I keep seeing posts about the importance of doing partial water changes and topping off your pond due to evaporation. How do you do this? I have used a water hose to top off the pond that has the stream and waterfalls thinking the agitation would help remove the chlorine. I have not put in too much water at any one time. If I would ever have to do a larger water replacement what do I do about whatever may be in the tap water? I know that chlorine can kill the fish. I do not have anything aside from a plastic trash can to store water or fish in. Is there anything that you can attach to a hose to filter that stuff out? What do you all recommend so that I can do this correctly.
Partial Water Changes
You can buy dechlorinator. Most places that carry fish supplies will have it.
I use a product called Stress Coat that is widely available. I've gotten it at Wal-mart as well as the fish store. It's a declorinator and slime coat replacer so the water change is supposed to be easier on the fish .
I've been doing 1/4 water changes once a week. This is really a huge approximation since I can't really measure. My fish seem to be happy with it.
I use that for my indoor aquarium. I thought that you would have to add it before putting in chloriniated water. If I do put the tap water directly in the pond and use that at the same time it would be safe?
I put the dechlorinator in the pond first at the spot I'm going to put the hose. Then I put in the hose. I like MicrobeLift dechlorinator, but they are all equally good in my opinion. I read somewhere that you can safely add up to 10% of the pond volume without causing a problem of chlorine burning the fishes' gills. Never tested that theory. I do a 25% water change mid spring when I vacuum the pond, then top off as needed in hot weather. I have a fair amount of splash and evaporation. I have used a garden hose filter that takes the chlorine out. It screws onto the end of the hose. They are supposed to last approximately a year. I had no fish problems when I did use it. I just haven't gotton around to ordering a new one for this year yet.
It's about half way down the page of this link.
http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/smartlist_32
Since you have an aquarium you know all about nitrate. You have to change water to reduce it in an aquarium. I think a pond would be the same. So far, knock on wood, I've never had a measurable nitrate reading in the pond. I do the 25% water change on the notion that any buildup of bad bacteria or other contaminants will be reduced. If I use medication I will also do a partial water change and I have also filtered the pond through 5 lbs of activated carbon. That sure makes the water sparkle! Every pond is unique in it's own way. What works for one is not the solution for someone else.
Thanks for the link! I think I will get one of those hose attachments. If not, I will just put the dechorinator in the water before I put new water in. I would hate to hurt my pond babies. :^)
I do the same thing Snapple does...pour the declorinator in at the same spot that I'm going to put the hose.
What I've read is that small water changes of 25% or less probably won't hurt the fish if it's not dechlorinated and that it's chloramines rather than chlorine that may poison them as it doesn't disperse like chlorine. Not all municipal water has chloramine.
I'm not gonna chance it though. Although I do admit to topping off the pond a few times when we first got it going without dechlorinating and the fish are still with us.
I do a 1/3 water exchange a week in addition to topping it off. I use the garden hose and we are on parish water here. In 12 years the only problem I have had is I put the hose in the top pond one time and it killed off my fish up there. Too small an area at one time. But putting it into the bottom pond has never been a problem.
Jeri
Chloramine and chlorine are both fish killers. Prickle is right that few municipal water treatment systems use chloramine. They all use chlorine. Chlorine burns the gills.
I have never done the water exchanges. I have had the lower pond for about 3 years now with no problems as far as distressed fish in regards to water quality. I did put in a stream with several waterfalls late last year to help increase oxygenation in the water for that pond. I purchased some koi for the upper pond early this spring and from what I have read they are more sensitive to environmental factors. I guess I will start doing the water exchanges for that one. The last time I saw the koi was about 3 weeks after I got them and then the dreaded "green water" hit. I know most of them are still alive because they will occasionally allow me a glimpse during feeding time. I have tried adding beneficial bacteria, barley extract, floculants and algea destroyer that I use in my indoor tank without success. Will that help with the green water too? I know that UV works but I just purchased a filter for the koi so I will have to save up for a while for that.
Barley balls, UV light, and Aquascapes S.A.B. (enzymes and bacteria). The S.A.B. is about $119.00 for a seven pound tub. One tub lasts me 1- 3/4 seasons. My pond is 2000 gal., full sun, with a vigorous waterfall. By June 1 it is usually clogged with string algae. S.A.B. totally eliminates string algae. I know, the cost is dumbfounding. But it works exceptionally well. UV's & barley have no effect on string algae. String Algae Buster totally eliminates string algae. Along with a huge chunk of your wallet. I don't like to recommend it because of the cost but it is the only product out there I know of that works on string algae.
I ask for it for Christmas. Tells ya how much I like it.
LOL I don't feel so bad now. I got 2 trucks of flagstone for my BD one year.
Jeri
Is string algea the stuff that causes the "pea soup" water? The pond that it is in is pretty shallow, only about 18" and I cannot see the bottom of it. I had read on another post about adding hydrogen peroxide to knock out the green water but was worried about the koi so I have not tried that yet.
Pea soup is caused by planktonic algae that free floats in the water.
String algae grows in long stands and kind of looks like long flowing hair that clings to the sides of the pond and on plants and decorations...etc. I've heard that Koi clay will kill string algae. I don't have any personal experience with that though.
I'm going through my first algae bloom, the pea soup kind. I've used an algaecide and a barley mat, the barley peat extract, beneficial bacteria and nothing has really worked yet. I also built a skippy filter and the water has cleared a little but not much. It's been running about 2 weeks I guess.
I'm told to just be patient and let the pond work out its natural balance. I'm fine with that but Mr Prickle is not a good wait-er, lol.
This message was edited Jun 3, 2007 11:12 PM
I have had my pond for about six years now. I have never done water changes. I do have a huge filter with a built in UV light. My water remains clear, I have never had to endure pea green soup.
A few years ago , I did have some string algae but that has not occured since I changed to this filter.
Correct, UV will kill the "pea soup" algae, but not the string algae.....
Yes, you can use peroxide to kill string algae, but remember, as it dies, you will need to clean your filters because that's where it all goes.
The met. clay works too, to help clarify your water and keep down the algae, but if you have a raised pond (not a natural pond) it can make the bottom a little slimy if you have to walk around in the pond from time to time.
I do 1/3 pond water changes from time to time, and add dechlorinator several times as the water is being added. So far, no problems. My ponds are around 700 gallons and 300 gallons.
I often see an attachment you can add to your hose line, offered on Ebay, that supposedly takes the chlorine, heavy metals, etc, out of the water as it passes through. It will purify 40,000 gallons of water. Anyone know if these work or not?
I just ordered 2. I will let you know. I'm gonna have the water tested that comes out of it to see. LOL I have tried other stuff that didn't work.
Jeri
If you mean the filter that is half way down the page of this link, yes they do work. You should test after a few months of use to see it is still working. Are there any other brands or types?
http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/smartlist_32
Well then, I think I just may order one.....I don't mind wasting the money to try it, but I DO mind if I lose fish over it.... I'm not a breeder, just a happy ponder, so they are my stress reducing pets...
The Ebay price was actually a few dollars more than the one you listed Snapple, so I won't order it from there!
:)
Hi Snapple, Yes I took your advise and ordered 2. One for the pond and one for my plants. LOL Can't show partiality!!!
Jeri
jeri, I use "PondQuell" or TetraPond AquaSafe/ treats 2500 gallons bottle.(use it in my aquarium too..much cheaper than the small bottles) 16.9 fl. oz..it removes chlorine and chloramines, that we have in our city water..I have no filtration except lots of underwater "Cabomba", Anacharis, and natural things that have appeared by themselves..i add one capful per pond. and flood with the hose as the water runs out as they are above the grade....(these are the small Lowes/Home Depot preformed ponds..) they have been installed for about 7 yrs. i never clean the bottoms, so therefore they are now natural mud bottoms, where all the plants root..they are loaded with swordtails, blue paradise fish (one) and mosquito fish too...water is crystal clear at all times...the most work is thinning out the water plants...i like the water-sensitive fern but it grows like a weed, dwarf papyrus, and a white blooming (arrowhead) Polygonia A Lowes cheapie water-lily which is looking quite pretty now....all this must grow in LA. if it grows here!... plant i took from the side of the road...used to have a bubbler, but it went kaput! Found out there is so much oxygen from the plants all the fish are making babies and thriving. without the bubbler for yrs. now...i was just raided last night by some racoons...they can't catch the small fish, but they removed a large goldfish that has been in there about 3 yrs. will try to post a pic...i have been topping up these little ponds every 3 days or so with the hose an the one capful of AquaSafe..we are still not having much rain..i will hand pull the string algae, as it never gets quite a hold due to the competition of the other plants...wish you much luck...sue
Whoa...did a bit of rambling...here is a pic of the "jungle" ponds...and all the happy little fish! As you can see it is very shallow...
Are those bromiliads in the pic? It looks like they are in the pond. I thought they were a dry destert type plant. Beautiful pond!
Yes, those are bromeliads, they are a type that grows "stolons", meaning they send out a branch like appendage that becomes another brom...some of them do grow into the water themselves, they are not aquatic...but almost...actually the area around my pre-formed ponds, is a very dry soil...as it has many layers of pebbles from years of laying down more gravel, as it settles, and "disappears"...if you keep the cups in the bromeliads filled with water, they do quite nicely as low maintenance plants, as they are air plants, they don't need much to survive!... they eventually fill in around the pond, you can always take a "pup" and plant it elsewhere...in the show me your pond thread...i posted a larger shot of the two ponds with a bog garden in the middle, in which there are different types of broms. and even agaves...the trick is to elevate them with pots above the moist/watery bog! (some are growing into the "soil" level too..) nice short answer huh? lol...thank you for the compliment....they are teeny ponds..but they give me alot of joy! AND wildlife too...sue
Weeds, thank you for your reply. I looked at the pics you had posted on the show me your ponds thread and I just love your garden! I received some broms at the round up here this spring and I just may do what you have done and sink them in pots in a gravel base so I can take them up this fall as they would certainly not survive the winter here outside. I would never have thought to mix broms in with a water feature as they are such opposites. What a wonderful and creative idea! :^)
I have heard that if you spray your water over the pond when topping off that will allow the chlorine to evaporate. I don't have to worry about that since I have well water.
I think it takes 24 hours for chlorine to dissipate through aeration. I would not risk it.