Garden Ponds
- Thread starter NickK
- Start date
Be careful with blanket answer it will knock your filters well back!
No blanket weed still! The water UV seems to be slowly clearing the pond already, normally it takes several days before it all clears down to the bottom.
The fish actually quite like the gloom as they're not really that confident - even feeding at dusk/dawn. Only time I've seen them is sunbathing.
I need to convince my other half when we move into our new house for a nice pond, Would love one but we shell see as our garden isn't huge.
This thread needs more pictures also
The pond is one thing.. the filtration systems get large quickly too.
The new UV unit is doing the trick.. slowly clearing - this evening you could see the shelf about 1 foot into the pond. Considering that is on a summer's day with a full exposure pond.. I powered off and the ballast was hot so I know the unit is working. Should be clear by the weekend if that's the case
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We are in the process of buying a house which has a fairly large pond in the garden.
Its about 7ft x 4ft and 5ft deep. It doesn't currently have any fish in it or any sort of pump/filter. Would would I need to bring it back to life ready for some fish?
Its about 7ft x 4ft and 5ft deep. It doesn't currently have any fish in it or any sort of pump/filter. Would would I need to bring it back to life ready for some fish?
Hmm it depends. That's deep enough for koi. So what type do you want to keep?
If it's been au naturel for the last few years then it may have a load of crap at the bottom, so (a) don't jump in as you may find you sink and (b) it will create a decomposition layer that will absorb oxygen.
Find out if it's a liner or a concrete base.
It's possible to drop an intake pipe to the lowest point of the pond then plumb that into the filter system, then simply output back into the top of the bond.
Water flow is typically a minimum of once every 2 hours, or in the case of koi -even fast to once every 1/2 hour. At these rates and the volume of water the filtration becomes large and so do the pump.
You're probably better looking at a cloverleaf filtration system with a vortex and plumb the waste pipe into a drain. That way as the system starts removing crap from the pond it's just a matter of a few valves to switch between filter and self clean.
If it's been au naturel for the last few years then it may have a load of crap at the bottom, so (a) don't jump in as you may find you sink and (b) it will create a decomposition layer that will absorb oxygen.
Find out if it's a liner or a concrete base.
It's possible to drop an intake pipe to the lowest point of the pond then plumb that into the filter system, then simply output back into the top of the bond.
Water flow is typically a minimum of once every 2 hours, or in the case of koi -even fast to once every 1/2 hour. At these rates and the volume of water the filtration becomes large and so do the pump.
You're probably better looking at a cloverleaf filtration system with a vortex and plumb the waste pipe into a drain. That way as the system starts removing crap from the pond it's just a matter of a few valves to switch between filter and self clean.
Thanks for the advice! That gives me a good idea where to start and what to look in to.
I think to start with we will be looking to keep fish that are fairly easy to look after so probably just goldfish.
I'm servicing our pond properly for the first time since we acquired it. Horrible amount of blanket/algae, turns out the UV bulb went in the filter and the filter had about 8 inches of sludge in it (no joke). Looks as though the previous owners have never maintained it.
I've cleared out the filter, given it a good clean and i'm ordering a new bulb. We have a rock waterfall and a little fountain/feature so the water moves a little. But what else can i do to keep the algae/blanket weed away?
Would a solar aerator help? some pond plants maybe? If so, any suggestions of very low maintenance plants? We don't have fish, but get it's open and welcome for frogs/toads.
TIA
I've cleared out the filter, given it a good clean and i'm ordering a new bulb. We have a rock waterfall and a little fountain/feature so the water moves a little. But what else can i do to keep the algae/blanket weed away?
Would a solar aerator help? some pond plants maybe? If so, any suggestions of very low maintenance plants? We don't have fish, but get it's open and welcome for frogs/toads.
TIA
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Algae = nutrients + sun + heat.
If you have a UV bulb it will help kill off the free floating algae in the water, however around the edges you will still get it - because only water goes through the UV system.
Putting plants to remove the nutrients is one thing and ensuring you don't have too many fish etc adding nutrients. Lastly if you remove the light - by covering with shade it will help.
If you have a UV bulb it will help kill off the free floating algae in the water, however around the edges you will still get it - because only water goes through the UV system.
Putting plants to remove the nutrients is one thing and ensuring you don't have too many fish etc adding nutrients. Lastly if you remove the light - by covering with shade it will help.
Yes, or drop to the bottom of the pond. I think it also destroys the cells.
Adding a new UV system (15W) into a green pond after the 9W integrated balast failed caused lots of pale white sludge in the filter (cleaned every other day). So I think it does a double effect.
So at the moment the temps are high enough for fish to feed .. but have some wheatgerm food ready for the cooler temps (<10degC) then the fish will sink down to the bottom of the pond.. so make sure the bottom is cleared of decomposing crap ready for winter..
If you want some decent food for good price check out queni koi on eBay. Currently using the 44% protein food and my fish love it
Yup my fish initially were very nonchalant about food. Then I added some Evolution Aqua pond treats in with the new Tetra koi sticks. Queue expectant fish waiting for food at dusk when I normally feed them..
They love the freeze-dried mealworms and the small freshwater shrimp from that pack - also the silkworm pupae too (these are big and need a bigger fish). I have the separate small shrimp packs as they eat more of those.
They prefer the colour & growth sticks - they're smaller but heavier and I assume more % protein content.
Unfortunately they love these so much they stopped eating the old sticks! So now I put a blend in and then shake the container so the old sticks get a bit of new food flavouring
Seems to work.The next task is to check the amount of crap at the bottom of the pond (we have plants and they will have rooted into it). I will use a section of plastic pipe and use a hose with water jetted up the pipe.. this should suck the crap up and spit it out the top - I'll put a mesh net to catch the bugs and also put a bucket in there to catch the water - let it rest and return the water skimmed off the top.. minus the crap.
Been checking the reason why my pump's performance has been reducing. Initially I thought it was todo with it being clogged.. that improved things a little...
However now it seems that the impeller blades have been ground down by the motor forcing them into the top of the impeller chamber to the point there are almost no blades left.
So a Hoselock Aquaforce 2500 pump impeller... £24 of a £80 pump. Probably not including postage..
Little gits have been turning over the pots.. the pond specialist compost falls to the bottom of the pond.. only to act like an abrasive in the pump and causing the filters to block faster causing the motor to push the impeller into the housing harder.. that grinds the pump impeller harder..
Did I say little gits.
However now it seems that the impeller blades have been ground down by the motor forcing them into the top of the impeller chamber to the point there are almost no blades left.
So a Hoselock Aquaforce 2500 pump impeller... £24 of a £80 pump. Probably not including postage..
Little gits have been turning over the pots.. the pond specialist compost falls to the bottom of the pond.. only to act like an abrasive in the pump and causing the filters to block faster causing the motor to push the impeller into the housing harder.. that grinds the pump impeller harder..
Did I say little gits.
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So this year has been a really rip roaring success in terms of plants.
All the plants have flowered repeatedly - the lillies are going really well. Also there's a decent coverage and the fish seem happier and more chilled out. Ammonia and Nitrite levels have risen a little (I did a water change and top up) but the Nitrate level is zero thanks to the plants.
I'll take/add some photos later. The fish have grown this year, eating well.
All the plants have flowered repeatedly - the lillies are going really well. Also there's a decent coverage and the fish seem happier and more chilled out. Ammonia and Nitrite levels have risen a little (I did a water change and top up) but the Nitrate level is zero thanks to the plants.
I'll take/add some photos later. The fish have grown this year, eating well.
Today..
Lilly pads are far better quality this year.. obviously doing well. The big bobble is the seed casting for the water iris that flowered earlier in the year.
Veggie filter doing really well - you can see the tall plant about to flower too!
The root act to trap much - at the moment I don't have filter material in the canister due to a problem with the pump earlier.. now fixed.. the material can be added back in..
Some algae back.. but the fish are munching on it..
This was the closed yellow flower earlier in in the week:
For the eagle eyed.. there is food in there.. the fish much on it as they day goes on..
The water iris from earlier in the year..
Lilly pads are far better quality this year.. obviously doing well. The big bobble is the seed casting for the water iris that flowered earlier in the year.
Veggie filter doing really well - you can see the tall plant about to flower too!
The root act to trap much - at the moment I don't have filter material in the canister due to a problem with the pump earlier.. now fixed.. the material can be added back in..
Some algae back.. but the fish are munching on it..
This was the closed yellow flower earlier in in the week:
For the eagle eyed.. there is food in there.. the fish much on it as they day goes on..
The water iris from earlier in the year..
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