pond set-up

Question
Hi George,
I HAVE A 1000 GALLON POND WITH SEVERAL SMALL KOI ITS BEEN AROUND A
MONTH SINCE I SET IT UP, I'VE CLEANED THE FILTER MEDIA ABOUT 2 TIMES
SINCE THE SET UP (SKIMMER, WATERFALL, & 7 GALLON BIO FILTER).THE
WATER QUALITY IS GREAT, FISH SEEM HAPPY PLANTS ARE THRIVING ECT. HOW
OFTEN SHOULD I BE CLEANING THE MEDIA? ALSO TESTS HIGH IN PH(7.5-8.0)
SHOULD I WORRY? IF SO, HOW COULD I LOWER NATURALLY? I'M ALSO GOING
ON VACATION FOR 5 DAYS, DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FEEDING THE FISH?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ADDING TURTLES AND FROGS TO A KOI POND?
WILL THEY POLLUTE THE WATER? SORRY IF I THREW TOO MUCH AT YOU AT
ONE TIME.
-ALEX

Answer
Hi alex,
When you clean your filter DON'T use tap water use pond water as tap water will kill the bacteria that has built up on the media in your filter, it dosn't need cleaning to often, alll ponds and filters work differently even ponds of the same volume of water and the same filter will work differently so it is only by experiencing your own pond will you know when to clean your filter.
PH of 7.5 or 8 is quite okay for koi as 7.5 is nuetral.
NO I would not add frogs and turtles to a koi pond.
hope this helps.
George.
if you wish you can visit my pond at
http://koi-z-are-us.20m.com