pond trouble

[G & K Meyer]

We are new to this pond stuff. So any and all help greatly appreciated.
I just went into the pond to bring up the plants we sunk for the winter and
found most of my kitty litter that we used in pots is on the bottom of the
pond. Guess fish somehow got in and moved it out of pots. Any way to keep
them from doing this?
So I am trying to scoop it out, and also finding lots of guck. Think algae
and waste. Water is now so stirred up and bad can't even see 1/2" into it.
What can I do to get it cleaned up now?? We have 4 pumps that we put
filter material around and we just set in the pond and they pump the water
up to a water fall. I am running one now to keep fish alive ( I hope).
Should I run or them or let every thing settle out.
Thanks for the help.


--
Greg &/or Kellie Meyer

[Tumbleweed]

Post by G & K Meyer
We are new to this pond stuff. So any and all help greatly appreciated.
I just went into the pond to bring up the plants we sunk for the winter and
found most of my kitty litter that we used in pots is on the bottom of the
pond. Guess fish somehow got in and moved it out of pots. Any way to keep
them from doing this?
So I am trying to scoop it out, and also finding lots of guck. Think algae
and waste. Water is now so stirred up and bad can't even see 1/2" into it.
What can I do to get it cleaned up now?? We have 4 pumps that we put
filter material around and we just set in the pond and they pump the water
up to a water fall. I am running one now to keep fish alive ( I hope).
Should I run or them or let every thing settle out.
Thanks for the help.

Hmmmmm <horrified tone>, what do you mean 'sunk for the winter'?????</end
horrified tone>

Dont use kitty litter (FFS!!) , use soil sold for the purpose (it has less
nutrients in it so you'll get less algae), with hessian or similar around it
and and cover with large gravel.

4 pumps sounds excessive, lucky there is room for the fish! Get a proper
filter, material around pumps will just clog in minutes.

Only you can say if its such a mess you should drain and start again.

Unless you have a UV filter and lots of established plants with plenty of
cover on the water (think water lilies) and/or a well established pond, lots
of algae is inevitable at the start.

[Oxymel_of_Squill]

Post by Tumbleweed
Hmmmmm <horrified tone>, what do you mean 'sunk for the winter'?????</end
horrified tone>
Dont use kitty litter (FFS!!) , use soil sold for the purpose (it has less
nutrients in it so you'll get less algae), with hessian or similar around it
and and cover with large gravel.
4 pumps sounds excessive, lucky there is room for the fish! Get a proper
filter, material around pumps will just clog in minutes.
Only you can say if its such a mess you should drain and start again.
Unless you have a UV filter and lots of established plants with plenty of
cover on the water (think water lilies) and/or a well established pond, lots
of algae is inevitable at the start.

Right, kitty litter???
But I don't think water lillies will survive one pump never mind a whole
Colorado Dam of them. They don't like moving water

[Tumbleweed]

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
Hmmmmm <horrified tone>, what do you mean 'sunk for the

winter'?????</end

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
horrified tone>
Dont use kitty litter (FFS!!) , use soil sold for the purpose (it has less
nutrients in it so you'll get less algae), with hessian or similar

around

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill
it

Post by Tumbleweed
and and cover with large gravel.
4 pumps sounds excessive, lucky there is room for the fish! Get a proper
filter, material around pumps will just clog in minutes.
Only you can say if its such a mess you should drain and start again.
Unless you have a UV filter and lots of established plants with plenty of
cover on the water (think water lilies) and/or a well established pond,

lots

Post by Tumbleweed
of algae is inevitable at the start.

Right, kitty litter???
But I don't think water lillies will survive one pump never mind a whole
Colorado Dam of them. They don't like moving water

To a degree but it must depend on how much current there is. the water in my
pond turns over every couple of hours and the lilies grow fine.

[W dale]

I did not know lilies don't like moving water! My lilies have leaves up
to 8 inches across and have been blooming since the beginning of July.
One plant is in the bottom of the pond at 54", and has blooms and large
leaves on the surface. My pond is irregular shaped, 19' X 21' (average)
and 52" (average) deep. Two 4300 GPH Silent Giant pumps fill the 240
gallon mechanical/bio filtration system (1 100 gallon and 2 70 gallon
stock tanks). Two water falls and one stream. I guess the water must
not be moving too much for the plants. And the fish love to play in the
falls. Anything I should be looking out for as a negative?
Thanks in advance.

Post by Tumbleweed

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
Hmmmmm <horrified tone>, what do you mean 'sunk for the

winter'?????</end

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
horrified tone>
Dont use kitty litter (FFS!!) , use soil sold for the purpose (it has

less

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
nutrients in it so you'll get less algae), with hessian or similar

around

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill
it

Post by Tumbleweed
and and cover with large gravel.
4 pumps sounds excessive, lucky there is room for the fish! Get a proper
filter, material around pumps will just clog in minutes.
Only you can say if its such a mess you should drain and start again.
Unless you have a UV filter and lots of established plants with plenty

of

Post by Oxymel_of_Squill

Post by Tumbleweed
cover on the water (think water lilies) and/or a well established pond,

lots

Post by Tumbleweed
of algae is inevitable at the start.

Right, kitty litter???
But I don't think water lillies will survive one pump never mind a whole
Colorado Dam of them. They don't like moving water

To a degree but it must depend on how much current there is. the water in my
pond turns over every couple of hours and the lilies grow fine.