Filling new pond & seeding bacteria

[two_wheeled]

I'm almost there! It's taken me 6+ months to build the new 2500 gallon pond. I'm finally getting ready to put the liner in! A bit more shaping, then underlayment, then liner, then
WATER WATER WATER!



So here's my question. What's the quickest way to get new beneficial bacteria setup? I currently have a 250 gallon ecosystem pond. I was planning to pull water and media from there to get things started. Is that sufficient?
I searched online but most responses on koiphen said not to waste money on bottled bacteria. However, I was intrigued to hear some say that bottled ammonia might kick-start new bacteria growth. Thoughts?

[kimini]

I know I'm off topic, but why not just add cement to the bottom, seal the concrete, and call it done instead of doing a liner?

[two_wheeled]

I thought about that a LOT. Essentially, it became too expensive for materials to do it. Plus, I wasn't sure how to do it "right".

[icu2]

So here's my question. What's the quickest way to get new beneficial bacteria setup? I currently have a 250 gallon ecosystem pond. I was planning to pull water and media from there to get things started. Is that sufficient?
I searched online but most responses on koiphen said not to waste money on bottled bacteria. However, I was intrigued to hear some say that bottled ammonia might kick-start new bacteria growth. Thoughts?

Congratulations on your progress!

Bottled ammonia won't really "kick start" the process, but it will start it without having to use fish.
And I'd agree with those that say save your money on the bottled stuff... the only one that I've heard
that is really effective is the KI-Nitrifier that has to be refrigerated. But you can add the media that is
seeded from your bio filter on your ecosystem pond to your bio filters on the new one to help get the
process started, but it doesn't mean the pond is "cycled". When you can add ammonia (no fish) so you test 3-4 ppm
and the filters will bring it down to 0 within a reasonable time frame (depending on the amount of water cycled
through your bio filters) along with 0 nitrite reading, then it's cycled. You'll likely first see it take a while to
process the added ammonia along with a nitrite reading after a couple weeks of adding the ammonia regularly.
But it's a stress free way to cycle the pond and not worry about your pets while it's happening imo.

The pond is lookin' good!

[KoiRun]

I thought about that a LOT. Essentially, it became too expensive for materials to do it. Plus, I wasn't sure how to do it "right".

I wonder if it is a good idea to concrete the floor and install a liner for now. After several years, when an opportunity arise (time for some minor re-do), take out the liner and seal. This would allow much time for settling and patch visible cracks.

[vipertom1970]

meter it to get the exact gallons for future medication treatment or salt treatment.

[Slapshot]

I'm almost there! It's taken me 6+ months to build the new 2500 gallon pond. I'm finally getting ready to put the liner in! A bit more shaping, then underlayment, then liner, then
WATER WATER WATER!



So here's my question. What's the quickest way to get new beneficial bacteria setup? I currently have a 250 gallon ecosystem pond. I was planning to pull water and media from there to get things started. Is that sufficient?
I searched online but most responses on koiphen said not to waste money on bottled bacteria. However, I was intrigued to hear some say that bottled ammonia might kick-start new bacteria growth. Thoughts?

Congrates it looks nice. Time is your friend plain and simple. Expect it to take a year in warm climates up to 3 if you live up north to fully season. Probably take 6 weeks for the first cycle to complete. Use your filter media from your old pond not the water.


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