Neglected pond needs help

[tenneseetitanfan]

My name is Tony and I am new to ponds. 

I live just northeast of Atlanta Ga. and just purchased a home with a neglected pond abandoned about 18 months and really need some advise.

There is no pump but there are about 40 gold fish and 5 twelve inch koi in the lower pond and there is

a lot of muck on the pond floor.

The pond is a 2 level deal with a 40 by 12 bow tie shape on the lower level. Its about 20 inches deep and 1 one of the pond estimators indicates its about 6000 gallons? There is a savio skimmer or pumpbox but no pump.

The upper pond is 20 by 7 and about a foot deep and has a lot of what looks like anacharis plant ( spelling) for aquariums. there is a filter basin that is also a black box just above this upper pond. It is filled with mesh bags with a foam type material in the bags.This is about 10ft above the lower pond. This releases into the upper pond via a waterfall (if there was a pump) fills the upper pond causing it to overflow to an 8ft 18inch wide stream that splits into 2 18inch wide falls. Those in turn create streams about 8 ft long that flow to the lower pond.

Lots of questions like what type and size pump.

Can I just start pumping water or do I need to clean the pond first?

What about the filter media? Clean or replace?

All other advice would be welcome as I am in over my head at this point.

 Thanks
 Tony

[matherfish]

Wow! That is a large pond! I would suggest that before you buy a pump and install it that you clean the ponds out first. Otherwise, you would probably get so much debris in your pumps that they would clog up and possible burn up or break the impellers. From the size of your waterfall and ponds you will most likely need two pumps. I did not follow all of the details of your ponds, but it seems there may have been two pumps originally. I would use two 5000 gph pumps.
Sounds like you sill have beautiful ponds when you get it cleaned and going.

[tenneseetitanfan]

Thanks for the reply.

I only see 1 spot for a pump but ill look for another.
Where in Nashville are you thats actually home for me till 04.

[matherfish]

I live north of Nashville, in Goodlettsville. You are in Nashville until April?

[tenneseetitanfan]

Sorry no i left in 2004 . I lived in Madison, Hendersonvile, Mt Juliet even Ridgetop for awhile. Love the area.