Pond's and Water Features: A Few Pond Tips And Answers For Pond Owner's Question's We Are Asked!-----Part Two

We are contacted @ Koi Depot San Diego and asked almost daily a wide range of questions concerning Pond Trouble Shooting, and other common issues with Ponds. Many answers or solutions are very simple to most of the questions. Below is a list of a few things we are asked majority of the time.

We talked about the first 3 topics in our last posting if you did miss reading the First Part, just click on topic for links below.

This is a short list of some of the most common issues:

1. Can't prime pump I add water and it runs for a few seconds and stops?

2. Why does my pressurized filter slow down and stop flowing after 2 or 3 days after back washing?

3. Why is my pump running but No water flow through system? I can see water movement in leaf trap.

Now to answer questions 4 through 6 of the other questions most asked us....

4. Why do I see water running out my waste line on my multi port 6 way valve?

5. Why is my Water Garden skimmer not pulling water like it use too and has reduced flow over bio falls?

6. How often should I change my UV bulb? Its still glowing blue at night.

Question Four: Why do I see water running out my waste line on my multi port 6 way valve?

One question were asked a lot and we see out in the field is the Multi-port valve that keeps dripping out the waste outlet side of valve. One of the main reasons is the valve is being rotated from filter to backwash and then to rinse.... WITHOUT turning pump OFF first.

This will cause the gasket to unseat and allow water to seep by thus dripping out waste port. So when you rotate valve turn off pump each time in between rotation from position to position. This should be done on ALL multi port valved filters......
eg: "Hayward sand filters,Aqua Ultraviolet Ultima II filters,Waterways brand" are just a few brands.

Good example of spider gasket pulling away.

One more example of spider gasket working loss.

We will be doing a video on the how to replace spider gasket at a later date.

Question Five: Why is my Water Garden skimmer not pulling water like it use too and has reduced flow over bio falls?

There are many reasons for this to be happening...

Most everyone pulls the skimmer net out and cleans it regularly either weekly of twice month depend on your debris and leave load. It is also a good idea to clean the pad underneath net at least every other time net is cleaned. Both of these can reduce the flow of water necessary for the pump to maintain a full uninterrupted flow over bio falls.

The one we find to be overlooked is cleaning the intake screen on the pump itself. We recommend that at least once every 4-6 weeks min that you TURN PUMP OFF FIRST then reach down and check to see if debris has built up around intake screen of your pump.

If it seems that there is some debris it might be best to loosen union and remove pump to clear it. Use a small net you can even net out any debris that might be building up by pump, even small rocks sometimes will get in there. Then put it all back together and you should see a much improved flow.

Question Six: How often should I change my UV bulb? Its still glowing blue at night.?

Just because it is still glowing blue it DOES NOT mean its still working 100%. Each manufacturer recommends different lengths of time depending on what they feel is best for their particular UV. But we find any where between 9-12 months is a good rule of thumb time frame. If you do a water garden yearly clean-out then this might be a good time to change it out.