Not saltware but new tale of the tank

[njtiger24 aquariums]

Well now that I am living at my mom's I figure I can manage her small pond better (she tends to let it go). I installed this pond years ago and didn't do a great job but it works for my mom's needs (sound of water). A coupe of years ago one of her neighbors gave her some feeder goldfish. Today I did a small water change on the pond and filled it back up. Hoping to keep on it and clean it up well. I think the first thing I am going to do is build a better net for over the pond. Any other ideas on how to improve the pond (mainly keeping it clean)?

 

[Trio91]

I think Kevin @kschweer worked on ponds a while back.

 

[RiverSwami]

Use plants both in and around the pond (Water Lettuce, Water Lillies, etc. on the surface, Irises, sedges along the edges). They will oxygenate the water and provide cover (a. k. a., safety from predators) and shade (limiting algea growth). If you have any, place some large container plants around it for instant cover.

For Spring startup, I add a SMALL dose of algeacide, peat extract and bacterial additive to eat up any accumulated sludge. (I know someone who lost All their koi after their landscapers dumped way too much algeacide in her pond. The smell was ghastly, not to mention the loss of life.)

I siphon out about 1/3 of the water and some muck, but try not to disturb the bottom too much because that's where babies and eggs go. I refill and add Stress Coat, Stress Zyme and Melafix. We're on an artesian well here. If you have treated water, use a water conditioner.

I would leave the netting on there. Otherwise, a hungry raccoon or even worse, a heron, might play "bobbing for fish." If you really dislike the netting, you could try fishing line strung around rods around the perimeter and across, but it doesn't work perfectly and leaves, grass clippings, etc. will easily find their way into the water, leaving you no chance to scoop them our before they sink. Remove growing grass from the perimeter so you don't have to mow bear the water. You can build up the edging to act as a barrier. If it seems too high, add a slope to the edging with dirt and plantings. Any extra height will serve as more protection for your fish.

I use barley straw and /or barley & peat extract to keep water clear and healthy.

You may want to consider adding on a waterfall feature for some added water movement - either a molded black piece or one of those small decorative waterfall features that looks like rocks and are meant to be a freestanding feature. For the latter, just add it to the edge of your pond and connect the water pump tube to your current pump, instead, to direct the water flow to the top of the waterfall (vs. in the pond body itself). [emoji225] [emoji225] [emoji225]

Sent from my shoe phone using Tapatalk while in The Cone of Silence

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I keeping the netting or at least for now (might make one that easier for me to remove) to keep wild cats out of it,

I had a waterfall on it, back when I setup the pond, and my mom wasn't too happy with it

 

[kschweer]

I worked on ponds for a few years. Riverswami has some great advice. You can look into a small filter box that hooks up to a small pump with a small fountain. This will help keep things fairly clean and keep the pond aerated. Without a filter waterchanges are your friend. Also as riverswami said look at some floating plants for the pond.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

There is a filter box but I didn't pull it out during this water change. I figure water changes would help. I going to do them every other week and also check out the filter box. My mom was doing a water change like every 2 or so months lol