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Pond Chat / I have had an awful summer with my pond
« on: October 18, 2016, 09:39:37 AM »
I've had my water garden for 10 years but never a summer like this.
My pond averages 15-20" deep and contains about 800 gallons of water - various water plants (lilies, some marginal) and just a few small goldfish that I rarely feed.
I changed my filtration set up this year. I had been using a skimmer - Pond Mag 9.5 pump and the atlantic filto falls with a UV lilght too. I changed to
OASE AquaMax Eco Classic 1200 Pump
and Oase Filto Clear 1600 filter with UV.
(and had to put my skimmer back in)
This system should be able to handle my pond size and fish load.
Two things happened this year. One was not my fault and one was.
It was REALLY hot ! It got hot early in the year and stayed hot - so the water temp was higher than normal.
The dumb thing I did. With the new pond set up, I thinned my water lilies too much, hot water, lots of sun, little surface coverage.
So I have this floating scum that rises during the day and goes away at night.
I got into the pond and vacuumed 95% of the debris off the bottom. This thing is clean folks.
I tried all types of Micro lift products recommended by my pond store.
I did not feed my few fish at all.
I added extra aeration for the hottest months.
I did several major water changes (40%).
All this to no avail.
I ordered a pond test kit and checked water parameters. (When did they stop putting KH testers in the kits ? - I ordered it separately.) All test results were fine except ph was high. No amount of baking soda would lower it.
We had almost no rain. No runoff goes into the pond.
My pic was taken very early morning - scum just starting
Now fall is here. Pond is cooling. Still floating yuck on warm days. My plants are slowing down but I find it curious that my water hyacinths seemed to die in the pond very early. This season is over but I need some pond expert advice for next year. I would hate to have to tear down the pond but I don't want to fight this again all summer. Should I drain it this winter ? Wouldn't that be worse for the fish.
Any suggestions appreciated.
My pond averages 15-20" deep and contains about 800 gallons of water - various water plants (lilies, some marginal) and just a few small goldfish that I rarely feed.
I changed my filtration set up this year. I had been using a skimmer - Pond Mag 9.5 pump and the atlantic filto falls with a UV lilght too. I changed to
OASE AquaMax Eco Classic 1200 Pump
and Oase Filto Clear 1600 filter with UV.
(and had to put my skimmer back in)
This system should be able to handle my pond size and fish load.
Two things happened this year. One was not my fault and one was.
It was REALLY hot ! It got hot early in the year and stayed hot - so the water temp was higher than normal.
The dumb thing I did. With the new pond set up, I thinned my water lilies too much, hot water, lots of sun, little surface coverage.
So I have this floating scum that rises during the day and goes away at night.
I got into the pond and vacuumed 95% of the debris off the bottom. This thing is clean folks.
I tried all types of Micro lift products recommended by my pond store.
I did not feed my few fish at all.
I added extra aeration for the hottest months.
I did several major water changes (40%).
All this to no avail.
I ordered a pond test kit and checked water parameters. (When did they stop putting KH testers in the kits ? - I ordered it separately.) All test results were fine except ph was high. No amount of baking soda would lower it.
We had almost no rain. No runoff goes into the pond.
My pic was taken very early morning - scum just starting
Now fall is here. Pond is cooling. Still floating yuck on warm days. My plants are slowing down but I find it curious that my water hyacinths seemed to die in the pond very early. This season is over but I need some pond expert advice for next year. I would hate to have to tear down the pond but I don't want to fight this again all summer. Should I drain it this winter ? Wouldn't that be worse for the fish.
Any suggestions appreciated.
