Author Topic: Cleaning The Ponds  (Read 4151 times)

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Offline Dianna

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Cleaning The Ponds
« on: May 09, 2012, 12:01:52 PM »
Jim and I bought new pumps at Harbor Freight this weekend for the ponds. He says that I need to clean them out before he puts the pumps into the water. I have two questions... :BigGrin:

1) Isn't the green gunk supposed to help establish the ecosystems for the ponds to keep the water healthy for the fish?

2) Tina, you mentioned that you poured bleach in your pond while cleaning it. Do you still keep fish in it? Won't it harm them? :unsure:

Okay, I lied. That was three questions... :giggle:
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Offline Tina

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2012, 02:08:10 PM »
Bleach is very harmful to the fishies. Don't use it. My pond got attacked by a stork last year and no fish were left behind
My behind also got lazy and allowed much of the fall fallout settle to the bottom of my pond. And my younger son likes to toss whatever he can get his hands on into the pond. So is it a nasty slurry mess. I have been pulling rocks from the pond to get to the bottom and clean out the scum. I will need to crawl in to get the rest of them.
The bleach in mine is to keep the skeeters at bay and to keep it from smelling like a sewer until it is done.
Some algae is not bad and some is horrid. I am far from a algae expert. So another person may need to help you with the eco parts. I  am sorry.
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Offline Jim

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2012, 02:30:34 PM »
Here's a good article about pond cleaning.  I had read it and that's why I said it was a good opportunity to clean it out before we put the new pumps in, especially if you are wanting to get some new fish.

http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/Seasonal/Cleaning.htm
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Offline bestofour

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2012, 10:11:59 PM »
is there a way to cover a pond to keep the crud out of it but still allow the fish to live?

Offline Tina

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2012, 11:29:15 PM »
I'm going to try a net over my pond this fall. Enough to keep out the larger leaves and such. They make lightweight ones for fruit trees, etc.
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Offline Dianna

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2012, 06:47:53 AM »
So the fish were taken by a predator, Tina? Poor fish. I think that is what happened to Delilah. I miss her and Sampson coming up to the top of the water begging for food when I am out there... :(

I still haven't started bailing the ponds. We did find out that one of the pumps is too little, though. The fittings do not match what we need them to. We will make another trip to Summerville and Harbor Freight soon... :wink5:
"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success." - Lao Tzu

Offline Tina

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2012, 06:52:51 AM »
See, I'd rather the fish were taken by a natural predator than to wonder what I may have done wrong in their care. Our fish were happy to see us coming too. But I was never emotionally involved with them, really. And the stork was wonderful to see close up.
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Offline Dianna

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2012, 08:30:07 AM »
Tina, Delilah would let me pet her. Sometimes Sampson would allow it, but he was a little more cautious of me... :BigGrin:
"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success." - Lao Tzu

Offline bestofour

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2012, 09:17:11 PM »
I've never seen a stork in person.

Offline Tina

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Re: Cleaning The Ponds
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2012, 10:49:49 PM »
It was a pretty funny story. I looked out my window and saw it just a few feet away in my pond. I went out the door and it spread its wings and surprised me by being able to navigate the tree canopy. I looked awhile later and it was beside the pond. I left to pick up ted from school and Jonni woke up. She was sitting in my computer chair and this huge bird walked right by the window across the front porch. She didn't mention it when I got home because she was afraid I would think she was nuts. I do. But not about the huge bird. I mentioned it first.
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