sounds like a good plan. I really wish I had the bog area. I have heard that running the pond through a bog area is the best natural filter there is. I don't think it is enough by itself, but you also get the benefit of some really neat plants, and the natural look. So your pond would be around 18x25 PLUS the stream, bog, falls ,etc? WhooHaa. What a dream. And no rock on the bottom. I was just now getting my shorts and flipflops on to try to bail more gravel out of my pond. Slow going by myself. Might be able to get DH to help if he gets home from work and gets his workout done in time.
Catching Koi
Well, I just got out of the pond. What a mess. I got maybe two 8 gallon buckets full of gravel out and made a mess of the water. It can't be good for the fish. I think I need to drain it down so there is only a few feet, maybe three in the deep end. shut off the skimmer so I am not filling the biowell with this junk (DH is going to scream when he sees it as he just cleaned it out.). I also lost my balance in sat down abruptly. Fortunately in the shallow end so only went in to my shoulders. A nice brisk 70 degrees. Oh, well isn't the first time, my balance being what it is, and one of the other times I had ice floating around me, so this was refreshing at least. This will take all summer at the rate I am going
MS -
Would it not be easier to drain the pond, take the fish out and then scoop out all the gravel and wash everything down until all the muck is out and then fill it back up and put the fish into the pond? I would think it would be easier for you and easier on the fish. My understanding is a lot of the gook at the bottom of a pond with gravel/stone in the bottom is a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria.
Let us know how you do.
MM - The new pond sounds really nice - how many gallons do you think? I'd love to see pictures of your progress...
I absolutely agree although I hate the thought of the time it would take to rebalance the new pond water. Also, I can't catch the fish - hence this thread? Not my thread, but the same problem. We are thinking that we might lower the water so that there is enough in the deep end to keep the fish happy, create the equivalent of an oil leak boom across the pond (only 14') to separate the deep fromthe shallow, turn off the skimmer. We could then make our mess clean up the shallow end and mitigate the amount of yuk that the fishies have to deal with. Would also allow me to get into the deeper end and do some rock replacements. I have to keep the gravel in the deeper end as our water table is high and that is what holds the liner down. the big rocks around it certainly help, but it billows up with underwater pressure in the middle and can't be good for it.
I also have treated and continue to treat the pond with maintenance meds to steal a march on illness in the fish. As of now, they are healthy.