pond cleaning

[ryan]

Saw my matsuba swimming aorund this morning when i was up in my room, but when i went to feed he was still around..still dashed from the surface when i fed.

My waters still green and murky though...what can I do?

Nice to hear he is gaining confidence. The green/murky water sounds like a normal spring/summer algae bloom, when the light and nutrients level increase because the fish are feeding more, therefore producing more waste/nutrients and the sun light is more powerful algae tends to have a bloom but it is normally controlled naturally and after a week or so the pond should return to normal. If not try adding some floating plants or barley straw.

 

[Paul_MTS]

excellent...we have marigold (i think) and water lilies...I don't really want to encourage mum to put more flowers in.

i'll see if dad can nab me some bailey straw from the farms he shoots at.

 

[ryan]

excellent...we have marigold (i think) and water lilies...I don't really want to encourage mum to put more flowers in.

i'll see if dad can nab me some bailey straw from the farms he shoots at.

Floating plants are very good and useful and attractive, if you check out my post in Williams topic you will see the two commonly available Floating plants; water lettuce and water hyacinth both of which quickly replicate and provide good cover for fish as well as taking away nutrients from the algae and blocking there sunlight.

 

[Paul_MTS]

But then i won't actually beable to see the fish theen again i suppose they could go on the oxygenating weed and where the other pants are...leaving the middle still open

Oh yeh how often should i be feeding my fudd fry......at the moment i just feed them when i go to bed. then during the days sometimes they get luncheon meat or live food.

 

[ryan]

Yes, I have mine round the edges of the ponds, the fish don't normally hide there but its there if they want it.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Mums going to think i'm ill asking her to buy plants

 

[Paul_MTS]

Mum said we had hycinths before but they died...

Think we'll go and get some Monday.....howd many would you recomend for each pond to start with?

 

[ryan]

They die off in winter but should come back up or if for some reason they don't they are easily replaced each year. Four of each should be fine to start for each pond, after they settle in they will replicate like crazy and you'll have loads.

 

[Paul_MTS]

4 of each the lettuce and hycinth?

 

[ryan]

Well I would say four of each for each pond but shops can overprice alot so maybe only two each.

 

[bribones]

paul and plants ? theres something you dont see everyday

 

[Cat]

Water lilies look so nice in a pond,they come up every year

 

[bribones]

yeh i agree but if your mum gets her own way youl have a pond full of lillies and no fish

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'ved already got to lean over the 1ft wide bedding on the top pond and there' litle plants in the slabs on the bottom where you would atnd then she has a go at me becuase i stood on one

 

[bribones]

look on the bright side if your mums doing the planting you dont have to and you end up with a great looking pond,id have to say plants and ponds go together well and maintain a balance