A new project (hopefully)

A place to keep us informed of the goings on in your ponds.
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BigBen
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I haven't been posting much recently as I've been prepping to move house, but my initial house fell through. We have had an offer accepted on a place today that comes with a pond and some goldfish so I'm prepping myself with a bit of knowledge before we hopefully move in.

I don't know the first thing about ponds and maintenance, so where do I start? :D
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fr499y
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Same principle really! We did monthly water changes on our old koi pond, treat the tap water etc 😁
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Staffylover
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No advice as I only have a little wildlife pond but just wanted to say good luck with the move, a goldfish pond sounds a relaxing thing to have, proper bonus :)
500l - Africa river - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6873
2x200l - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7790
Others - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewto ... =15&t=7411
230L 6ft - Shallow stream
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40l/25L - Black- bellied Limia/Pygmy Sunfish
Si4geckos
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If the pond hasn't got a good filter and UV, get one. My pond looks like bath water (super clear) all year round. I don't do water changes, but have got an overflow system built onto it and a gutter system off my garage so it does auto water change when it rains heavily. As long as it isn't over stocked, it should be good. Plants are always beneficial. Plus protection from herons.
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Martinspuddle
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I never did water changes on my pond, only top ups during dry spells. No filter, just heavy planted. :]

Image

We expect PICTURES Mr. @BigBen of your newly acquired puddle. :grin:
WARNING - DO NOT BREED, FEED OR PET THE PUDDLE! :dodgy2:
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BigBen
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Si4geckos wrote: Wed Oct 27, 2021 20:44 pm If the pond hasn't got a good filter and UV, get one. My pond looks like bath water (super clear) all year round. I don't do water changes, but have got an overflow system built onto it and a gutter system off my garage so it does auto water change when it rains heavily. As long as it isn't over stocked, it should be good. Plants are always beneficial. Plus protection from herons.
I couldn't see a filter and I can't imagine it's big enough to get away with not having one. It has a veranda like feature over it. I'm more worried about the dogs love of swimming 😂
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LookoutTrout
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I've had a small pond without a filter before, left to run wild with just rainwater top ups and a couple of goldfish survived just fine without extra food added.
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Stephen
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Hi Ben

Just wishing you all the best with the move. :D
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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BigBen
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Thanks Stephen!
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Art
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I had problems with my pond for a long time.
Originally the soil was supposed to be natural. But it didn't close.
Then I put a layer of bentonite on the inside. It didn't close either.
Finally I put on a slide. 1mm thick, 8 meters wide and 12 meters long.
That has to be done in the sun. 2 men pull the foil from the meadow into the pit.
The sun warms the black foil so that it clings to the shape of the pit.
I put stones on the edge.
Now it was tight. I've had some good ones
Years. Once upon a time there were many goldfish.
It was very wet one spring. The groundwater came under the foil and the foil floated on top as a bubble.
I dug drainage tubing deep on two sides. It was good there.

There is a tree next to the pond. A black alder. It has 10 trunks and is 30 meters high. Leaves fall into the pond all the time. Cones too. The water turned brown.
I changed water in the spring.

A plastic bucket with many 6 mm holes on the sides and a clamp on the floor in the middle to attach the end of the hose (the hose is inserted into a hole above the floor) is weighed down with stones and moved to the lowest point. Depth 1m. With a string from the other bank. It has a lid.
Before that, the hose (nominal diameter 1 ') is completely filled and plugged on the slope.
One end is put into the bucket close to the bank and the plug is removed underwater.
The other end is led to a deeper point in the stream and fastened there. When the plug is removed, the brown water begins to run. No leaves can get into the hose. But it takes almost a day and a night. Until it's empty.
Then I can clean up the dirt.
The filling takes place via a line made of KG pipe 125 mm in diameter, 30 m long from an upper stowage point. That takes half a day.

It was too much effort for me.

I also connected a KG pipe deeply (cut out the foil in a circle and clamped the edge between rings). A lid for KG was provided with a grate and inserted. It's tight. The pipe leads to the brook. It's also plugged there because of rats or frogs.

Emptying is now quick. But I have to pull the plug in the deep end.
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