I live in the panhandle of North Florida. For the past 13 years I have had a 3000 gallon backyard pond. It has Koi, Shibunkins and Goldfish. Because of predatory birds (Bald Eagles and Osprey) the pond is kept murky. There is no filter and the water is simply recirculated. Throughout this time the fish have all thrived and reproduced. Three weeks ago we went away overnight. Apparently shortly after we left the main pump shorted out and tripped the GFI. Hence both pumps shut off. When I returned I found one dead Koi and a number of dead Goldfish. I unplugged the main pump and turned on the secondary pump. I installed a new main pump and even added a third pump to increase aeration. Each day 3 or 4 Goldfish die. I tested the water and the the phosphates were high and the ammonia was a little high. I treated the water for these conditions. The fish kept dying. Yesterday I did a 50% water change. the fish are still dying. I have run out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know some of you may recommend a filter but keep in mind the fish have thrived for 13 years without one. The problem only started after the pumps were off for 24 hours.
HELP!!!
- Thread starter Hank32328
- Start date
Welcome Hank. Sorry about your fish.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 44,934
- Reaction score
- 29,945
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
What are the tests now? The fish dieing now may be a continuation of the pumps being off. Strong enough to keep going but damaged enough they are dieing.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 44,934
- Reaction score
- 29,945
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
Maybe add a aerator for more air. You might want one on a separate line than the pumps so if the pumps shut off you will still have some aeration
It does sound like perhaps the damage was already done, sorry to say. Is it only the goldfish that are dying at this point?
Welcome Hank sorry to hear about your loss wecome from a sunny Plymouth UK, Its a long time since I was in your neck of the woods now in my Royal Naval days back in the early 1980's
May I ask if you have access to a microscope if so we can take you through doing a scrape and what to look out for parasite wise but even though we have a good track record in helping folks out with fish health issues , you would have to be our eyes and ears .....here I'm affraid.
We need to know everything about your pond and its water perameters, we need to know Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate Ph levels .
It could be a number of things we simply dont know at present its down to your answers to our questions .
Dave
May I ask if you have access to a microscope if so we can take you through doing a scrape and what to look out for parasite wise but even though we have a good track record in helping folks out with fish health issues , you would have to be our eyes and ears .....here I'm affraid.
We need to know everything about your pond and its water perameters, we need to know Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate Ph levels .
It could be a number of things we simply dont know at present its down to your answers to our questions .
Dave
sissy
sissy
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2011
- Messages
- 33,086
- Reaction score
- 15,707
- Location
- Axton virginia
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 7A
- Country
Did you add fresh water and do a water change .
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Messages
- 6,283
- Reaction score
- 5,064
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Hardiness Zone
- 6 A
- Country
I agree with addy, that an aerator could help. Sorry about your fish loss.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 7,046
- Reaction score
- 7,241
- Location
- Water Valley, Alberta
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 2a
- Country
You said you treated the water for high phosphates and ammonia. What did you do?
How high were the readings?
How high were the readings?
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2010
- Messages
- 4,071
- Reaction score
- 4,023
- Location
- Chicago Area
- Hardiness Zone
- 5b
- Country
Sorry about your fish. It seems like it is more than coincidental that your pump shut off and your fish started dying. My guess is the level of dissolved oxygen is very low. Sometimes a water change can actually hurt if you are removing highly oxygenated water close to the surface and replacing it with non oxygenated water. I think by answering Dave 54's questions it will help you identify the problem, but increasing water flow even more will not hurt.