Pond help

mahoney

We have recently moved into a house which has a pond. There is a fountain and filter in there, but we got an electrician round and he says it needs a new pump. I really have no idea where to begin... With the weather warming up I'm concerned it's going to become too stagnant if it is left much longer. Any ideas what to do? I might even need to call a pond expert in if anyone knows one - Epsom Surrey area. Pond is about 1.5m x 1.5m.

jammy_dodger

do you realy need / want a fountain and pump ? my pond is of similar dimensions and about 3 ft deep in middle , it is awild life pond but never gets stagnant or smelly i scoop out algae and excess pond weed but it is clear and healthy
i just replenish oxygenating plants and use barley straw to keep it clear , i think pumps and filters etc are for those wanting fancy fish ??
yoiu can get solar fountains if so desired . i grow water lillies too i believe they prefer still water hth am dsure more of an expert will be along soon

mahoney

Thanks JD. I don't know if i need a pump or not tbh....I thought I did to keep it clean, but would it be enough to get appropriate plants then? Could you suggest a few?

ukbill69

Get some fish and they will eat all the green stuff in there.

jammy_dodger

i have elodea crispa in the pond no soil needed just weight it down . i tie fishing weihght around the bottom and chuck it in i use about 6 bunches of 10 strands in my pond that helps and a have a water lilly to help exclude a little light to deter green algae seem towork so does the barley straw you can buy barley ball to keep straw together and re use ball each year . also have a few marginal plants about the edge but those are for decoration and wildlife . am sur e if you are not too fussy a pump is not necessary good luck x x

heynonnynonny

My pond is double the size and I've never had any fountains or pumps in it, when I moved in last year I was the same as you not knowing what to do with it - just put some oxygenating plants in and it'll be fine, I've got water soldiers, grasses, nymphaea and some floating frogbit. Could be good to pop into an aquarium/pond shop seeing what they've got. I bought a few of my plants off eBay for really cheap.

wallbash

To give you the opposing view
Have pond , with fish , fountain and waterfall ( small) . keeping water crystal clear using filter combined with UV light.

Really depends on what sort of pond you want ?

Sticking barley straw in to decompose ?? to clarify water is green but using UV lights is quicker and gives clearer water.

So , make your mind up time , fish or wild life
Hi tech or green ?

RebekahR

We are currently building a pond about 13foot long 6 foot wide and 22 inhces in the deepest part. I am hoping cover half the pond in plants and the other half to be able to look in! We are goingto have some small gold fish and shubakins though.

Firstly is a pump compulsary or highly recommended if you have fish in there?
Secondly roughly how many fish is a good amount for this size of pond?
Can I have a UV light and filter in the pond built in 1? Will this need a pump to run it?And can I get this on transformer without the need of an electrician?

So many qu's - sorry for hijacking the thread! And thanks in advance!

wallbash

how many fish is a good amount for this size of pond?

There is a formula ... something like the number of inch's of fish to the surface area .
So I had the right number ... then they kept growing , so I have too many fish now.

Can I have a UV light and filter in the pond built in 1?

I like the 'green genie ' ( google it ) its a light above a filter , in one box
But yes you need a pump , water is pumped to the area above UV light , then goes to filter.
Filter box is above water , so the water is returned to pond via a 'waterfall'

And can I get this on transformer without the need of an electrician?

All done on low voltage , so its a diy job .... if undertaken by someone who reads the instructions .

( I only put the last bit in to keep the Health and safety brigade quiet!)



Going to be a big pond , might think of a little deeper ( at only one area)
Mine is much smaller , but at deepest its nearer 36 inches.
No problems with fish and ice in winter.

wallbash

found ( and pasted )

quote
To assess how many fish your pond will support, estimate its surface area and allow 60sq cm of surface for every 1 cm of fish (equivalent to 24 sq. inches per inch of fish). Since fish grow and breed, it is best to start off with around one-third of the theoretical maximum number. For example, a 1.8 x 1.2m (6ft x 4ft) pond will, in theory, support 360cm (144ins) of fish, equivalent to 36 individuals averaging 10cm (4ins)long, but, in practice, you should have only about 12.
Golden Rule - Your pond needs to have part of the area at least 60cm deep for goldfish and 1.5m or more for Koi if they are to be left over winter safely in the pond.


genie

http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/TRIDENT_199.



its an ugly box , but mine is hidden in a 'wall seat'


Might get the camera out.

forgotmyname

The fish will produce waste you need some sort of filtration to breakdown that waste.

Basically fish excrete amonia which is toxic to them, Bacteria in a filter converts this into nitrite, which is also toxic but not quite as much, Different bacteria in the filter then turns that into nitrate which is less toxic also.
Plants thrive on nitrate, I grow watercress.

Without a pump & some form of filter the bottom of the pond will get more and more sludge. Did my sisters mother in laws a few years back closed the pond due to not being able to maintain it and more space for the grand kids.
Although they had a pump there was no filter & we had to shovel between 8iches and a foot of what must have been dead leaves & fish poo.

Seems the pump blocked & they just raised it onto a brick & when it blocked again they added another brick.. YUK.