Posted by Mike on July 14, 2006 at 14:14:58:
Hi, In my first couple months of enjoying a pond with stream/waterfall after getting one with new house. I understand it was steady-healthy for years before I bought, and it was the same for me so far. Just one lively 6-in koi in what must be a hundred gallons or more (8x8 roundish, 2 or more feet deep). About a 20-foot stream run, with a 2 foot cascade. A nice lily or two, with some reeds...a volunteer bullfrog...all very healthy.
All went well til I cleaned the filter cylinder. Now when I restarted I have a pretty good collection of thin white foam on maybe 10% of the surface, doesnt sound like much, but very noticeable.
I have read about the usual causes (water quality issues) but the steady history of the pond makes me doubt that is a cause. I have done nothing differently in my ownership, we've had no drastic weather changes, no recent water additives or the like. Instead, I am tending to associate the change with the only different thing I've ever done to it: clean the filter.
Could that be a cause? (Maybe the built-up suspended particulates in the water before the cleaning kept the foam down before?) I know I am quick to react...do you think it will just go away in a short while?
Or, could the water quality have just changed that fast? I mean, there was NO foam ever before, and now overnight, it's all there.
Finally, what is in those "defoamers" I see for sale? How do they work?
Thanks so much for any help you all can give me! I appreciate the info and have learned lots from this site. Mike