Hi All,
Apologies for the long post, I want to give as much info as possible! I am going to start by posting a copy and paste from my intro post so you can get as much info as possible on what we have as a pond, we are also complete novices on ponds, we have kept aquarium fish and raised tadpoles but that's it. I did quite a bit of research when we built the pond but it was a wildlife pond so there was never much thought given to raising fish (for example I know it is too shallow for the winter and will be using a bubble to keep the temperature up and bringing the minnows and perhaps the goldfish indoors):
'It is a small wildlife pond of approximately 150 litres (it's about a 100cm x 60cm x 35 cm), it was a little project for the kids a few months ago and stemmed from us rescuing some tadpoles and keeping them outside in 20 litre container. The pond is unfiltered but has a small solar powered fountain, it has a good amount of plants (more than I want but they keep being donated to my wife), there's 3 good bunches of Elodea, some reeds, water hyacinths (4 and growing) and another unidentified plant that is quite tall (it's top sticks out of the water) and it has quite broad oval leaves that grow in pairs off the stem.
The pond is about 30% covered by the hyacinths and the fountain and there are some rocks at the bottom with some hidey holes, though the plan was that this was a wildlife pond so no fish. I say was because we appear to have gained some minnows from somewhere (ducks have occasionally been seen having a dip but there must be at least 7 minnows now. I was actually quite grateful as they have taken care of the mosquito problem that was beginning to be an issue. On top of that we have also provided a home to 2 goldfish who were in a local pond that was going to be filled in.
More recently another 3-4 goldfish have been introduced not sure how or where from but our pond is in the front garden so access is easy and I know of at least 2 people reasonably locally that were filling ponds in.'
Now to the problem, the minnows and the 2 goldfish were fine for a number of weeks, I fed them twice a day a small amount which they seemed very eager for and it all disappeared in a couple of minutes (I suspected the pond could support these fish without additional food but I was worried about the minnows being eaten by the GF!). Since then some more Goldfish have appeared, not sure from where, I suspected that this would mean that the pond was overstocked but didn't see much of an option (none of the goldfish are bigger than 3 inches and 3 are closer to 2). I increased the amount that they were being fed but only by a small amount and again it was all gone within 3 or 4 minutes. This has been the way of things for the past 3 weeks or so.
Fast forward to the weekend, we had some really hot sunny weather (about 30°c) for 2 days and it has stayed warm (21°c) since. The whole pond is in full sunshine for about 2 hours per day, part of the pond is in sunshine for about another 3 hours per day (so 5 in total) but this part of the pond is covered by water hyacinths and a solar powered lilly pad fountain. The rest of the time it is mostly shaded with sunlight through the trees or in complete shade. As it happens the lilly pad fountain had stopped working about a week ago, I have left it as it provides shade and the place I bought it from is sending a replacement.
On Saturday all seemed well, the fish were a little less active but still had their moments and come feeding time they were all really active and eating well (this was Sat eve). Sunday they seemed less active, I didn't watch them eat but I did see them come up and I didn't see any food floating 10 minutes after feeding (nor any obviously sunk). Sunday evening (we were out all day) the fish were all very lethargic, one in particular looked to be unhappy as he was just sitting there and would only move if prompted (the others were hiding under rocks or by the reeds).
This one unhappy fish looked to have white patches and I feared the worst and tested the water for pH, ammonia etc but all was fine, the only thing that was close to tolerance was the hardness of the water but even that was technically ok.
I performed a 20% water change as I hadn't done this in sometime and hoped for the best. Yesterday it seemed much the same, none of this fish seemed hungry (I only fed a very small amount and I have now stopped feeding them).
This morning unfortunately this fish was dead, the rest of the goldfish are still hiding (the minnows are hard to spot but they seem to be fine), I did another water test and the results are pretty much the same:
NO3= 0mg/l
NO2= 0mg/l
KH= 7°
GH= 15°
pH= 7-7.5
Measurements were taken at around midday, water temp was 18 degrees. I didn't record Sunday's results but they were pretty similar from recollection.
I still decided to perform a bit more of a water change as I wanted to be sure and the water is pretty murky (probably to do with no filter) and probably changed about 25% out today. The fish aren't gasping for air, they are just sitting lower down in the pond (but not quite at the bottom mainly among some reeds or under some rocks).
For reference there is some green algae on the pond lining and the water is quite murky but not terrible, the base of the pond is covered with pond gravel and the plants are largely weighed by stones. When changing water there is clearly some sediment on the bottom of the pond, I try and pour water in carefully but some always rises but settles in an hour or so and it doesn't disturb the whole pond. There is a slight smell off the water but only if you get in really close.
I can't think of anything else that could be useful/relevant but please ask any questions that you think could help.
Can anyone give any advice on the best way to do water changes? I currently am filling 2 containers (25l and12l) treating them with aquasafe and leaving them in the sun for a couple of days (at least) to be sure. This works well for tanks but I was wondering if I can use a hose and just add some aquasafe (any recommendations for another cheaper pond centric brand gratefully received) to the pond.
Finally I don't want to add a filter or pump to the pond as that is going to add cost I can't really justify (or afford at the moment) but I can't see the fish suffering so suggestions on a balance that can be struck would be welcome, I can probably rehouse 2 of the fish but that's about it so would what we have support 2-3 goldfish and the minnows? I will be adding a tent in the winter to keep the temp up and I think I can deepen the pond by about 10cm reasonably easily by taking up the grass around it and then building earth up under the liner so that will take it to the magic 18in/45cm depth.
All guidance gratefully received.
Paddy
Apologies for the long post, I want to give as much info as possible! I am going to start by posting a copy and paste from my intro post so you can get as much info as possible on what we have as a pond, we are also complete novices on ponds, we have kept aquarium fish and raised tadpoles but that's it. I did quite a bit of research when we built the pond but it was a wildlife pond so there was never much thought given to raising fish (for example I know it is too shallow for the winter and will be using a bubble to keep the temperature up and bringing the minnows and perhaps the goldfish indoors):
'It is a small wildlife pond of approximately 150 litres (it's about a 100cm x 60cm x 35 cm), it was a little project for the kids a few months ago and stemmed from us rescuing some tadpoles and keeping them outside in 20 litre container. The pond is unfiltered but has a small solar powered fountain, it has a good amount of plants (more than I want but they keep being donated to my wife), there's 3 good bunches of Elodea, some reeds, water hyacinths (4 and growing) and another unidentified plant that is quite tall (it's top sticks out of the water) and it has quite broad oval leaves that grow in pairs off the stem.
The pond is about 30% covered by the hyacinths and the fountain and there are some rocks at the bottom with some hidey holes, though the plan was that this was a wildlife pond so no fish. I say was because we appear to have gained some minnows from somewhere (ducks have occasionally been seen having a dip but there must be at least 7 minnows now. I was actually quite grateful as they have taken care of the mosquito problem that was beginning to be an issue. On top of that we have also provided a home to 2 goldfish who were in a local pond that was going to be filled in.
More recently another 3-4 goldfish have been introduced not sure how or where from but our pond is in the front garden so access is easy and I know of at least 2 people reasonably locally that were filling ponds in.'
Now to the problem, the minnows and the 2 goldfish were fine for a number of weeks, I fed them twice a day a small amount which they seemed very eager for and it all disappeared in a couple of minutes (I suspected the pond could support these fish without additional food but I was worried about the minnows being eaten by the GF!). Since then some more Goldfish have appeared, not sure from where, I suspected that this would mean that the pond was overstocked but didn't see much of an option (none of the goldfish are bigger than 3 inches and 3 are closer to 2). I increased the amount that they were being fed but only by a small amount and again it was all gone within 3 or 4 minutes. This has been the way of things for the past 3 weeks or so.
Fast forward to the weekend, we had some really hot sunny weather (about 30°c) for 2 days and it has stayed warm (21°c) since. The whole pond is in full sunshine for about 2 hours per day, part of the pond is in sunshine for about another 3 hours per day (so 5 in total) but this part of the pond is covered by water hyacinths and a solar powered lilly pad fountain. The rest of the time it is mostly shaded with sunlight through the trees or in complete shade. As it happens the lilly pad fountain had stopped working about a week ago, I have left it as it provides shade and the place I bought it from is sending a replacement.
On Saturday all seemed well, the fish were a little less active but still had their moments and come feeding time they were all really active and eating well (this was Sat eve). Sunday they seemed less active, I didn't watch them eat but I did see them come up and I didn't see any food floating 10 minutes after feeding (nor any obviously sunk). Sunday evening (we were out all day) the fish were all very lethargic, one in particular looked to be unhappy as he was just sitting there and would only move if prompted (the others were hiding under rocks or by the reeds).
This one unhappy fish looked to have white patches and I feared the worst and tested the water for pH, ammonia etc but all was fine, the only thing that was close to tolerance was the hardness of the water but even that was technically ok.
I performed a 20% water change as I hadn't done this in sometime and hoped for the best. Yesterday it seemed much the same, none of this fish seemed hungry (I only fed a very small amount and I have now stopped feeding them).
This morning unfortunately this fish was dead, the rest of the goldfish are still hiding (the minnows are hard to spot but they seem to be fine), I did another water test and the results are pretty much the same:
NO3= 0mg/l
NO2= 0mg/l
KH= 7°
GH= 15°
pH= 7-7.5
Measurements were taken at around midday, water temp was 18 degrees. I didn't record Sunday's results but they were pretty similar from recollection.
I still decided to perform a bit more of a water change as I wanted to be sure and the water is pretty murky (probably to do with no filter) and probably changed about 25% out today. The fish aren't gasping for air, they are just sitting lower down in the pond (but not quite at the bottom mainly among some reeds or under some rocks).
For reference there is some green algae on the pond lining and the water is quite murky but not terrible, the base of the pond is covered with pond gravel and the plants are largely weighed by stones. When changing water there is clearly some sediment on the bottom of the pond, I try and pour water in carefully but some always rises but settles in an hour or so and it doesn't disturb the whole pond. There is a slight smell off the water but only if you get in really close.
I can't think of anything else that could be useful/relevant but please ask any questions that you think could help.
Can anyone give any advice on the best way to do water changes? I currently am filling 2 containers (25l and12l) treating them with aquasafe and leaving them in the sun for a couple of days (at least) to be sure. This works well for tanks but I was wondering if I can use a hose and just add some aquasafe (any recommendations for another cheaper pond centric brand gratefully received) to the pond.
Finally I don't want to add a filter or pump to the pond as that is going to add cost I can't really justify (or afford at the moment) but I can't see the fish suffering so suggestions on a balance that can be struck would be welcome, I can probably rehouse 2 of the fish but that's about it so would what we have support 2-3 goldfish and the minnows? I will be adding a tent in the winter to keep the temp up and I think I can deepen the pond by about 10cm reasonably easily by taking up the grass around it and then building earth up under the liner so that will take it to the magic 18in/45cm depth.
All guidance gratefully received.
Paddy
pour fishes. Paddy as CK has noted, the plants will hep a lot and will also help make them feel safe. The fountain will for sure help add O2 AND it will also cool the water down by several degrees. So yes, if the fountain is not working get that going ASAP. You can also turn your fountain pump into a filter, idk how big your pump is but, if you can put it in a small bucket ( my first small pond i started with a bucket, I used cotton batting around the pump and put lava rock in a mesh bag and layer it on top of that) or rubbermaid container ( cut circles in the top of the container and wrap it with cotton batting (or I use a foam padding) covered by window screen ) it will filter a lot of the murkyness out of the pond. You may have to clean it every couple days until the water clears a bit, then you'll only have to clean the batting every 10-14 days or so. Use activated charcoal in a mesh bag ( or you could use old pantyhose lol) under the batting and it will cut down on the smell. 