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  1. I would like to know what the formula of salt per 100 gallons of water is. I have some stressed fish... —See reply.

  2. I moved into a house that has a small fish pond. It is so dirty and I want to clean it out but I know nothing about fish ponds nor fish. I found 4 goldfish in the pond they look about 5 inches. Do I take the fish out and put them in a bucket while I clean the little pond? Do I use tap water in the bucket and in the water to replace the old water? I don't want the fish to die but they will I would think if I can't get the water changed. —See reply.

  3. I am thinking of digging a farm pond on my property. The pond would be for our enjoyment but also to possibly raise Koi for resale. Also, could I put other fish (Cat, Bass, or panfish) in the pond? Would the Koi co-habit with these fish? —See reply.

  4. Many of my fish are 'swimming' up to the hole in the ice which the heater has kept open all winter. I'm not sure what is happening. —See reply.


  5. My goldfish pond is about 1 foot deep and about 4-5 feet wide, holds about 150 gallons. What can I do about keeping the water temperature high enough to keep the fish from hibernating? —See reply.


  6. I was wondering if a normal domestic koi fish I bought from the local koi shop for $4 would ever grow to win a Koi competition if the color is nice and its healthy, or does it matter about the history of where my koi came from and how much I bought the koi for? —See reply.


  7. I have an outdoor pond and want to take the goldfish out while I clean it. I have a large plastic box ( the type that can be used on pick-up trucks or for storage). I want to know if it would be okay to keep my fish in there for a few days or could it be toxic for them. —See reply.



  8. This is my first year of owning a pond. I am not sure how to winterize. I would appreciate your assistance or let me know where I could get assistance. —See reply.


  9. Some of my young koi are losing their scales. I am already treating them for both bacteria and parasites. They don't seem to be having any problems with it but do the scales grow back? —See reply.


  10. I have a small fish pond in Canada with koi fish that have grown to a pretty good size. They are too big to bring inside, so I would like to keep them outside. Will they freeze or hibernate or something or will they die? —See reply.


  11. Our pond water has a cloudy green cast to it.  What is causing this and how do we get rid of it? —See reply.

  12. What are acceptable water testing levels for pH, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, oxygen? —See reply.



  13. I have heard about adding salt to my pond. What is the purpose and when should I do it? Also, how much do I add, what type of salt is used and is it harmful to my plants? —See reply.


  14. How many fish can I have in my pond? Is there a size to gallons of water formula? —See reply.


  15. What is causing a white foam on top of the water? —See reply.


  16. I have both Koi and Goldfish in my pond - I wish to only have Koi. I am obviously an amateur - I can't tell the difference between the two - in the next few weeks I'll be getting my pond going for the warmer season and want the Goldfish "outta here". —See reply.
  17. ...about 2 weeks ago, i noticed a "spot" on the side of one of the comets - it looks as if a scale is raised, and it's reddish underneath. my initial thought was that it swam into something when the guys were being netted for the cleanout, but it seems to be more noticeable now. (could be because the pond is clear now and i can see better!!) everyone seems fine (2 koi- approx 12"; one apprx 6" and two comets - apprx 8") the pond is lined with stones and has a bio waterfall. lots of plants too. how do i tell if it's simply an injury due to rocks, or if it's something more? none of the other fish have it and they all are very active since it's getting a little warmer here. (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  18. ...We recently put in a pond and need a lot of help! We don't have a filter...I hope this isn't a dumb question but do you need one in order to have fish in the pond? We have a fountain - we don't run it all of the time.

    Also, we have a lot of algae...would a filter help us with this? Our pond is 4' x 6' x 18".

    If we do need a filter can you recommend an easy care one? (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  19. As a new pond owner, I keep being asked if I have a pond maintenance service. Is pond maintenance something I should consider hiring out or is it something I can do on my own? What is involved? Any info would be greatly appreciated!! (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  20. As a new pond owner, I keep being asked if I have a pond maintenance service. Is pond maintenance something I should consider hiring out or is it something I can do on my own? What is involved? Any info would be greatly appreciated!! (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.
  21. A couple of quick questions, I understand lettuce is good for Koi? I usually feed them the wheat germ based food until it gets warmer, and then they get a higher protein food. My neighbor feeds hers dehydrated shrimp and she said you can also add lettuce to their diet. What kind of lettuce, how much, and how finely chopped? Also what do you think about the dehydrated shrimp? Any feeding tips? Thanks! (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.
  22. I was reading about the benefits of a UV Bio-filter and wanted to know your thoughts on this kind of a device. I noticed a product that naturally clarifies the water...it was a mini bale of straw that floats in the pond. How effective are these bales of straw? (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.
  23. This morning I checked the levels in my 2900 gal. pond. I do have about 8 fish in the pond (koi & goldfish). The pond is new, about 3 weeks old, and all levels checked out good except the ph level. The ammonia was at 0, the nitrite and nitrate were also at 0. The salt levels were also good (I have plants in the pond). The ph level reading, according to the test chart, was between 8.4 - 8.8. Any suggestions on lowering the ph levels naturally. Also I've read about the benefits of installing a UV Bio-filter...any recommendations and info on this product would be greatly appreciated. Also where can I get replacement test tubes with caps for the chemical test kits? (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.
  24. I have a pond that I build in my backyard last summer. After receiving a plant for the biofalls filter from a friend who has a rather large pond in the country, I found several "critters" which look like a long worm with a head shaped like an arrow. They are quite long and thin, I would think between 3 inches and longer. Once this spring, I even found one in my lawn... (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.
  25. I have had a pond for about four years. It was doing fine up until about two weeks ago when the water turned murky and foamy. The water quality tests out okay I have a bag of activated charcoal and barley straw in the bio falls. The "foam" seems to emanate from the bio falls. Yesterday I did a 50% water change but the water is the same today. More foam and it is cloudy and murky. Any ideas??? ANY help would be greatly appreciated. (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  26. I am having an alge problem this year. I get round circles of alge on the top of my pond. My skimmer needs constant cleaning. I have a 900 gallon pond with a small stream and water fall. I have had the pond for 3 years and have never had this bad of a problem. Should I empty it and scrub down the sides and bottom? Would a pond vac help? My skimmer needs constant cleaning. Is there a fish I can get that can help control this. I have goldfish and Koi already. (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  27. I have a new pond and i have 3 55gal barrels with a 2in input at the top and 1 1/2in qutput at the bottom that flows into a stream. Inside the barrels are milk creats then mesh bag filled with lava rock then mesh bag with straw. Is this a good filter becuse i'm tring to learn as I go and this is what a local suggested to me, and put bio booster in it.
    My pond is 22ft long and 15ft wide and 5.5 ft deep i also have 8 koi and lillies in the pond (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  28. Don't know where to start, so I will try to keep this as simple as possible. Four years ago, my husband and a friend built a backyard pond with what I consider to be minimal knowledge of the maintenance of it...

    There are two very large koi which belong to my husbands friend, three smaller ones, and alot of goldfish. Since money is very tight, and we cannot afford to enlarge the pond to accomodate all of these fish,I gave them two options, in my case mostly out of concern for the fish themselves. One, close the pond, or learn how to take care of it, or two get rid of some of the fish, and give them a happier home.

    I have been led to believe by talking to several people in pond stores or pond departments, that the first to go should be the very large koi, but my husbands friend insists that the goldfish should go first, and see what happens. Any suggestions as to what to do, my pond needs its spring cleaning, but I believe something has to be done about the fish first, or cleaning will not solve the main problem. (Added 6-16-05) —See reply.

  29. Thanks for your response from yesterday. I have a couple more questions. When distributing the salt into the pond...is there a best way? I went all around the edges and by the waterfall.

    You spoke about feeding the fish twice a day at the height of the season. What is considered the height of the season?

    Is there a good commercial food that you would recommend. I read the variety of foods that the koi enjoy, do they also eat the algae that forms?

    What kind of a cover to do you recommend for the winter? Are there any local shops around my area, for supplies. I plan on attending the trade show on May 13th, any suggestions in case I wish to bring back some fish. What should I bring with me in order to transport the fish safely?

    In general, how much can I expect to pay for a 6"koi? (Added 5-4-05) —See reply.

  30. We have recently built a pond in our backyard. I recently read in your q&a section, that I could use the solar salt pellets for my water softner for salting the water in the pond. Is this correct?

    Also my pond dimensions are 20' long by 10' wide and 24"deep. I purchased a salt-testing kit and determined that it is in need of salt. There are no plants in now, but do plan on putting them in. We have 3 tier waterfall with a 10,000 gallon pump running it right now. Any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated. How often should I check the salt levels (and ammonia & nitrate, etc.)?

    I have been told to only feed the fish once a week. By doing this, it will encourage the fish to eat the algae that builds up...your thoughts on this.

    I was also told to stop feeding the fish entirely once the temperature stays below 50 degrees and that using a bubbler and heater during the winter, the fish should do fine...your thoughts on this. (Added 5-4-05) —See reply.

  31. Hi. We have just purchased a house that has a retention pond on it. We were told the homeowner's association took care of it and now that it is a problem, we have found out that is not the case... (Added 5-1-05) —See reply.

  32. Hello my name is Nicole Smith and i am doin a school project on Enviromental Health issues. Then we had to smaller our topic and find something inside that lager topic and i decided to do Pollution of the Schuylkill River. i was just woundering if you ever test the river and if so could you please e-mail me back i would like to know where you are located. Thank You, Nicole Smith (Added 5-1-05) —See reply.

  33. Hello -
    My husband and I received two small pond shells (no pumps etc). One was used, the other new. I saw a picture of two preformed ponds butted up together, but no instructions on if you use the same pump, if you can waterfall from one to the other. Each time I look at pond pump parts, I am lost as to what I will need to purchase. Please let me know if there is an instruction guide on how to connect to ponds.
    Thanks. (Added 5-1-05) —See reply.

  34. Hi.... This is the second year of my pond, it is 15x20x30" deep. I have a biofalls filter and about 30 fish of assorted varieties. My question is, is it necessary to run the pump 24/7 or can I shut it off a night to save energy costs? Thanks for the reply.... (Added 4-19-05) —See reply.

  35. I've just built a pond in my back yard (its about 5ft by 5ft and 4ft deep). i would like to stock with some exotic fish and maybe koi carp. could you please give me some ideas on which fish i could put in it.? (Added 4-19-05) —See reply.

  36. we are very new to pond gardening. We recently bought a home with a large pond about 3 foot deep and about 4ft on one end where a 3 tier rock waterfall is. We had 2 fish(pond comets disappear for several weeks, we found them along with a dead frog(white in color) at the top of the waterfall where the netting(?) is and the deepest part. could they have swam inside the filter/pump where the water is pulled through and maybe sucked all the away around to the waterfall? (Added 4-19-05) —See reply.

  37. Help.....I had my koi in the garage in a self made pond all winter. I put them back outdoors last weekend. Water conditions were a little high in PH but fish doing fine. I added about 15 gallons of the water the fish were in into the outdoor pond and then the fish. This week.....wallah! hundreds of eggs and two koi are still spawning. What do I do now? I really don't care if they all make it to hatch but curious and hopeful if they do. Please let me know if you can help. (Added 4-12-05) —See reply.

  38. I have a small pond and was just wondering if there was any good way of keeping the raccoons away? Last year, they trashed my water plants and ate my fish. Now I'm afraid to put more fish in this year. Also, I have a friend with a very large pond who is also having problems with raccoons eating his Koi. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. (Added 4-12-05) —See reply.

  39. My husband and I live in Lyons and are going to be putting in a new pond this year. We've had a pre-formed pond from Sam's Club, that worked nicely for the past 5 years, but we are now ready to move up in size, since we want a couple more Koi and the one's we have are bigger now.

    We're going back and forth with each other over whether or not we should have a raised pond or not. I don't care too much for a raised pond since I would like something more natural looking. I know that to winter your fish outside the depth needs to be below the frost level (18" sound right?). Now, if it's a raised pond my thought is that it would still need to be 18" below ground level. Or does it just 18" deep, like my husband thinks?

    Also, what kind of luck do people with ponds in our area have with bog filtration? We brought in our hyacinth and water lettuce for the winter, also, and I wonder if that's a good choice in addition to a regular filter and skimmer set up.

    Final question; if we winter our fish outside, heater or no heater? I understand no heater, don't feed, don't break the ice if any forms, shut off the waterfall etc. - is this accurate info? I can't believe how much conflicting information is out there. It gets confusing. (Added 3-23-05) —See reply.

  40. I have been reading all of the emails sent, and I have a few more questions that hopefully you can answer/or go into more detail for me.

    1. We are installing a pond 9 ft x 35 ft. It will have a waterfall and be circulated with the Large Clean Seep Skimmer Filter, Standard Biofalls Filter and a 4500 Pump. We plan on stocking both regular Koi and Butterfly Koi. Is there any plus' and/or minus' on stocking both types together?

    2. We would also like to introduce either: Western Painted Turtle, Mississippi Map Turtle or even a Jumbo Pond Tutle. I hear a lot of different stories: they carry and/or create harmful bacteria that will/could harm the koi and kill them. How do I know what to believe. One of the emails I was reading on your website was that they can bring in Leeches. Is this all based on if the turtle has been quarantined or not?

    3. The Pleco (algae eater), would it be okay to get 2 of them for my pond to help keep the algae under control and bring them in for the winter? I know if we do get turtles that we will have to bring those in for the winter, so bringing the Pleco in wouldn't be hard. And is the Pleco bad for the koi?

    4. Lastly, what is the scoop with the snails. Are they good for a pond? What is the plus' and minus' to the snails with the koi? We have a pool approx. 4 feet from our pond. Would we need to worry about them getting out of the pond and going into our pool? Oh and the hot tub is only 2 feet away. Your help on clearing some of these concerns of mine would be a huge help. Our pond is being built on April 21st and I would like to get these questions answered.

    5. I am sorry, one more question. With the koi and depending on the answers, possibly turtles/snails; Is the Biological Filter (BioFalls) and the Aquascape 4500 Pond Pump good for my needs or would you recommend the bead filters? I would enjoy a gin clear and as much as an algae free pond as possible without harming the fish. I just don't know which is the better route to go. What are the plus' and minus'?

    Thank you in advance for your help! (Added 3-7-05) —See reply.

  41. Hi Bob, Thank you for such a prompt reply!

    I admit I was a little depressed though! I can't believe I had such flawed info. When I put the fish in the pond (yes, it was Feb.), the temp was about 50, and 2 different people said to just float them in their bag awhile to acclimate and they'll be fine. I also was told they'd take care of themselves and no feeding, my wife was skepticle on both counts! Needless to say I went out and bought a new toliet brush and took the old one down to the pond to scoop out the algae like you said, I taped it on a painting pole, looks better already! You mentioned feeding, we have a long finned indoor goldfish that gets fed every day, do I have to feed the pond fish like that? Year round? I sprinkled some in yesterday and the few I saw weren't interested. But it was real cold and they don't move much.

    By the way last week it warmed up to about 45 and I saw a whole bunch, maybe 20, which led me to believe they're "layin' low'. Is this true? There are a lot of places to hide in the grassy areas and also under the banks of the stream bed, sometimes I don't see any unless I stand still for awhile and then they come out. As far as predation goes, I've been watching for 'coon tracks, haven't seen any, and the pond is fed by 2 different underground streams so no other fish can get in. Which also means a fairly constant temp. right? I built the pond at the "Y" which makes it longer than I told you, approx 20', but it tapers up.

    For some background the stream is at the bottom of land we cleared for horse pasture last year, we're hoping to have the horses in by summer. This started my whole idea of the dam for a year round pool of water for them. One of the horses likes to stomp in the water though so the fish better hold on! Which also means nothing artificial for algae control. As far as the catfish idea, I don't think I could find him to bring him in for the winter, besides more work, and another aquarium. How about if I threw in a handful of snails or something?

    Who are the garbage men of a pond? I'd like a mini ecosystem. I'm sorry, this is getting long, but 2 more quick questions...How many fish will a pond this size support? I've seen at least 2 frogs in there, are they eating the fish? I know there are turtles on the property and won't be far behind...they don't call them "feeder fish" for nothing right? Thank you so much for helping out a novice ponder!! Jimi (Added 3-4-05) —See reply.


  42. Hello,
    I'm new to this site and to ponds. I have a stream that I dammed up to create a pond, maybe 500 - 1000 gallons.

    After a couple of weeks I added 60 "feeder" goldfish and 3 crawfish. I can hardly see any of the fish, I know it's winter (we're getting a "Noreaster" today), and the pet store said they'd be still, also on the banks of the old stream was grass, now submerged, and I think they are hanging out in there until it warms up. Is this true?

    Secondly, I'm seeing alot of algae, both the floating kind and the string kind now. When there is a big rain the water goes over the dam and helps clean the surface some. But it's not even summer yet and I'm afraid the algae will get worse, the water does flow under my dam a bit. My friend said the fish would eat the algae, is this true? Do I have enough fish? Are they just hibernating? Am I even on the right page :) !?!

    The pond is approx 2' deep in the stream bed x 6'w x 10'L depending on the water depth, which fluctuates approx 6"-8". Thanks for any help you can offer!
    Jimi, Phoenixville, PA
    (Added 3-2-05) —See reply.


  43. I am new to this site and I been searching everywhere to get the answer to my question. Your site is very useful also. My question is that -- I have a 20 gallon tank with 3 small comet fish , 2 inch angelfish and a black tetra also about 2 in. I really want a KOI but do not have a pond. I have no where to put a pond so the pond is out.. I was wondering if my tank is alright to get a baby KOI ? My tank isn't that crowded with Decor either. I have a fake plant and a fake log in it. Is my comet fish going to be big like a KOI ( meaning do they grow the same way as fast ) I really want one but I don't want it to die.
    Thank You , PLEASE E-MAIL ME BACK ASAP Stephanie , New York
    (Added 3-2-05) —See reply.



  44. Because of living in "Heron City", we built an indoor pond (400-450) gallons in our finished basement. We had our outdoor deck sealed before the harsh winter weather. The basement wall has windows that look out under the deck. We have recently begun to see minature flying insects landing on the window crevices and walls. The bugs are black and very tiny with wings and 3/4 legs on each side and are coming indoors. They seem to like light and crevices.

    What can we use to get rid of the bugs without harming the fish.
    Thank you
    Sue
    (Added 3-2-05) —See reply.


  45. ...With all that said, I know it is quite a lot of info., my problem now is with the string algae. The pond is in the backyard and receives sunlight from morning to night since my yard new and there are no established trees and my house creates no shade for it. I physically remove the algae from time to time, but is really becoming a hassle. The UV light is doing its job and keeping the water clear, and the filters keep the water free of dead plant material and fish waste(I clean off the filters twice a week with a hose), so what should I do now?

    There is plenty of water movement, a 55 gallon drum full of biomaterial, UV light, aquatic plants, physical filtration, and no "dead water" areas in the pond. The only problem is the sun light. I am not willing to install a shade cover and I have already planted some trees to create shade, but they will not be usefull for a few years yet to come. The pond has no rocks on the bottom except for a clay 1' wide chimney tube for the fish to shelter themselves from the sun as well as any predators that may come along.( None so far, knock on wood). I do not use fertilizers for my plants, there is no runoff entering my pond, I don't overfeed my fish; if anything I underfeed them, due to me living alone and a hectic schedule. The only thing I can think of is to medicate the water with some bio chemicals to break down the string algae. Now here is the long overdue questions.

    #1. What is a good brand or type of additive I can add and at what dosage for my size pond?

    and #2. If there is something else I am overlooking that can help, please let me know.

    I have a tight budget so please do not go overboard with high cost solutions, unless that is the only way. I have tried and believe in the "all natural" approach by using more plant material to absorb excess nutrients, but frankly I have no more room for them and it still does not work. All fish are extremely healthy, as well as the plants, so I don't want to use anything that may put either in danger.

    Sorry about the novel I just wrote, but I figure the more info you have, the better you can understand the problem, and the easier it will be to come up with a more defined solution to the problem. Thanks for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

    -Patrick Svacha, Plainfield IL (Added 2-19-05) —See reply.


  46. Help, I have a 1300 filtered Koi pond. This is the first year that I've had so much algae during the winter. We keep the pond running for the waterfall and another water feature. I have 5 small fish and a big one, hopefully 4 little frogs and plants wintering over.

    Help and Thanks, Vee (Added 2-16-05) —See reply.


  47. OK here is my question. my dad is building me a pretty small fish pond in our back yard. it is only going to be like 200 gallons. It will be filtered. i just need to know how many golfish i can put in there, and what kind or golfish should they be? Oh! and also what kind of plants and how many of them!

    Thank you so much!
    kat (Added 2-14-05) —See reply.

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