Advice please on starting off with an "inherited" pond

[Claire]

Hi all,
I am new to this group and new to owning a pond! We bought a house 3
months ago that we were renting last year. The pond was full of the
homeowners fish last year but there was nothing else in the pond - no
pumps etc. The fish seemed fine and appeared around the end of May
until about October/November last year. We fed them on fish pellets. We
had about 16 and probably about 4 died over a few weeks last August. I
think there were simply too many. Every day I'd go out there and count
some more that had seemingly appeared from the day before! Since last
Autumn we have seen no fish at all in the pond. I assume they are still
hibernating? However I really need some advice about what to do now.
The owner wasn't interested last year in maintaining the pond and we
weren't keen to spend lots on equipment when it wasn't then our house
or garden. The pond is about 3 feet by two and appoximately 2.5 feet at
its deepest point. It is incredibly smelly at the moment. I have taken
away leaves and other debris from the surface but the mud/slime in
there is horrible. Would it be best to empty the pond and start over or
is there anything we can buy at this point to start cleaning which
won't damage any fish that might be there somewhere? I would appreciate
any tips. Thanks!

[David Sim]

16 fish in 50 gallon pond is probably too many.

Fish dying could be because of the lack of oxygen in the high summer - that
volume of water will heat up quickly in the summer &the fish won't like the
rapid temperature changes.

Whereabouts are you? & is the pond in or above ground. Also is it made from
a solid fibreglass pre-form, a liner or concrete?

Cheers for now

David

Post by Claire
Hi all,
I am new to this group and new to owning a pond! We bought a house 3
months ago that we were renting last year. The pond was full of the
homeowners fish last year but there was nothing else in the pond - no
pumps etc. The fish seemed fine and appeared around the end of May
until about October/November last year. We fed them on fish pellets. We
had about 16 and probably about 4 died over a few weeks last August. I
think there were simply too many. Every day I'd go out there and count
some more that had seemingly appeared from the day before! Since last
Autumn we have seen no fish at all in the pond. I assume they are still
hibernating? However I really need some advice about what to do now.
The owner wasn't interested last year in maintaining the pond and we
weren't keen to spend lots on equipment when it wasn't then our house
or garden. The pond is about 3 feet by two and appoximately 2.5 feet at
its deepest point. It is incredibly smelly at the moment. I have taken
away leaves and other debris from the surface but the mud/slime in
there is horrible. Would it be best to empty the pond and start over or
is there anything we can buy at this point to start cleaning which
won't damage any fish that might be there somewhere? I would appreciate
any tips. Thanks!

[Claire]

David, thanks for your reply.
In answer to your questions - we are in West London. The pond is below
ground. There is a pond liner in situ and it looks like there are
strips of thin metal around the soil edge to support it but I am unsure
what is under the lining further in to the pond. From what I have
managed to feel further under the liner there doesn't appear to be any
fibreglass or anything. The pond is in the corner of the garden and in
the shade for the most part of the day due to next doors and our
overhead trees etc. However, yes last year we did have some incredibly
hot days so even though the pond wasn't in direct sunlight all day, the
water did feel warm and that was the time (August) that we lost a few
fish. It is currently full of frogs but it would be nice to have the
fish again.

Claire

[Steven Briggs]

Post by Claire
Hi all,
I am new to this group and new to owning a pond! We bought a house 3
months ago that we were renting last year. The pond was full of the
homeowners fish last year but there was nothing else in the pond - no
pumps etc. The fish seemed fine and appeared around the end of May
until about October/November last year. We fed them on fish pellets. We
had about 16 and probably about 4 died over a few weeks last August. I
think there were simply too many. Every day I'd go out there and count
some more that had seemingly appeared from the day before! Since last
Autumn we have seen no fish at all in the pond. I assume they are still
hibernating? However I really need some advice about what to do now.
The owner wasn't interested last year in maintaining the pond and we
weren't keen to spend lots on equipment when it wasn't then our house
or garden. The pond is about 3 feet by two and appoximately 2.5 feet at
its deepest point. It is incredibly smelly at the moment. I have taken
away leaves and other debris from the surface but the mud/slime in
there is horrible. Would it be best to empty the pond and start over or
is there anything we can buy at this point to start cleaning which
won't damage any fish that might be there somewhere? I would appreciate
any tips. Thanks!

Certainly sound like time for a good clear out. Arm yourself with a
couple of buckets and get bailing. Have some spare buckets to hand to
save anything that may still be alive in there. Expect some surprises!

Refill and restock with just a very fish, may 4 or 5 small ones tops in
pond that size with no filters.

You say later its in a corner position, I expect if suffered badly from
collecting fallen leaves last autumn...hence the current stink. Just
remember to put a net over next autumn, and generally pick out anything
that falls in the in mean time.