Pond located in Anchorage, Alaska
Pump - Stainless Steel Pump 1.5HP Submersible Pump 1000W
4356 GPH (gallons per hour)
Approximately 2500 gallons
There is a large aerator (Rootscape Large Pond Aerator/Deicer/Bubbler - Sinking Air Diffuser) and
7/seven - Aquascape disc aerators around the side of the pond.
I use Aquascape Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria.
Homemade filter system used since last year; 100 Gallon barrel -bottom has lava rock in a strainer; bio-balls and bio-macoroni (my name); brush hair-curlers; whiffle balls; kitchen scrubbers; bath sponges/scratchies; regular filter materials, etc... the water comes in from the pond and floats up through all the filter medium and flows out to the top of the second filter barrel. The second filter barrel has netting; more kitchen scrubbies and bath spongies; ammonia filter pellets; ammonia filter pads; regular filter pad medium; and a large amount of carbon that sits in the strainer at the bottom before it flows back out to the pond over a waterfall area.
I had to turn off the filters for a day while we reworked the filter location and the rocks of the waterfall.
Last weekend, I noticed the Koi flashing. I tested the water and all aspects tested great. Considering this was a parasite issue, I used a dose of Aqua Prezzi.
After three-days, the fish were still flashing some but not as much. I also noticed many of the fish gathering at the side of the waterfall - nearly on top of each other. At first, it appeared they were going under there because food floated up in there but now I wonder if it isn't a by-product of the parasite issue after reading some older postings on this forum.
Two hoses lost their seal yesterday and I had to turn the pond pump off to re-silicone.
This morning, I washed some of the filter medium in the shorter barrel roughly, and turned the pump back on. The fish seem more lethargic this morning which worried me.
I did the liquid water tests. Yesterday, the levels were all good but this morning the nitrate levels are high - (photos) - Can I hope this will settle down in the next few hours because it was most likely from not having the filter on since yesterday afternoon?
Is there anything else I can do to speed the process other than water change? Because the Aqua Prezzi is still in the water, I would hate to have to remove the water and the benefits from the parasite meds.
I used the dry stick test as well because it shows the KH/etc..which my liquid tests do not.