Help. This is something new to me.

[ZEROPILOT]

Since I set up my pond. I've had nothing but great luck. I used the water cycler in a bottle. It worked. I initially put in too many fish. It worked out. I bought a crappy Smartpond pond filter and pump. It also worked..... And I've had healthy fish and very clear water ever since.
Until this morning, that is.
This morning I found scum floating in small lumps, clumps on the surface of the pond. They smell badly and are bubbly. Definately something organic. It covers about 75% of the surface and the water is cloudy.
The fish are swimming but not as usual and are not eating.
I can see NOTHING dead in the pond. Fish, rats, toads....And the filtration seems to be operating normally. However, the UV sterilizer is not working.
This is what I've done:
1 I replaced the UV sterilizer
2 I replaced about 50% of the filter media
3 I replaced 200 gallons of water. It's a 1,400 gallon pond.
4 I turned on two decorative fountains for extra oxygenation. There is a waterfall return that is working 24/7 and should already be providing a lot of oxygen.
Do you think that my UV sterilizer is the culprit?
I've never encountered such a devastating change of events in such a short period. And now, I'm expecting to maybe lose a fish or two.
I hope not.
Any suggestions?

 

[mrsclem]

Any chance that chemicals got into the pond? Have you added any algacide or any other chemicals?

 

[JamieB]

I’d be netting the pond, looking for the source. Maybe a partial water change, and pulling favored fish to qt tank to keep an eye on them.

 

[Stephen Noble]

Have you tested your water? Why not do that and let us know the parameters.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Any chance that chemicals got into the pond? Have you added any algacide or any other chemicals?

Its enclosed in my back patio.
I don't think anything was introduced.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I’d be netting the pond, looking for the source. Maybe a partial water change, and pulling favored fish to qt tank to keep an eye on them.

I haven't found anything at all. And there us no smell of anything dead.
I'll keep looking.

 

[mrsclem]

With the foam it seems like an algae die off. I'm getting some nasty looking foam now as I restarted my window boxes that flow back into the pond and they had some decayed material. If you have test kits, please test and post results. If you can post a picture, please do. How are the fish behaving?

 

[Tula]

I had something similar happen a few years ago....it was this creepy rising and sinking blobs of algae. All fish survived and it went away with good aeration and filtration. I also scooped it out with a pool net.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

With the foam it seems like an algae die off. I'm getting some nasty looking foam now as I restarted my window boxes that flow back into the pond and they had some decayed material. If you have test kits, please test and post results. If you can post a picture, please do. How are the fish behaving?

I'm going out to buy a large. Full spectrum test kit.
It's been so long since I've had any issues that I can't find mine.
I'll take tests and photos tomorrow.
The fish are sluggish and kind of huddled together. Swimming as a group.
They aren't eating and I wont toss in any more food for at least the next day or two.

 

[j.w]

I know when fish spawn it creates bubbly stuff and wonder too if it has a smell to it. Prolly not that but just a thought as for the past few days my pond has had what looks like spawning issues as the sun has been out and warmer here. Are your fish chasing each other at all? The not eating part is strange tho for fish as they are always hungry.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I know when fish spawn it creates bubbly stuff and wonder too if it has a smell to it. Prolly not that but just a thought as for the past few days my pond has had what looks like spawning issues as the sun has been out and warmer here. Are your fish chasing each other at all? The not eating part is strange tho for fish as they are always hungry.

The fish are acting like they are under stress.
They almost always follow each other to some extent but I've never had any spawning

 

[j.w]

I think you better get the test kit soon. Sometimes I will take my garden hose (we have well water and don't need to add chlorine remover) and I allow water to run in slowly and then have a small pump I stick in the pond to allow water to run out at the same pressure as water in. This way it does not stress the fish w/such a slow water exchange. If you have city water where they add chlorine/chloromine then not sure how you would dose it so the fish don't get poisoned. I also have a large aerator on the bottom of my pond sending lots of bubbles upwards in the Summer. Since you live in Florida you have Summer always so maybe an aerator would help for the future.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This morning the water is a little bit clearer and there are no clumps floating. But there is more foam/ bubbles than before.
The fish seem slightly more active and did eat a little.
The water parameters are:
Ammonia is a trace. Less than 0.25ppm

PH is a little low at 6.8. I'll be dealing with that.

Nitrite is 0

Nitrates are elevated at about 3.0 t0 3.5ppm.

I've raised the pump and filter flow rates and have added more aeration.

 

[mrsclem]

I'm hoping that maybe your problem is your fish spawned. You would get the foam and a strong smell. If thats the case, the fish would be eating the eggs and not interested in food. Elevated ammonia level after spawning is normal.

 

[mgmine]

I'm going out to buy a large. Full spectrum test kit.

Don't bother with a test kit they aren't worth the money that the packaging costs. You've done what you should which is a partial water change (although I would have done more than 200 gallons) and increasing the water agitation. You're in Florida and the weather has been hot it sounds like there has been a build-up of nutrients in the water and that along with the extra water agitation is causing some frothing and the bubbles.