What to do with my pond fish now Winter is on it's way ?
- Thread starter BADGER.BRAD
- Start date
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I think oxygenating plants would be far better than using power to heat or oxygenate the water.
Our front garden, as well as the pond, is filled with indigenous plants. Dogwood, holly, heathers, yew trees, hawthorn, an enormous broom bush, ancient fruits such as quince and medlar alongside apple and pear, undersown with bluebells etc. These plants grow naturally in this environment, in this climate and with this soil type, because that's what they have always done.
Not that it's entirely native, we have pyracantha and a pocket handkerchief tree and some lillies, together with flag irises in the pond...
Anyway, the point is that, by choosing local species, we haven't been out there to do any maintenance in 2 years, because we don't need to. Everything gets rotted by local fungus or eaten by local birds or local insects, which are themselves then eaten by the local birds.
Having something which needs heating through the winter just sounds so... I don't know... contrary these days. It's an unnecessary waste of money getting an electric pump or heater for a pond, IMO.
Our front garden, as well as the pond, is filled with indigenous plants. Dogwood, holly, heathers, yew trees, hawthorn, an enormous broom bush, ancient fruits such as quince and medlar alongside apple and pear, undersown with bluebells etc. These plants grow naturally in this environment, in this climate and with this soil type, because that's what they have always done.
Not that it's entirely native, we have pyracantha and a pocket handkerchief tree and some lillies, together with flag irises in the pond...
Anyway, the point is that, by choosing local species, we haven't been out there to do any maintenance in 2 years, because we don't need to. Everything gets rotted by local fungus or eaten by local birds or local insects, which are themselves then eaten by the local birds.
Having something which needs heating through the winter just sounds so... I don't know... contrary these days. It's an unnecessary waste of money getting an electric pump or heater for a pond, IMO.
OP
OP
BADGER.BRAD
Guru
- Location
- Shropshire
The 38 inches is the drop into the deepest part of the pond from the shallower pond edges rather than the drop of water from a water fall.I would agree with you Norm about not using power to keep what is supposed to be a natural wildlife pond ( albeit with goldfish) But no mater what I have done in the past number of years the pond has always become like pea soup and killed off any plants that are in there, the only time the plants seem to survive is from the end of September till about mid December when the temp has dropped and the algae died off. By the following spring they have all gone ! What I did notice this year that I have never seen before is a massive amount of Leeches (never seen any before) and the Water snail population seems to have taken off. The pea soup problem I have had in the past has always baffled me as the pond is at the highest point of the garden so there is nothing running off into the pond, it was built using a liner so nothing is coming from the earth and this year I have only fed the fish at most once a week ( thinking that I may have been over feeding). The pond has been worse than ever until I installed the homemade filter. Which has helped greatly but not cured it. Now I come to think of it I get a large number of relatively large ( compared to the snails) White almost opaque slug looking things over the pipe from the pump to the filter under the water level (no doubt else where as well).I had thought these to be baby Snails but thinking about it they seem to be too big. Does anyone know what they are ?
I lost a few fish last year which was unusual. Normally they all survive OK.
I know it was a long very cold winter but I have a pump which returns via a waterfall and although the pond was ''all but'' frozen over to quite a depth, around the water fall it was always clear. The ones that died were the ones that managed to get themselves frozen into the ice.
Maybe they were torpid because it was so cold and didn't keep moving, but the evening before 'the big one' got himself stiffed, he was cruising about like a good'un.
There's only so much you can do unless you maybe put a cover over the whole pond to keep it free of ice and a degree or so above freezing.
I know it was a long very cold winter but I have a pump which returns via a waterfall and although the pond was ''all but'' frozen over to quite a depth, around the water fall it was always clear. The ones that died were the ones that managed to get themselves frozen into the ice.
Maybe they were torpid because it was so cold and didn't keep moving, but the evening before 'the big one' got himself stiffed, he was cruising about like a good'un.
There's only so much you can do unless you maybe put a cover over the whole pond to keep it free of ice and a degree or so above freezing.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I have been told that things are done in a different way in the Spanish winter. Dodgy types, lacking fish, drain their vast swimming pools, cover them over, install lights, and grow skunk on a commercial basis, while talking of Essex.
mr_cellophane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Essex
Change 1/3 of your pond water a couple of times a year (don't forget to add a de-chlorinator when you do). Did your filter include a UV light ?
plainlazy
Über Member
- Location
- South coast
My pond is around 2ft deep and i just keep a football in it all winter.
That way there is always a hole in the ice. Never had a problem, even when frozen solid for weeks.
That way there is always a hole in the ice. Never had a problem, even when frozen solid for weeks.
OP
OP
BADGER.BRAD
Guru
- Location
- Shropshire
I haven't tried Barley straw but it is on my list for next year as is getting some plants in early to try a take some of the nutrients out of the water before it gets too bad and kills them off. My home made filter does not have a UV lamp, again a possibility for next year if all other plans fail ! The filter works well but due to sheer volume of algae becomes blocked and the flow rate slows right down within a week at the worst parts of the season, The bottom of the pond also becomes thick with sludge. Is it possible to have the water checked for nutrient levels in an aquarium shop ? I know they do water tests but I'm not sure what these cover.
OP
OP
BADGER.BRAD
Guru
- Location
- Shropshire
22 out of 27 Fish dead this winter ! Most have gone in this resent cold spell ,I'm fishing them out 1 to 3 a day when I can get at them. The pond now has a good area clear of ice on the surface due to now having a filter and pump running but It's still a disaster. Don't think I will restock again.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
That's a shame, but you need a UV filter to get rid of the algae, including a trap for the stuff the lamp has killed. You also need to introduce some alodea canadensis or similar oxygenator, as it sounds like your fish have suffocated, not frozen to death. You can take a sample of your pondwater to a decent shop to have it analysed, and it may turn out you've got all sorts of toxicity issues.
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
It's -11c this morning. Keeping a clear hole in the ice isn't an option!
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Rest a saucepan full of boiling water on the top of the ice and it will melt it's way though making a circular hole. Then siphon out enough water to leave an air space between the surface of the water and the ice. Use an inflatable football or similar to plug the ice hole to prevent refreezing.
Do not under any circumstances break the ice as the concussion will kill the fish.
