Answer: The IonGen will work in conjunction with existing biological filtration; it is releasing such miniscule amounts that it will not harm fish or invertebrates. It is recognized by the algae as a nutrient and absorbed so quickly you will not even detect it in your water table.
If I cannot install the IonGen in my tubing, where should the IonGen should be placed:?
Answer: It is functional anywhere water is passing through it. The Skimmer box is probably easiest because it's most likely already close to an electrical supply but it can be used in the BioFalls or even laying in the stream. Regardless the probes should be left inside the provided "T" fitting in any of the installation scenarios to protect them. We have seen applications however where the probe when dropped into a Skimmer or Biofalls and not installed in-line is not receiving sufficient flow. The result is poor ion distribution and the probes begin to scale up because the ions are not being pushed away with the flow. This can cause the green light not to be solid and continually flashing or the power not being able to be raised all the way. In some cases, the IonGen did work at full powewr but as the probe's bars scaled up, the probe got suffocated. The probe can be removed from the Flow Chamber and scraped clean and placed back in the filter WITHOUT the Flow Chamber.
Can I leave the IonGen in my pond all winter?
Answer: If the pond is running then it can be used all winter in it. If they turn off the waterfall and just have a bubbler / heater then it's best to take it out as it won't really be doing anything!
Do you absolutely need a GFI with an IonGen because it only draws 1 watt?
Answer: It is not necessary, but recommended to reduce risk of electric shock
I can only screw in my probe 2 revolutions and it does not appear that the Probe is all the way in. Is this a problem?
Answer: The cap is not going to thread down all of the way. It is a tapered fitting. If you are going to plumb it in line you may want to use Teflon tape on the probe fitting and wrench the fitting down to make it water tight
My Green light has been flashing since Saturday afternoon when we plugged it in. It immediately went to full bars. Is this a problem?
Answer: If the green light is flashing there is no need to be alarmed. It is still working fine. The newest units are self-calibrating.
The Instruction Manual recommends PH/Alkalinity Test Strips 98953 but I cannot find them on your site.
Answer: There was a misprint in the first Instruction Manual. That part number is actually the Spring Start-up Kit. The correct item# for the PH/Alkalinity Test Strips is 80005 and is in the same drop-down box as the IonGen above.
Will the salt I put it my pond adversely affect the IonGen?
Answer: It will not affect the IonGen. In fact, it will actually increase the conductivity of the unit. Many ponds will require the addition of non-iodized salt (1 lb per 200 gallons) just to get the conductivity to a level where the IonGen will work correctly.
I have had my unit for 3 weeks now and I am not getting a copper reading on my test strips.
Answer: It is most likely a new generation self-calibrating unit so it will raise and lower the amount of copper on its own. Not reading any copper in the water table is normal as the copper is being absorbed by the algae as quickly as it enters the pond/stream bed.It may take 6-8 wks to see results.
There is a Red Dot on the top of the probe. What is that for?
Answer: The red dot should be in line in the direction that the water is flowing for best results. Another way to describe it is that the water should be flowing like a football going through the uprights.
Is it ok to use Aquascape's Pond Detoxifier productor other products that bind heavy metals like copper?
Answer: Detox is designed to bind heavy metals. If you use Detox or add Detox every time you top-off your pond, the IonGen will; not be as effective.
We are using well water. Will the IonGen work as well?
Answer: Sometimes the alkalinity can be over 250 which can be too high which may cause the copper ions to not function as well. You should probably test your water with a decent test kit (sometimes the test strips do not get accurate readings and have a +/- accuracy of 10%)
I have heard the first IonGens did not automatically recalibrate. How do I know if I have an old or a new IonGen?
Answer: Serial #'s 0005774 and BELOW are generation 1 units, 0005775 and above are new generation 2 units.
Can the Control Panel be mounted outside in the elements? Is it waterproof?
Answer: For G1 Units only , the control panel is NOT waterproof. It is weather proof though, it cannot be submerged in water or anything similar, it can be rained on though and still work. For G2 Units, the new control units are waterproof. Part of the new improvments over the G1 units.