Help Please! *with Pics!*

[FishyAndy]

Hi guys,

Just registered here as I've been trawling for information and hoped someone might be kind enough to help me!

Just bought a house where the previous owner got poorly and had to leave, leaving the pond in a sorry state, although it was clearly much loved once upon a time.

It was all brown and silty when I got to it, so I took all the water out and had a little scrub, not using any chemicals. Managed to resurrect the pump and refilled with tap water, I reckon about 20 bucket-fulls so probably about 200 litres at a guess.

I then went and added some Safe Guard, it said use 1ml for 9litres of tap water, so I estimated 50ml and poured just under half the 100ml bottle, then left it two days.

I then went to a local garden centre and bought 2 goldfish, and one larger fish, possibly a 3" Ghost Koi, I can't remember. I've been running the pump for maybe 6hours a day and have put in 3 water lettuces, and 10 of the stringy plant things. After a a very short time they all disapeared, have been feeding them the Nutrafin twice a day in small amounts.

I left them in for about a week and decided that it looked to be working and still clean, so a couple of days ago I went and bought 2 more goldfish, another Ghost Koi (which looks different to the first but is smaller) and 2 Slubunkin.

When I first introduced them, the 3 hidden fish came out and swam with the others, and they all explored happlily. Unfortunately then as soon as the pump came on, which runs a little waterfall, they've all disapeared and I pretty much haven't seen any of them since.

I also then topped up the level with 3/4 buckets of rainwater from a water butt.

First pic is just to give you an idea of scale, it's about 4ft x 2ft in opening and about 2ft deep.

Just to give you an idea of the pump, I also uploaded: this youtube video.
My questions are:

• Are they unhappy if they're hiding? If I need to test the water to check this, which kit is the best?
• Am I using the right food? In hindsight it looks to be only goldfish food.
• I run the pump on a timer now, 2hrs on, 2hrs off, etc. Is this ok?

I'd really just love to see them more, is there anything I can do to promote them to come out?

Thanks for looking!!

 

[saph.st24]

hi FishyAndy
nice looking pond just a shame its not bigger( a project for the future maybe)


you have 5 fish 3 of these koi in a very small pond if you want to keep the koi you will have to build a bigger pond or think about rehoming in the near future,
do you have a filter? koi are very dirty create a lot of waste and it will cause water problems if its not filtered

you will need to test for ammonia, nitrate,nitrite,ph,gh,kh and oxygen all of these can be bought from your local aquatics shop

koi will eat your plants.
you should try feeding a pellet food and remove any they cant eat in 5 mins from the pond

i would remove any of the stones you have got in the bottom of the pond, this will make more room for the fish and by taking the stones out will reduce the risk of injury and reduce the hidding places for bad bacteria to grow ,also reduces hidding places for the fish youve got a net over the pond so hidding places not really needed for them to hide from heron

also add a air stone small amounts of water loose oxygen quickly the water fall alone isnt enough

dont turn the pump off they are being spooked and stressed by the noise of it turning on and off they will get used to it being on it will take time

hope this helps

 

[Davo86]

Are they unhappy if they're hiding? If I need to test the water to check this, which kit is the best?

The fish most likely just aren't used the pump yet, with it turning on and off they aren't having time to get used to the noise etc.

As the water is new to the pond you will need to monitor the water stats as stats will be rising in the pond. I agree about removing the rocks and instead it may be worth adding some plants that will help with the maintaining of the pond by using up harmful toxins. a water lily would give them security and gives them something to hide under, whilst plants like hornwort, elodea and eleocharis will help with boosting oxygen levels in the pond.

Also as said above your koi will easily be reaching at least 1 foot in length so may not be the best choice of fish for the current pond.

I would also stick to around 3-4 goldfish max for this size pond

Am I using the right food? In hindsight it looks to be only goldfish food.

Ideally I would be using a pond stick or pellet rather than a flake, this way you can see how much they are eating and get rid of any uneaten food which will remain floating
After a while you will be able to calculate how much they eat and only feed the required amount and therefore not be polluting the pond by overfeeding

I run the pump on a timer now, 2hrs on, 2hrs off, etc. Is this ok?

Totally up to you but I would personally just have it on constantly for a set amount of time each day so the fish can get used to it,
In the summer when it is warm, o2 levels will be low in the pond so the pump will be essential so therefore i would be having the pump on from say 11am to 5pm for example

You could also add a solar powered air pump to the pond, which again will help with o2 on warm sunny days

 

[saph.st24]

hi
oxygen levels drop more at night due to pond plants using up oxygen
yeah i know sounds daft they put oxygen into the water during the day but at night take out what they have put in during the day