After winter?

[Ronfire]

I was wondering if I should drain the water from the bog after winter before starting the pumps in the spring. I know last year with my small bog the water stunk very bad almost like a sewer.
It becomes a debate weather a large amount of new well water is harder on the fish than the rank bog water from the winter.
My bog volume including gravel is as much as the pond.

 

[mrsclem]

I personally think if the water coming out smells bad, drain it. We have a 500 gallon section below our bog that flows to the pond. Several years ago, we started the pumps up not realizing that section was filled with rotted leaves. We lost 2/3s of our koi. That section is now netted in the fall!

 

[Tula]

I agree with @mrsclem , if the water smells bad, I'd use fresh water.