Barb & her pond
Place of Peace
I’ve just joined and want to say hello to everyone. I’m Barb, and my new house came with an appr 400-500g lined pond, all stocked w a couple koi, shubunkin, a sarassa comet, and a fancy goldfish. All fish are under 5”. I’ve seen small minnow-looking fish that I assume are mosquito fish. Plants are bog, submerged, floating, and 2 water lilies that look young as they haven’t spread much yet.
I’ve seen a couple fish flashing, so I’m afraid there’s a parasite issue. I’ve tried catching said fish for over a month, but there are so many hidey holes it’s proved impossible.
Are there natural ways to treat the whole pond for parasites?? I know what sorts of things make fish flash, but I do not know what this is.
There’s detritus/sludge build-up on the bottom that I’ve been using beneficial bacteria to help combat/digest. Filtration is 2 tetra cheapo box filters w 2 sponges running to 2 waterfalls. I’m cleaning them every other day and it’s impressive how much sludge they’re pulling out. Also running carbon and ammonia uptake. Parameters are pretty good, but pH is kind of erratic so I’m studying how to buffer safely.
Ought to mention that I have a lot of freshwater and reef aquarium experience. That’s proving helpful as water testing, disease/parasite recognition, and nutrition choice proficiency slide over to ponds pretty well.
I’ve seen a couple fish flashing, so I’m afraid there’s a parasite issue. I’ve tried catching said fish for over a month, but there are so many hidey holes it’s proved impossible.
Are there natural ways to treat the whole pond for parasites?? I know what sorts of things make fish flash, but I do not know what this is.
There’s detritus/sludge build-up on the bottom that I’ve been using beneficial bacteria to help combat/digest. Filtration is 2 tetra cheapo box filters w 2 sponges running to 2 waterfalls. I’m cleaning them every other day and it’s impressive how much sludge they’re pulling out. Also running carbon and ammonia uptake. Parameters are pretty good, but pH is kind of erratic so I’m studying how to buffer safely.
Ought to mention that I have a lot of freshwater and reef aquarium experience. That’s proving helpful as water testing, disease/parasite recognition, and nutrition choice proficiency slide over to ponds pretty well.