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Q and A; or...HELP!
Do you have a question about ponding,
planting, fish, filtration? Send us an e-mail.
We will do our very best to answer it.
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- ...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.
- ...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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
-
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.
lots more--
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