So I inherited a small (75 gal) pond with the purchase of our new home and have pretty much left it alone since its been soo cold here (Carson City, Nv). Now with our temps in the 50-60 degree mark this last week or so and with the potential to hit 70-80 degrees this weekend i'm thinkin its time to do something about those poor little fishies.
I have noticed the water getting more and more cloudy, although when I could see I believe there was 7 2-3 inch goldfish in there. I think they are still alive I know I can see a few of them every once in a while.
The other dilemma I have is that I have no idea how long ago anyone took care of the pond as the home was a rental and left vacant for at least 6mo before we bought it.

What do you think my first steps should be?
I'm going to get a thermometer today and I know that the bottom needs to be cleaned out can I just use a hoe? At what temp do I feed them and what should I feed them?
and on and on and on. I could ask questions all day long!
Thanks for any suggestions you have.

Hi Christina! I think the first thing you should do is definately check the water temp. If it is around the 50F mark I would start feeding them a bit. Yes, you should clean the muck out of the bottom and since you don't know the history of the pond, it wouldn't hurt to do a decent water change. I would say even 50%. Remember to de chlorinate the water before adding it and it is a good idea for the new water to be very close to the same temp. as the pond water. If the water is getting cloudier it is probably due to the water being polluted. Is they any kind of filter system in place or an aerator, or water movement of any kind? Please feel free to ask all the questions you need to :-) I am around most of the time and will do my best to help you out! Elaine

Would you suggest just filling up a large rubbermaid tub with water to dechlorinate with and match the temps? There is a pump of some sort because there is a waterfall with 2 little drops then into the larger pond. I'm not so sure that there is a filter system at all though.

Heres the one pic I have of it. Although this was back in Jan and its a lot more cloudy and icky now.

Putting some fresh water in the rubbermaid container would work with the dechlorinator if it is clean and fish friendly. I don't know how long you would have to let it sit. Maybe someone else can tell you that. I purchased a new container for my fish just b/c I wanted to be sure that nothing else had been in the container.
Have you pulled the pump up and cleaned it yet? I am assuming that the pump is submerged in the lowest pool? If so then it may be like my pump. My pump is inside the filter like this one: http://www.aqua-mart.com/lfb.html
Is that sort of what you have?
It's a cute little pond. :)

Hi Christina, To find out what if any filtration you have unplug the pump power cord visible in the picture and remove the pump. It should have a least some sort of prefilter attached to keep it from clogging or it would have by now. Clean the filter. You may have to open the filter box to pull out filter media or bio balls that you rinse with a hose before replacing back the way they came. If you have alot of dirt , leaves ect there are different ways of cleaning. You shoud buy a pond net that is designed for this job at a pet supply store. Some use a wet vac for more through cleaning. Also buy a water test kit or strips for testing your water. I can't tell if the pond is a preform or concrete but do not use a hoe or anything sharp for cleaning. Read Robyns info page for more details on pond upkeep. Good luck, gotta go.
:D
Fm3

Here is a link to Robyns pond page. There is a ton of stuff there!
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pond.htm

It looks like a cute little preform pond with two preformed spillways for the waterfall. Since you don't know the history of the pond, I suggest doing a total cleaning. For an idea of how I clean my slightly larger 153 gallon pond every spring, see http://www.fishpondinfo.com/myfish/clean.htm
You could set out new water the day before the cleaning in your tub. Add dechlorinator and maybe some pond salt. Aerate it if you can. I usually don't bother but only change about 60% with the spring cleaning in that pond. You may want to change more water if it's really dirty.

Good luck!

Well I got the thermometer and the temp is around 55 degrees. I did see the shadow of a couple of the fish in there thru the muck. It was getting toward dusk so without the sun directly in the water I don't really see anyone well. Robyn you were right about the type of pond, although I really don't know how deep the big pool is. I talked to my hubby about what my plans were and he's pretty much up for sitting back and watching me muck around in there. He's going to be a boatload of help with this particular chore. :P
Hopefully with the change in water my fishies will be more friendly with me and want to come up and play and hopefully get a snack after at least a winters long fast. Honestly though I don't think anyone took care of em last summer because all of our plants are showing signs of lack of care and watering and no one gave us any clues as to what was done to the yard in the last year other than the pond was a nice place to sit and have a glass of wine next to.

I'm not an expert either but I thought you are supposed to wash the filter media with pod water or at least dechlorinated water - not with water straight form the hose. Doesn't chlorinated water kill the bacteria in the filter?

I have a bunch of 20 gallon tubs that I use for water change-outs. They are only used for fish related stuff.
Fill them up, de-chlorinate, maybe add some salt, and let them sit for a day or two.
I know the directions on the dechlor bottle says the water is ready in 15 minutes, but I like the water to age a little longer to make sure that chorline is gone. (probably drives my wife nuts ... but she lets me be me)
When the temperature of the new water is the same or greater, then I add it to the pond via a syphon hose. (1/2" black pond tubing)
I have a second thermometer for the new water.
I try not to shock the fish or pond's good bacteria with water that is too different in temperature. (as Elaine said)
I wash the filter media only in pond water, using one of the 20 gallon tubs.
If you have chlorinated tap water, then hosing the filter media clean will kill off the good bacteria (as ColdGold talked about)

When we moved into our place, we had a similar situation .... a neglected preform pond in desparate need of attention.
And there were fish trying to survive in there!
I found that one of those small or narrow plastic yard rakes (the 6" wide ones used for between shrub plants) worked great for dredging the pond floor.
Just drag it very slowly across the bottom to get the big stuff, like rotting leaves and sticks.
And make sure it's a plastic one, not metal. (no sharp edges to worry about)
I would not recommend the rake idea for soft liner ponds! But plastic on plastic seems to work OK.
I just needed to get the big junk out before vacuumming the floor.
I think some one else mentioned using a net to clear the debris from the floor. Which ever works best for you.

Oh, and just like what frogman said ... make sure you unplug the submersible pump before removing it for maintenance!
Hopefully there is some sort of filter inline or around the pump. If not, one of us can show you where to find one. Maybe like the one tlc linked.

It will be really nice to look at when the water gets clear .... and the fish can easily be seen!
Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier and takes less time.

Good luck ... and keep asking questions. :)
Thanks for posting a picture!

PG

I have well water so I just clean my filter material from the hose. Those with city water should use pond water or dechlorinated tap water in a kiddie pool or other container. I imagine that's a lot more work plus you don't have the pressure washing effect. For large filters, a little chlorinated hose squirting may kill some good bacteria but perhaps not enough to be alarmed. It's all about relative sizes of the filter, amount and types of water, and such. Anyway, I'm glad I have well water.

Here's an update on the pond clean up.

This first photo is of the gunk and sludge at the bottom of the pond. And even though it looks like hubby bailed out the pond with that little bitty cup he did just hang the hose over the side from the pump to get most of that stuff out of the pond.


This is our pump/filter. Thats it, nothin else in there. For the life of me I can't figure out how those little fishies made it with just that to live off of. I seriously could wring the neck of the previous owner of this house and for the half a**ed job they did in caring for this pond.



Now for the last photo. This is our temporary temporary pond. There's 2 temps there cause the original plan was to take out the old one and replace it with this one that a friend of ours gave us in a different location. Well now my hubbys been bitten by the pond bug and has bigger more grandiose ideas for a pond which include a EPDM liner instead of a shell, somewhere in the vicinity of 900 gallons instead of 120, and on and on and on.




We'll keep you updated as his ideas start to come together.

Hi Christina! Congrat's on getting in there and cleaning up that muck! You are doing a great job for those poor fishy's! LOL, that is good that you got your hubby in there and interested. It makes it easier to have your spouse on board with the pond stuff. Most of us aren't that lucky! My hubby just tolerates me and my ponds. I think it is a good hobby to have as a couple. Have fun!!

Looks like a little giant pump. If you are interested in still using this set-up temporally you can add a in the pond box filter from Lowes or Home depot connected with a short piece of sized tubing that will contain several filter pads and bio-balls. Just unscrew the pump screen attachment shown in the photo and add the filter. I would add some barley straw extract to inhibit the algae bloom you are giong to experience and plants to shade the water. Good luck and keep us updated. :)

Fm3

FM3,
Is the barley extract better to use than the barley straw?
Ellen

The extract works as soon as you apply it whereas the straw itself has to set in the pond for about 30 days, from what I understand to begin to work. For a small ponds less than 1000 gallons I think it's the way to go but say for my planned ponds which will total 8000 gallons it would be quite expensive so I will be most likely using the straw itself unless I can find a cheaper supplier. <_<

FM3

I've used pumps like yours in my tub pond with just the little foam covering. They clog up almost constantly.

You know, there's no rule that says just because you're making a larger liner pond that you can't also have your little preformed ponds too! Smaller ponds are good for frogs to lay eggs in or to raise fish fry.

LOL, Robyn is right!!! You can NEVER have too many ponds, LOL LOL LOL

That pump in the picture looks like it may be a Beckett.
If it is, then it only comes with a screw on plastic basket for the intake ... no foam or filter.
All sorts of things can get sucked in there.

If the same pump (or that type) is going to be used, then I would suggest that you plumb in some sort of filter to the intake in place of the plastic basket.

New & bigger pond plans! Sounds like fun! :)

btw -great pictures!

PG

Can you take that pump and put it in a aquatic plant container (the ones with all the little holes), then put in some bio-balls around it or filter material on the sides, bottom and top. You would then need to get some plastic mesh to close off the top and put a hole in it for the tubing to exit to go up to the waterfall. I got the idea from KK. She made something like that for her pond if I remember right. :blink: That pump looks similar to mine. The "snout" or the intake looks a little different but it still basically the same.
Just my 2 cents.

I think that is so cute that your DH used that little cup to bail out the pond. I don't know how anyone could not get addicted to ponding after putting in that much effort! You better keep him! :)
Tia

DH did go down to the local garden center/pond store and bought a PondMaster 1500 which apparently is the whole kit n caboodle with a bell fountain and all. We haven't opened the package because with his big ideas i'm not thinkin thats gonna be good enough and so we're holding off for the time being. I figure that the water change and the new home for our fishies is better than what they've had and they can wait it out a bit until we ultimately figure out what we are going to do for a permanent home for them.

Does anyone have an opinion on this brand of pump/filter? If I need to return it we can.

P.S.
Thanks soo much for all of your help, believe me I would have no clue without someone there to guide me thru.

Christina

The PondMaster 1500 is a good choice for the preform pond.
It lays low in the water and doesn't take up too much space.

If you plumb the outflow to the tiered waterfall then you won't need to use the bell fountain.
If you don't use the bell fountain right away, you'll find another use for it in another pond.

I had the same setup when I had a preform pond very similar to yours.
Mine was the PondMaster 1000, which is the same filter as yours but without the pump & fountain.
It worked great.
Like most submersible filters, the filter media needs fairly frequent cleanings, especially during the hot months.
PondMaster makes replacement filter media just for that model, for when it wears out.

Earlier you asked what to feed the little guys and I forgot to suggest something.
I can't remember if anybody responded to that.
Goldfish flake food is good. I use TopFin brand for my little ones, pellets for the larger fish.
I don't feed unless the water temperature is around 55 degrees or more.

PG

PG where do you find Topfin fish food?

I just went to my fish food cupboard and saw that the TopFin food is one of the pellet foods I have.
The flake food I use is made by Tetrafin.
Sorry for the mix-up.

I get my fish food at several places ... pet stores, fish stores, WalMart, PetsMart. The TopFin I found at the pet store here in town.

I'm always trying something different.
I also have a couple of the Hikari types of pellets. As well as Wardley. And Laguna.

The Laguna All Season Goldfish & Koi small pellets (or petite as it says on the bag) is the one all my fish, big and small, really seem to like.
That and the Tetrafin flake they can't get enough of.

It's not a good idea to keep food around too long. Especially in humid zones.
A little moisture gets in whenever the container is re-opened, and eventually goes bad.
I think I read somewhere that any container of food that was opened 6 months ago, or more, should be tossed out.
I recently found one bag of food that was nothing but black-colored mush inside. :o It was gross .... I think that bag was almost a year old ... and only opened twice. (the fish didn't like it the first time around)
I should get rid of most of those I haven't used recently. Some of those bags were a bit on the expensive side, but I don't want to chance making them sick to their stomach's to save a few bucks.

I'm going to start using a Sharpie Marker to label the date I open the container.

PG

I have a PondMaster 1700 in my 153 gallon pond which I really like. It sounds like a good choice to me.

I also have the pond master 1500 i think cant find the box now. 250 preformed no water fall. I clean it about 1 per week not to bad with smaller ponds to do takes me 10 minutes I soray off the filter put it back in clears the water I have had ZERO problems keeping it going.
One thing I do is put a rock ontop of it. It seems when it gets full of muck it will want to float on ya but a med to small rock holds it down.

Good luck I am building a bigger pond but I am keeping my small one. You can never have to many filters and pumps around you never know when one will take a crap on ya and you need one in a pinch like on a hot day to keep the water move in and you will always find a use for it somewhere I PROMISE YOU THAT. LOL

Good luck

C2 :rolleyes:

I had to put a rock on my PondMaster also. I had forgotten about that.

C2 and Pool Guy, there's a secret to the floating PondMasters. I don't know if you're doing this already but I do. Unscrew the two parts to the PondMaster filter. Fill that space under the grate with larger pea gravel. Screw it back together. The added weight not only keeps my PondMaster from floating up but helps with biological filtration. Is that in the directions? I don't remember.

That's a good idea, Robyn.

If it was in the directions, then I don't remember reading it.
But just like a kid opening a present, I might have overlooked it. :mellow:

At one time I had thought about putting activated carbon in that compartment, to make the water cleaner.
It did a good job on its own, so I never did.

PG