Two ponds with zero TLC

[vicious5id]

Hey peeps,

I'm a newbie to this forum and hobby.

I've moved into a new house recently and I don't believe the previous owners looked after the ponds very well. There are two. One is very large and there is another smaller one which is raised above the larger one. I think the smaller pond water can overflow and begin feeding the larger one. There has to be some sort of pump to pump the water out of the larger and into the smaller pond in order for this feeding to happen.

Here are some pictures of the two ponds in their current state:

L1- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190233.jpg
L2- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190255.jpg
L3- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190309.jpg

S1- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190654-s.jpg
S2- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190654-s.jpg

I really have no idea how I'm going to make things better, and worse still, I really don't have a lot of money to spend (new house). I will require to sort out most, if not everything, myself. I really need some help and information please. Although I don't have much money to spend, I think doing as much as I can myself will give me a great opportunity to learn.

Thanks guys.

~v5

 

[taherrmann4]

Hey peeps,

I'm a newbie to this forum and hobby.

I've moved into a new house recently and I don't believe the previous owners looked after the ponds very well. There are two. One is very large and there is another smaller one which is raised above the larger one. I think the smaller pond water can overflow and begin feeding the larger one. There has to be some sort of pump to pump the water out of the larger and into the smaller pond in order for this feeding to happen.

Here are some pictures of the two ponds in their current state:

L1- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190233.jpg
L2- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190255.jpg
L3- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190309.jpg

S1- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190654-s.jpg
S2- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/IMG_20110629_190654-s.jpg

I really have no idea how I'm going to make things better, and worse still, I really don't have a lot of money to spend (new house). I will require to sort out most, if not everything, myself. I really need some help and information please. Although I don't have much money to spend, I think doing as much as I can myself will give me a great opportunity to learn.

Thanks guys.

~v5

In looking at the last pic s2 it make me wonder if you don't have a tear or leak in the liner somewhere since the other larger pond is full of water. May not be the case just a thought. Do you know how deep it is? What size is each pond in feet, length and widtch? You will want a pump and filter, DIY one can be made fairly cheaply and are proven, can be found in the DIY section. You have some plants so that is a start but I would not add any fish until you get it cleaned up and running.

 

[koidaddy]

Well the good thing is you nice plant coverage. Are there any fish in there? Do you plan to add fish? I would drain and start over. Save all the plants, dont over rinse them and use the pond water to do so, put them in a bucket with some pond water. Clean and refill the ponds, add declhorinator, and you are started in the right direction. You could give the plants another rinse with some of the new pond water and add the plants back to the pond. They can be planted in pea gravel or 100% clay cat litter/speedy dry. If you choose to add fish you will need a bio filter. These can be home made and there are alot here in the DIY section. Select a pump that fits your needs. You need to figure how many gallons you have. Plan to spend at least $100 on a pump, get the best you can afford now and you will not regret it. I use a Sequence that is rated at 4200 gph that cost a little over $300.

 

[vicious5id]

In looking at the last pic s2 it make me wonder if you don't have a tear or leak in the liner somewhere since the other larger pond is full of water. May not be the case just a thought. Do you know how deep it is? What size is each pond in feet, length and widtch? You will want a pump and filter, DIY one can be made fairly cheaply and are proven, can be found in the DIY section. You have some plants so that is a start but I would not add any fish until you get it cleaned up and running.

Pond sizes:

Large one is 15' length, 6' width and 1.5' depth.
Small one is 7' length, 5' width and 1.5' depth (maybe a bit less depth).

I have seen some goldfish in the pond.

Here are more pictures of the pond and stuff I've found after having a look around outside:

Panoramic view of ponds: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/PanoramicPonds.JPG

Large pond side: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/LargeFull.JPG
Large pond length: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/LargeLength.JPG
Small pond side: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/SmallFull.JPG

Pump: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/PumpInfo.JPG
Pump damaged cable: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/PumpCableTape.JPG

Filter innards: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/FilterInnards.JPG
Filter plastic thing: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/FilterPlasticDown.JPG

Surface clarity: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/SurfaceClarity1.JPG
Surface clarity: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/SurfaceClarity2.JPG

Water treatments: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/604231/TreatsFront.JPG

Are there any fish in there? Do you plan to add fish? I would drain and start over. Save all the plants, dont over rinse them and use the pond water to do so, put them in a bucket with some pond water. Clean and refill the ponds, add declhorinator, and you are started in the right direction. You could give the plants another rinse with some of the new pond water and add the plants back to the pond. They can be planted in pea gravel or 100% clay cat litter/speedy dry. If you choose to add fish you will need a bio filter. These can be home made and there are alot here in the DIY section. Select a pump that fits your needs. You need to figure how many gallons you have. Plan to spend at least $100 on a pump, get the best you can afford now and you will not regret it. I use a Sequence that is rated at 4200 gph that cost a little over $300.

Yes there are fish in there and I don't plan to add any more for a while. Above, I've posted pics of a pump and filter I found after looking around a small shed and under the trees.

 

[addy1]

welcome to the group, time and some work and you will have a nice set up there.

You might want to put the plants in the larger pond, clean and refill the smaller pond, make sure it is not leaking. Then transfer the plants fish ect to the small pond to clean and check the large pond.

 

[koidaddy]

You can deffinatilly work with that filter. The green things are what the good bacteria attach to for your bio load. The sponges are your mechanical part of the filter. I believe that is a submersable pump and with the splice in the cord not sure how good it is. Maybe an electrican will chime in on that one.

 

[taherrmann4]

I am not an electrician but on the damaged cable since it is withing 2-3' of the pump you may just cut it and rewire back into the pump. Those three screws on top where the cable goes in can be unscrewed and you can rewire it. I would be hesitant to use that since your pump sits in the water and there is a very good chance that part might sit in the water.

Just thought of this: in the states we have something called liquid electrical tape that you may be able to use instead of rewiring, not sure how water proof it is though.

 

[KennethO]

I would NOT use that pump. The frayed part is to close to the water. And unless you have experience wiring electrical equipment that is in contact with water, then buy a new one. You will be in contact with the water a lot more then you think when you trim the plants and feed the fish. Is it worth your life trying to save 100 bucks and using a pump like that?

Here is a pond calculator. http://www.pondcare.com/reference-center/pond-calculator/index.aspx

So you have about 1010gals in the large pond and 393 in the small for a total of about 1400gallons.

I do not see a waterfall or stream that connects the two ponds. They look the be separate ponds. Do both have fish in them or just the larger one?

I would do as others suggested and move all the plants and fish from the small pond into the large one. Then drain and clean it with just water and a sponge, don't use soap or any other type of cleaner. Look for any holes or leaks and refill with declorinated water. Wait a few days and see if the water level drops from any leaks you might have missed. Then switch and do the large.

If all you want is plants and only the one or 2 goldfish you have then you can go without a filter. But once you move on to bigger or more fish then a filter is needed.

 

[whiskey]

hi and welcome, once ponds are clean, you need to get a pump up and running a,s,p or all the hard work will be for nothing, ebay a good site to pick up pumps.. good luck

 

[ididntdoit99]

Wow, you do have a great start there, and I agree, it sure doesnt look to me like the two ponds were ever connected, but with a little work, they sure could be. Look slike first things first, fill that little one up and see if it leaks. and then get some plumbing hooked up get a nice pump, and hook it up to that filter you got, and you're on your way.

 

[vicious5id]

Greets all,

Thanks for all the replies as of late. I was on a trip in the middle of the week so I haven't been able to reply.

Small pond's liner is punctured near the top - looks like the neighbour's cat walked onto it. So, I will not be able to fill the small pond all the way to the top.

The two ponds are connected in a crude way, I suppose: in the corner of the small pond there's a flower pot. This pot's top faces the small pond and the bottom the large pond. It sits under one of the stone slabs of the small pond. The bottom of the flower pot leads to a small bit of plastic sheeting that's covered with soil and overgrown bushes. This sheet of plastic connects to the larger pond - so I assume it's a stream type thing.

Will I need to clean the filter I posted photos of? If so, how? And what do I use?

I am qualified in electronics, so I'll probably take a look at that pump later - although it does look like it's one of those not-meant-to-be-opened things. It will probably have very difficult moulded connectors and contacts. I'll try to find another pump.

What's the necessity of a pump and filter? Aren't ponds supposed to be still-water features? Please excuse my ignorance.

Also, could you guys suggest a good set of basic items/equipment I should get sorted? Do I need things like rubber gloves, wellingtons, waterproof pants/trousers, trowels, spades, etc? What sort of cleaning tools? Would a pond vac help? Can I hire one or buy quite cheap?

Thanks for your help again.

 

[sissy]

You have healthy plants not so healthy water .I was wondering how they ever kept it clean ,they must have had some kind of filter at one time .

 

[sissy]

That kind of pump has screws at the top to get to the wiring and you can replace the cord if thats all thats wrong .I got a pump similar a couple of weeks ago at a pond I dismantled and the cord was bad and I just removed the screws disconnected the cord and bought a sump pump power cord to replace it and it works fine now

 

[whiskey]

I would connect both ponds and connect pump to lowest pond, run pump outlet waste to filter inlet, outlet on filter, returns cleaned water to top pond .Filters play a very practical way of getting green water out and replenishing with cleaner water. Use a bucket and wash all filter parts with pond water[ NOT TAP] good luck.

 

[addy1]

Greets all,



Small pond's liner is punctured near the top - looks like the neighbour's cat walked onto it. So, I will not be able to fill the small pond all the way to the top.

The two ponds are connected in a crude way, I suppose: in the corner of the small pond there's a flower pot. This pot's top faces the small pond and the bottom the large pond. It sits under one of the stone slabs of the small pond. The bottom of the flower pot leads to a small bit of plastic sheeting that's covered with soil and overgrown bushes. This sheet of plastic connects to the larger pond - so I assume it's a stream type thing.

Will I need to clean the filter I posted photos of? If so, how? And what do I use?


What's the necessity of a pump and filter? Aren't ponds supposed to be still-water features? Please excuse my ignorance.

Also, could you guys suggest a good set of basic items/equipment I should get sorted? Do I need things like rubber gloves, wellingtons, waterproof pants/trousers, trowels, spades, etc? What sort of cleaning tools? Would a pond vac help? Can I hire one or buy quite cheap?

Thanks for your help again.

You can try to fix the punctures, with a repair kit.

Use pond water to clean the filters, swish around in a bucket of water.

Filters keep the water from getting yucky like it is right now.

You can use the things you listed above gleves etc. yours is pretty dirty, I don't use gloves or anything just walk into my pond, but the water is clean.

A spade gently used can help dig out the muck on the bottom, just scoop, or just use a net.

A pond vacuum will work in getting the muck out, I would start with a net or shovel be careful using a shovel.