If the water is moving slowly enough, it will be fully functional in two weeks. The problem, as I think I explained, is that you have to get that balance between solids removal and bio-filtration flow. You also just need to move to an intake with minimal gross solids filtration, probably inside that flower pot with the lava rocks. If, after those steps, the pond is still doing the grossness thing you up the ante. I need to talk to another friend of mine to get the info for ante-upping, but it is monster cool and highly sustainable. :)