cleaned out our fish pond

a couple of weeks ago cos I was sick of the green water. Kept putting treatments in to clear it but nothing worked. I couldnt figure it out cos we have a Green Genie filter box & have had the whole time we've had the pond (about 10yrs or so). But for the last 3 yrs it just won't clear. Hubby kept saying "leave it, it'll clear" but I got fed up and egged on by our kids we emptied it and cleaned it all out while hubby was at work.
We had discussed whether the UV light in the Genie was still working, but hubby insisted it was & would never check it. I don't "do" electrics, so I was stuck with his decision.

Hubby came home as we had just refilled the pond & decided NOW was the time to check the UV light (but ONLY after turning the pump on without cleaning out the Genie, resulting in green water flowing back into the pond!!!!! ) The bulb HAD gone, burned out both ends. I suspect it'd been like that for some time.

I bought a new bulb and the green water he pumped back in there has gradually been clearing.

some of the fish had gone without a trace (eaten by the big koi we think as our pond is netted), leaving 2 koi, a Sarasa Comet and my MILs old goldfish who has gone white in his old age



and here is Freyja (left, looking hungry) and Batman (looking slightly alarmed) taking an interest in the fish, now they can see them!

 

Haha those cats are so cute!
I don't blame you for wanting it cleared - I think I'd have been the same!

 

it reminds me of that Blackadder saying........."If you want a job done properly, kill Baldrick before you start"

Incidentally, we stopped putting plants in the fish pond several years ago, after we were given the Koi, because they rip the plants up (including roots), make a hell of a mess & block the pump! Anyone know how we can have plants back in the fish pond with no mess?

 

I know that they are bottom feeders, so the closer the plants are to the floor the quicker they will be torn up!
This has some good advice about having plants with Koi carp

http://www.koicarp.net/beginners_corner/koi_&_plants.html

 

thanks katie.

hmm, ours is a pre-formed pool & the shelves arent very big, so I don't think we can put any plants in there....but reading that article makes me feel less guilty for them not having vegetation in their pond.

I didnt know about feeding them greens! i shall give them a little lettuce after lunch.

 

Ha ha ha
No problem.
And yeah but it goes the same with humans... there's a lot of people who don't eat their greens too.... Lol

 

yes, my youngest included!!!

 

Those photos are great! Especially the cats, im looking into getting a pond in our garden, but scared the cat would be too interested in the fish and would just jump in, Have you got any protection to stop the cats from getting at your fish or not?
Thanks (:

 

I know you didn't ask me but you can buy little nets for over ponds - just to stop the cats getting in but without having problems with air circulation :-)

 

My fish i think are eating my water chestnut.. So i dont expect that to last much longer to be honest!

My water hyacinths are doing fine though, but i may have to split them up in the future as i am sure they've got bigger already.

 

My fish are only 3" at the most (currently) and they are goldfish & shubunkin's and they're eating my water chestnut - i swear!
Keep finding stems disconnected from it, and one has a massive chomp out of it!

I clearly have scary mutant goldfish

 

Thank you Katiew, any idea where you can get them ?
ive looked in B&Q, my local garden center had none in stock, :(

 

Oh dear! Well there are always places online where you can buy almost anything! Maybe try Amazon?