."

I keep a box's worth of Ammo-Carb (half carbon, half zeolite) in my filter year round but only change it twice a year. Because of the volume of my pond, it basically does nothing but I add it anyway. Unless you're going to add a large jar (those 10 pound things) of carbon to your filter and change it every few days, you're not going to be able to keep the carbon active for long. It will absorb so many things out of the water, and then it's full and no longer active. So, I generally say that adding carbon to a pond is pointless. The exception is after a poisoning incident. If the pond was poisoned with paint (I e-mailed with one guy who had this problem), gasoline, bleach, pesticides, herbicides, etc. then after doing a major or even complete water change, the best treatment is to load the filter up with a ton of carbon.

"Should I add some barley straw bales if so how many and at what time of year?
Any help would be greatly appreciated."

Some people swear it works and others not. I use barley but I don't know how much of an effect it has. You can read information on dosing and lots more at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/barley.htm
I normally put in fresh straw in early spring and early fall, every 6 months. Leave the old straw in for at least a month after putting in new straw. You can add it any time of the year that the pond's not frozen but it won't become active unless it's warm enough.