air outlet in filter

[gcpiks]

I am new to pure koi ponds having had 'natural' ponds for many years and am currently constructing an new one. I have bought an Oasis Vor_Tec 16000 filter. I have been reading about the benefits of an air pump in a fliter and would simply like some advice as to how to do this. The filter has 3 filters chambers, do I put an air stone in the 2nd and 3rd chambers? Or just one of them? The 2nd is the main filter chamber for biological filtration but the 3rd also does some of this. (http://www.oasis-water-gardens.com/oasisfiltration.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) Any advice on size or shape of airstone would also be appreciated. Thank you.

[carlejo]

Sorry to be blunt but it's the only way to tell it sometimes, but they are not very good as filters I'm afraid......all they do is harbour muck and bad bacteria. You really need a few vortexes/nexus or block built type filter.You need to be able to flush debris/crap as much as possible so it can't build up and cause problems.You need a mechanical filter to catch debris and flush daily(IMHO), something like static K1 is ideal, and then you need a biological stage, again K1 but heavily aerated and maybe some jap mat as well. I personally think it's better to have a 'multi' media.

What size pond are you going for ?.......just shout, we can help.

[carlejo]

sorry.... I didn't follow the link to bottom of page!!

What have you got in the filter as media....... I would let the vortex do it's job and maybe aerate the 2nd and 3rd chambers...... the 1st chamber is too small really to put any static K1 in and if you try and aerate the first one, it will probably carry over debris into other chambers.

Is your media/setup the same as in pic ?

[gcpiks]

Hi Carl, the pond will be 8ft x 8ft x 4ft approx which is why I went for that size of filter, according to the spec it should be OK. (and budget of course). The filter material is as in the pik, ie this is what it came with. I must admit it doesn't seem too brilliant a fit and had thought i might change some in the future. I have a couple of fish around 10in and half a dozen smaller ones, at present, in a holding tank. Regards George