Tap water safe for my little garden pond?

Spongbong

I could really do with some advice on what to do with my little garden pond. It was here when we moved in to the house so I'm not sure what exactly is in it but I know we have at least three frogs and LOADS of snails.

Problem is, the pond is drying out. It's getting really low now and I don't know what to do. I want to top it up with tap water but I have read conflicting info online about that.

Anyone here know anything about ponds? I'm worried about my beautiful frogs and snails :-(

lizzyb1812

Hi Spongbong

Have a look at this:

http://www.morefromyourgarden.co.uk/news/article.asp?a=5085

The gist of it seems to be that it is natural for a pond to be low in summer and topping up with tap water may lead to a lot of slimy algae. Also recommends harvesting rainwater and saving it for this

HTH

Liz

wallbash

Bit late to start collecting rain water , dryish spring for years.I top up my pond with tap water :eek: But I don't leave it till its too low. So I am replacing only about 5% at a time.

I don't get 'green' water , have invested in a filter with a UV lamp .

Spongbong you have a choice , tap water or no pond. Only advice I would give you . Add some water every other day , til pond is full.

tbw

I don't think tap water will hurt your frogs and snails. Its the chlorine in tap water that doesn't do fish any good at all , gives them a nasty case of toxic shock - if you haven't got any fish it will be fine.

elsien

I've topped up my dad's pond before now with tap water when he was away and it was getting too low. He's got fish, but I was working on the basis that if I didn't, they'd die anyway and his water butt had run dry. Didn't seem to do them any harm I don't think. Lesser of 2 evils really.

ukbill69

Use tap water and leave for a few weeks for all the chlorine in the water to go.

Mojisola

Chlorine is quite unstable in water and will be lost to the air fairly rapidly. If you fill a bucket and leave it open to the air, it will be fine after a day, particularly if you give it a stir or two.

wallbash

Use tap water and leave for a few weeks for all the chlorine in the water to go.

Unfortunately the OP needs the water ... NOW:D

Farway

I always use tap water, no fish in pond though

I never even considered using tap water would be a problem, and in my experience it is not, pond is clear, but does have a bit of duckweed appearing this summer. The one frog seems OK to date, as are the birds that come down to bathe & cats that have a drink out of it

jaxx46

I found that I got a lot of blanket weed after adding tap water then someone suggested a liquid called chlorine control that you can buy in Wilkos, brillian stuff, pond is clear and fish and frogs are thriving hth