Pond care – and 6 goldfish – help!?
So we inherited some goldfish in a rubber?plastic? pond from the prior owner of the house we just bought. We’ve no idea what to do! And the fish have been there during the winter without food. We also removed all the leaves that were covering the water, and tried to get all the leaves at the bottom. However, the water looks really murky. There are six fish – one of them looks “plump”, bigger belly. 1.is she pregnant? 2. how do we take care of them? 3. when do we start feeding them? 4. do we need to change the water? 5. if yes, how do we empty that huge pond? what do we add to it once it has water from the hose? 6. step by step guidance please. 10 pts for best answer. thanks!
Oh, there’s a motor that makes bubbles on all the time – probably kept the pond from completely freezing. Does it oxygenate the water? And there’s this other metal thing that is on the other side in the water, like a thermostat prod, sticking in the water.
The aerator that makes bubbles does what you expect-it oxygenates the water. This is also used to keep the water from icing completely over, and in my experience they do a pretty good job.
It’s still too early to feed the fish. If you feed them before the water gets to be 45-50 degrees, they won’t digest it properly and it will make them sick.
Pond fish are pretty easy to care for. The one thing you should do is get some kind of filter. There are outboard and inboard filters, depending on how big your pond is. You need a pump to move the water through the filter. A good rule is that you need to filter all the water every hour. For example, if you have 1000 gallons, you should have a pump that moves 1000 gallons per hour, or gph, which isn’t as big as it sounds. It sounds like your pond is substantially smaller than that, though. The pump will also aerate the water, which is essential.
This is also how you will change the water: with the pump. You shouldn’t change more than 30 percent of the water at a time, and it’s more important to get the filter running than to change the water. Sometimes I go all summer and change the water only once or twice.
Depending on what your local water is like, you might not have to do anything to it once you add water from the hose. And, if you do it in small increments (10 percent at a time) you should have no problem with the tap water at all.
Here’s what you should do. 1. Acquire an adequate pump and get it running. Adequate means gph that’s equal to your volume. You can multiply length x width x depth times 7.5 to figure out gallons. 2. Get an adequate filter and hook it up to the pump. They’re rated the same way, in gph. 3. Get a thermometer (one from a swimming pool works well) so you know when to start feeding. 4. Using the pump, drain no more than 20 percent of your pond and fill it back up with the hose. Do this every couple of days.
As for the fat fish, she could be pregnant, or just fat. It’s more likely she’s just fat, as its a little early for breeding.
Enjoy! Feel free to email me any other specific questions.
Pond Care & Maintenance
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Pond Care Master Test Kit for Ponds – NEW $19.99 |
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PONDCARE ALGAEFIX 2.5 2 1/2 GAL GALLON POND CARE ALGAE FIX CONTROL $119.94 |
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PONDCARE ALGAEFIX 1 GAL GALLON POND CARE ALGAE FIX CONTROL $74.99 |
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PONDCARE ALGAEFIX 64 OZ POND CARE ALGAE FIX CONTROL $49.99 |
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Care Free Enzymes Fountain / Pond Protector CF95562 $13.99 |
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Sunterra Pond Care Kit 303025 $21.45 |
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API Pond Care Aquarium Phosphate Test Kit (Fresh or Salt Water) $9.95 |
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API Pond Care Aquarium Copper Test Kit (Fresh or Salt Water) $9.95 |
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API Pond Care Aquarium pH 25 Test Strips (Fresh or Salt Water) $9.95 |
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API Pond Care Aquarium Ammonia 25 Test Strips (Fresh or Salt Water) $14.95 |
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Pond Care Natural Microbial Algae Control 16oz, treats 4800 gal EPA Registered $19.77 |
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Airmax Pond Care System / Easy to Apply / Moss – Scum – Weed Control $399.00 |
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Pond Care Microbial Algea Clean Alternative to Algea Control Safe for Fish $20.00 |
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Mars Fishcare Pond 248C Pond Care Simply Clear 1 Gallon $79.90 |
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MIXED LOT Water Garden Koi POND CARE Salt pH Down BioFilter Booster 4 Plug Row+ $29.99 |
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POND CARE STRESS COAT PLUS 16 FL OZ TREATS 1920 GALLONS $14.67 |
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Pond care 185B 60 ct Aquatic Water Plant Food Fertilizer Tablets 10-12-8 $15.99 |
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Pond Care 5 In 1 Dip Strips Model 164F Pack of 6 $84.68 |
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AquaMeds Health Care Kit $119.74 |
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Modern Twist Silicone Placemat Day At the Pond $20.00 Collaborating with unique talents from the independent art scene, Modern-twist brings art to the table. Made from FDA grade, hand silk-screened, silky, silicone. The kids placemats feature edgy, playful designs that will amuse and inspire little tikes. For parents who live a design-inspired lifestyle, the simple, clean design provides optimal functionality with a minimalist aesthetic. Nurturing th… |
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Microblift Spring/Summer Accelerates the breakdown of leaves twigs and other accumulated dead organic waste. Helps to jump start your pond in the spring. Reduces buildup of dead leaves and residual organic sediment…. |
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Day at the Pond Placemat in Black $18.00 PLS12DPCLBK Collaborating with DwellStudio, Modern-twist brings art to even the littlest table. The mats won t crease or rip. The mats are ideal for travel and mealtime activities. The kid s placemats feature creative, playful designs that will amuse and inspire little tikes. For parents who live a design-inspired lifestyle, the simple, clean design provides optimal functionality with a minimalis… |
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In This Town $22.99 … |
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Garden Pond Fish Care $16.99 Fish Veterinarian, Dr. Myron Kebus shares his tried and true recommendation covering the fundamentals of garden pond fish care. Topics include: Purchasing & transporting fish, Pond & filter care, Water quality testing, Nutrition, Fish handling/injury/disease treatment, & seasonal care…. |
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Sunterra 300309 Submersible Light Kit for Water Gardens, Three Lights with Transformer, Black $42.45 Sunterra offers a wonderful selection of products to beautify and enhance the enviroment of any water garden. Whether it is a sculptural accent, a fountain nozzle, or submersible lights, we provide the elements for the avid water gardener to be creative and artistic. Sunterra’s Decorative Accessories offer a source of inspiration. Use this light set alone or with Sunterra’s Water Accent Stand to i… |
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Sunterra 300209 Submersible Light for Water Gardens and Ponds, Black $19.99 SUBMERSIBLE LIGHTSUnit Sold: 1 EachPart Number: 300209Manufacturer Name: SUNTERRA LLCUPC: 821539101088Low voltage Includes 4 color lenses & transformer UL listed adaptorWeight (lbs): 2 Length (in): 4.75 Width (in): 6 Height (in): 4.5… |
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Roundup 5705010 Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer, 32-Ounce Concentrate $31.34 Extended Control Round Up 4 Months of Protection Extended Control Round-Up Concentrate now adds long staying power. Extended Round-Up will kill grass and weeds and prevent them up to 4 months. Includes a free measuring cup. Concentrate: Mix 1 gallon for every 6 ounces; Treats up to 1200 square feet per bottle NEW formula starts working fast, you see results fast Ideal for in and around your drivew… |
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Pond Care Pond Zyme With Barley – 8 oz. $11.99 Pond Care Pond-Zyme is a concentrated formula of seven fast-acting bacterial strains that create and maintain sparkling clean water gardens and koi ponds. It immediately begins to break down fish waste and dead algae that cause cloudy water, sludge build-up and debris that clogs pond pumps and filters. It also digests grass clippings that may enter your pond and keeps pond water clean and clear. Treats 8000 gallons of water. Pond Zyme is restricted and will not be shipped to Hawaii. |
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Pond Care Feeder Block $5.99 PondCare Feeder Block Fish Food Perfect for vacation or long weekends, Pond Care Fish Feeder Blocks provide a continuous supply of nutritious food pellets to ensure that fish receive adequate nutrition when pondkeepers aren’t home to provide regular feedings. Automatically releases food into the water for koi and goldfish. Features: Automatically feeds the pond fish Feeds fish over the weekend or for 5-7 days Each block contains nutritious food pellets for Koi and goldfish that are automatically released into the pond |
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Pond Care Powerpaks Pond Cleaner – 1 oz – 8 pk $16.99 Pond Care Powerpaks help bring your pond to a natural balance! These easy to use, concentrated, water soluble packets begin to dissolve in seconds, with no measuring or mixing required. Simply toss the required number of packs into the pond, and the water will dissolve them, releasing the natural cleaners into the pond to do their job. The activation bubbles rapidly disperse the beneficial bacteria and barley throughout the pond creating cleaner, clearer pond using natural biological processes. 8- 1oz packs treat 1200 U.S. gallons each. |
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Pond Care Pond Zyme With Barley – 16 oz $21.99 This is a highly concentrated formula of specially selected beneficial bacteria strains that create and maintain sparkling clean water gardens and koi ponds. It immediately begins breaking down fish waste and dead algae that causes cloudy water, sludge build-up and troublesome organic debris. It digests leaves and grass clippings that may enter your pond. Through natural nutrient competition and enzymatic action, it reduces pond maintenance and keeps pond water clean and clear. Cleaner water means healthier fish, increased dissolved oxygen in your pond and a decreased breeding ground for pathogenic disease causing organisms. Safe for fish and plants. Perfect for spring, summer and autumn use. Treats up to 16,000 gallons of water. Pond Zyme is restricted and will not be shipped to Hawaii. |
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Pond Care: Pond-Zyme Enzymatic Cleaner 1 lb $29.95 “Specially selected bacterial strains in Pond Zyme?½ with Barley immediately begin breaking down fish waste and dead algae that cause cloudy water, sludge build-up, and debris that clogs pumps and filters. Through enzymatic action, Pond Zyme?½ with Barley reduces pond maintenance and keeps pond water clean and clear. Pond Zyme?½ with Barley is a 100%-natural product, safe for all pond fish, plants and wildlife. Directions For Use: Sprinkle desired dose evenly around the perimeter of the pond. Initi” |
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Pond Care: EcoFix 32 oz $27.99 “Ecofix helps create a healthy ecosystem for pond fish, makes pond water clean and clear, breaks down dead algae and increases oxygen levels in pond water. Murky, cloudy water keeps you from enjoying your pond and fish as much as you would like. In addition, dissolved organics and sludge build up and reduce the oxygen concentration in the water, creating a breeding ground for disease-causing, pathogenic bacteria. Ecofix contains five strains of live bacteria that digest sludge and reduce dissol” |
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Pond Care: Pond Works 1250 Watt Deicer $79.95 “1,250 watts, ideal for 50-600 gallon ponds. Prevents small area of pond surface from freezing over. Automatic operation activates at 32-35 degrees Fahrenheit water temperature. Enclosed element for safety. ” |
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Pond Care Simply Clear Pond Clarifier – Liquid – 64 oz $36.99 Simply Clear Pond Clarifier is a bacterial-based pond clarifier that quickly clears murky, cloudy water, and keeps it clean and clear through natural bacterial action. This triple action formula acts fast to clear pond water and breaks down sludge, offering a long term solution to un-clear pond water. Simply Clear is safe for plants and wildlife, and will not stain surfaces in the pond. |
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Pond Care Simply Clear Pond Clarifier – Liquid – 16 oz $11.79 Simply Clear Pond Clarifier is a bacterial-based pond clarifier that quickly clears murky, cloudy water, and keeps it clean and clear through natural bacterial action. This triple action formula acts fast to clear pond water and breaks down sludge, offering a long term solution to un-clear pond water. Simply Clear is safe for plants and wildlife, and will not stain surfaces in the pond. |
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Pond Care Pond Salt – 4.4 lb. $6.99 An all natural sea salt, used in the pond to improve fish gill function and to reduce stress. During period of stress and disease healthy gill function is disturbed. This can lead to the loss of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride through the gills. This interrupts healthy gill function by reducing the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonium from fish. Treats up to 550 gallons. |
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Pond Care Pond Salt – 9.6 lb. $14.79 An all natural sea salt used in the pond to improve fish gill function and to reduce stress. During periods of stress and disease healthy gill function is disturbed. This can lead to the loss of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride through the gills. This interrupts healthy gill function by reducing the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonium from fish. Treats up to 1200 gallons. |
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Bosch G W Bosch G W Pond Care Kit 303025 $48.69 Pond care kit Pond care kit includes: 1 submersible cleaner dispenser, (10) 2500 gallon pond cleaner refills (each treats water for 30 days), 5-n-1 pond test strips, and a jar of pH down Pond care kit Brand #: Bosch G W 303025 UPC: 821539104089 Keywords: pond care kit 30 day treatme strips chemicals treatment water gardening treatmnt starter |
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Pond Care Master Liquid Test Kit $22.99 Pond Care Master Liquid Test Kit for Ponds test for: wide range pH (5.0 to 9.0) Ammonia Nitrite Phosphate This is a fast, easy and accurate kit for testing pond water. Included is information on how to perform each test, and how often to perform the tests to ensure optimal water chemistry. No express shipping option |
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Pond Care Accu-clear – 1 gal. $59.99 Accu-Clear is a unique colorless polymer that rapidly eliminates cloudy pond water. It is environmentally safe and non-toxic to fish, plants and other pond life. It causes particles to clump together, forming microscopic clusters to fall to the bottom of the pond and are removed by the filter. Treats 38,400 gallons of water. |
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Pond Care Accu-Clear – 16 oz. $10.99 Accu-Clear is a unique colorless polymer that rapidly eliminates cloudy pond water. It is environmentally safe and non-toxic to fish, plants and other pond life. It causes particles to clump together, forming microscopic clusters to fall to the bottom of the pond and are removed by the filter. Treats 4,800 gallons of water. |
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Pond Care Ammo Lock – 16 oz. $10.89 Pond Care Ammo Lock 2 removes chlorine and chloramines from tap water and detoxifies ammonia continually produced in the pond by waste matter. Locks up ammonia, converting it into a form that not only is non-toxic to aquatic life, but serves as a source of nutrition for nitrifying bacteria in the biological filter. It eliminates ammonia stress and promotes healthy gill function of pond fish. Treats up to 1,920 gallons of water. |
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Pond Care 5 in 1 Pond Test Strips – 25 Strips $10.99 The new Pond Care 5-In-1 Dip Test Strips provide distinct variations between colors on their corresponding color charts for quick, easy-to-read results! The moisture absorbing liner on the container keeps the strips dry to maintain product stability and integrity, and extends the shelf life of the strips. Dip the strip directly into the pond! Easy directions and product recommendations included. |
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Pond Care pH Down – 16 oz. $11.99 Lowers the pH of pond water (makes it more acidic). It is phosphate free, does not promote algae growth. Includes measuring cup. Optimal pH for most ponds is 7.0. Contains sulfuric acid. Directins: Using the measuring cup, add 1 tsp for every 50 gallons of pond water. Mix this dose in a bucket with 2 gallons of pond water and distribute evenly around the perimeter of the pond. Wait 24 hours, test pH again and repeat treatment as necessary. No express shipping option |
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Ph Up 16 Oz. Pond Care $16.14 pH Up 16 Oz. Delicate on Fish & Plants Slowly raises the pH of pond water (making it more alkaline) without harming delicate pond fish or aquatic plants. Slowly neutralizes acid substances that cause low pH (pH of pond water is affected by mineral leaching, soil runoff & decomposing waste). A low pH can stress pond fish & suppress the activity of the biological filter. Contains no algae-promoting phosphates. Ships Quickly! |
