Garden Ponds

[easyrider]

Looks like the corner of a field lol. That log will have large and deep roots you may need a buzz saw at some point. I wouldn't have it too close to the hedge you'll get things falling in rather easily.

The whole log and tree stump left is being dug up by a digger. I am now, having spoken with my neighbour tonight who came to look who's digging it, a raised bit one end with the soil and installing a cascade.

I'll probably move it slightly away from the hedgerow. But not to far as wildlife etc...feel vunerable walking and jumping through open grass...

I'm just going to leave him to it. He can do what he wants...he's landscaped the garden so I completely trust him plus he's an expert

 

[NickK]

The main thing is filtration - plan in a proper filtration path - including veggie..

 

[easyrider]

The main thing is filtration - plan in a proper filtration path - including veggie..

Veggie ?

 

[NickK]

Veggie ?

Using plants to filter both solids and organics like nitrates.

 

[easyrider]

Using plants to filter both solids and organics like nitrates.

Get you

I'm looking at something like this but bigger with a cascade at one end.

 

[NickK]

Just to be clear.. th filtration and pumps get more expensive as pond size goes up and koi (the fish in the pick).

The pond we have with our house is,iirc, 6000 litres and the the pump cycles once an hour which is slow for koi. Filter is 9000 sized but if I was to make the pond myself again. It would have a mavity bottom drain with larger filtration.

You will also need to top the pond water up or drain off overflow.

It is possible to be natural but it may end up green or smelly in hot weather.

 

[easyrider]

Just finished digging my new pond. I have also landscaped in a waterfall.

Really please with the finished result.

 

[Blinkz]

Since you guys all seems to know about Ponds, any chance you can give me some advice. We're moving in our new house this Thursday and it has a pond which is L shaped, approx 2-3mx2-3m and supposedly up to your knee in depth. It's got loads of fish in it, at least a hundred plus I think. Not sure of the exact type, but fairly big. I'll take a pic once we move in.

We are going to get rid of the pond as it takes up quite a lot of the garden and basically have no interest in having a pond (plus we've a small puppy and probably have a family a somepoint)

However I don't want to just kill all the fish! Any suggestions on what to do with them? Anywhere I can sell them ideally or just donate if needed?

Thanks!

 

[NickK]

Since you guys all seems to know about Ponds, any chance you can give me some advice. We're moving in our new house this Thursday and it has a pond which is L shaped, approx 2-3mx2-3m and supposedly up to your knee in depth. It's got loads of fish in it, at least a hundred plus I think. Not sure of the exact type, but fairly big. I'll take a pic once we move in.

We are going to get rid of the pond as it takes up quite a lot of the garden and basically have no interest in having a pond (plus we've a small puppy and probably have a family a somepoint)

However I don't want to just kill all the fish! Any suggestions on what to do with them? Anywhere I can sell them ideally or just donate if needed?

Photos are the best option on this.

If you want to get rid of them:
1. Sell the fish - people will take them as rescue (don't flush them into the local river as they cause problems).
2. Drain the water - into the drain is fine.
3. Drain the filtration system
4. Clean the thing out (pond and filtration).
5. If it's a hard liner you may be able to sell that, rubber liners less so.
6. Sell the filtration/pump/air pump/fittings/UV clarifier/waterfall etc
7. Fill in hole.. Probably worth getting a volume calculation
8. wait.. it will settle..
9. add some more to flatten the land
10. do what you want.

 

[NickK]

Get you

I'm looking at something like this but bigger with a cascade at one end.

Just noted he has Koi.. that pond will have a big filter attached to get clear water like that. Koi are dirty and make loads of mess so I suspect that has quiet a high through put of water..

 

[FoxEye]

This thread seems to be about big ponds with fish in them.

I have an extremely small pond(s). 150L, 75L. In fact some of these "ponds" are just the largest size Tubtrugs with plants in them

So far, no fishies. I never wanted nor intended to have fishies, since I always understood it brings a lot of extra work.

However, my plants are dying as fast as I can buy them. The biggest problem seems to be that they just rot at the base, float up to the surface, then turn brown and rot entirely.

The second problem which may be linked to the first is that they get covered in very fine strands of green goop, which I believe is blanketweed. It engulfs the plants and may be a factor in their premature deaths.

For the goop I've tried putting little balls of barley straw in all the "ponds", which seems to have done precisely **** all in the 3-4 months it's been in there. Plenty of time for it to work its magic.

Now I'm wondering if goldfish will eat the goopy stuff, and potentially save the plants. I'm tired of buying more and more Hottonia Pallustris (eg) and watching it go from healthy to dead in as little as a few weeks.

I've tried tap water left to sit for a couple days; I've tried rain water. I've tried not having any soil at all (hence hopefully no nutrients!). This green goop grows and fills the available space regardless. It seems to get everything it needs just from sunlight.

I've tried very small containers indoors - jam jar sized. Indoors so the sunlight is much reduced. The green **** grows anyhow, and kills all it touches.

I'd really like to have a nice watergarden, even if it only amounts to a few 75L Tubtrugs around the place. But the dying plants and the green goop are ruining it.

Other plants that have died in the same fashion include: Callitriche Stagnalis & Pallustris/Verna; Myriophyllum Spicatum & Verticillatum. All submerged plants - all apparently "easy" to grow. All dead within weeks.

Really frustrating.

So as to the cure.... pond filters alone? The small ones you buy or the ones you build from various grades of grit in an old barrel? Goldfish + filters?

The plants themselves don't particularly like running water, so I want to avoid creating fast moving currents.

I'm also not sure if putting goldfish in a 75L container amounts to cruelty...

 

[easyrider]

This thread seems to be about big ponds with fish in them.

I have an extremely small pond(s). 150L, 75L. In fact some of these "ponds" are just the largest size Tubtrugs with plants in them

So far, no fishies. I never wanted nor intended to have fishies, since I always understood it brings a lot of extra work.

However, my plants are dying as fast as I can buy them. The biggest problem seems to be that they just rot at the base, float up to the surface, then turn brown and rot entirely.

The second problem which may be linked to the first is that they get covered in very fine strands of green goop, which I believe is blanketweed. It engulfs the plants and may be a factor in their premature deaths.

For the goop I've tried putting little balls of barley straw in all the "ponds", which seems to have done precisely **** all in the 3-4 months it's been in there. Plenty of time for it to work its magic.

Now I'm wondering if goldfish will eat the goopy stuff, and potentially save the plants. I'm tired of buying more and more Hottonia Pallustris (eg) and watching it go from healthy to dead in as little as a few weeks.

I've tried tap water left to sit for a couple days; I've tried rain water. I've tried not having any soil at all (hence hopefully no nutrients!). This green goop grows and fills the available space regardless. It seems to get everything it needs just from sunlight.

I've tried very small containers indoors - jam jar sized. Indoors so the sunlight is much reduced. The green **** grows anyhow, and kills all it touches.

I'd really like to have a nice watergarden, even if it only amounts to a few 75L Tubtrugs around the place. But the dying plants and the green goop are ruining it.

Other plants that have died in the same fashion include: Callitriche Stagnalis & Pallustris/Verna; Myriophyllum Spicatum & Verticillatum. All submerged plants - all apparently "easy" to grow. All dead within weeks.

Really frustrating.

So as to the cure.... pond filters alone? The small ones you buy or the ones you build from various grades of grit in an old barrel? Goldfish + filters?

The plants themselves don't particularly like running water, so I want to avoid creating fast moving currents.

I'm also not sure if putting goldfish in a 75L container amounts to cruelty...

Post some pics

 

[Kaka]

Managed to catch a heron perched on my pond this evening. Not sure how long it was there as I only noticed it when taking the bins in, but it was probably have a good look around. Didn't realise how big they actually are up close.

Fortunately my pond is netted with plenty of plants as cover so the fish were relatively safe. Guess I'll be letting my cat out more in the garden from now on.

 

[Blinkz]

Photos are the best option on this.

If you want to get rid of them:
1. Sell the fish - people will take them as rescue (don't flush them into the local river as they cause problems).
2. Drain the water - into the drain is fine.
3. Drain the filtration system
4. Clean the thing out (pond and filtration).
5. If it's a hard liner you may be able to sell that, rubber liners less so.
6. Sell the filtration/pump/air pump/fittings/UV clarifier/waterfall etc
7. Fill in hole.. Probably worth getting a volume calculation
8. wait.. it will settle..
9. add some more to flatten the land
10. do what you want.

Thanks the reply! Here is the only pic I have:

Goldfish I’m guessing? But they’re huge! Where do you go about selling fish?? Had a quick google but not found anywhere?

 

[Kaka]

The picture isn't all that clear, but they look like common and comet goldfish to me. They can grow up to around 40cm if given enough food and in the right environment.

Not sure where to sell the fish, but your local aquatic store may rehome them.

 

[Sasahara]

Give them away on Facebook/gumtree if you don't want them.

 

[NickK]

You may also find a load of black ones.. I have 4 that I see.. and a load that I don't lol

 

[Street]

I've got a similar problem with what to do with my fish. We have a pond at the moment that the previous owners built, however it is in a less than ideal position, is pretty small and has no levels for plants.

I want to dig a new better pond to create more usable patio space but to do so I need to drain the existing pond as the new pond would overlap. There are about 10-15 fish, goldfish, shubunkin, orfe and some sort of white carp. I'd quite like to keep them but redoing the pond is something that I'd have to do over several weekends and I've got nowhere to store the fish!

 

[b0rn2sk8]

I've got a similar problem with what to do with my fish. We have a pond at the moment that the previous owners built, however it is in a less than ideal position, is pretty small and has no levels for plants.

I want to dig a new better pond to create more usable patio space but to do so I need to drain the existing pond as the new pond would overlap. There are about 10-15 fish, goldfish, shubunkin, orfe and some sort of white carp. I'd quite like to keep them but redoing the pond is something that I'd have to do over several weekends and I've got nowhere to store the fish!

Big paddling pool and plenty of water changes?

 

[Street]

I was thinking that! I could move the pump and filter so I shouldn't have to change the water, just a bit of a faff but think it might be my only option