Inherited a pond with new house - HELP!

[j.w]

@Wallace
Whatever you choose to do, save as much of the old water as possible. It will give the fish a better chance at surviving instead of being shocked by too much new water. The fish is used to the old water.

 

[brokensword]

and realize if you take out a lot of your plants, the heron will more easily see your remaining koi. I'd seriously consider how you're going to protect what is left as well as anything else new you add to your pond. I'd make something that I could lift off (a framed net) when I was around and easily slide/put back when I'm not around.

 

[Marion777]

I agree. Drain it & clean it up. U can get a pump at the hardware store u just put in the pond with a garden hose attached that w pump it out. Pull the grass & lol for a pump. Lillies & other water plants are prettier & much easier to manage. Put any fish in as bigga container as u have, they’ll be fine a day or two as long as they’re in the shade. I personally like my pond pump/filter that was around 180, u just pull the out hose out daily & pull up in a handle 2-3 times which squeezes all the gunk out then throw the hose back in & do it eceryday. Takes abt 3-4 minutes. I got mine from “the pond guy”. They have everything you’d ever need for a great pond! A days labor & a couple hundred bucks & you can have a real showpiece! The kids love feeding my koi & big goldfish. Lots of fun. A couple big turtles moved in for a couple yrs, but then left again damnit. I sure liked those!

 

[Marion777]

View attachment 137284@Wallace
Whatever you choose to do, save as much of the old water as possible. It will give the fish a better chance at surviving instead of being shocked by too much new water. The fish is used to the old water.

I respectfully disagree with that. It’s hot in Utah & even with a waterfall the water gets really warm & the rocks get kinda grimy. I pump the whole thing almost dry while hosing down the sides to get any gunk off the rocks n liner then just throw the hose in & fill it back up. The water is regular chlorinated water-same as in the house & it doesn’t bother the fish at all. In winter I have to pull the pump & just run the waterfall & put a horse trough de-icer in there-same kind as I use for my horses water trough & it’s fine all winter @5-6 below zero. I skesyd clean it good in the spring before putting the filtering pump back in. Piece of cske

 

[Marion777]

I respectfully disagree with that. It’s hot in Utah & even with a waterfall the water gets really warm & the rocks get kinda grimy. I pump the whole thing almost dry while hosing down the sides to get any gunk off the rocks n liner then just throw the hose in & fill it back up. The water is regular chlorinated water-same as in the house & it doesn’t bother the fish at all. In winter I have to pull the pump & just run the waterfall & put a horse trough de-icer in there-same kind as I use for my horses water trough & it’s fine all winter @5-6 below zero. I skesyd clean it good in the spring before putting the filtering pump back in. Piece of cske

Pretty green in the spring till I clean it-them it’s crystal clear all summer/fall

 

[j.w]

I respectfully disagree with that. It’s hot in Utah & even with a waterfall the water gets really warm & the rocks get kinda grimy. I pump the whole thing almost dry while hosing down the sides to get any gunk off the rocks n liner then just throw the hose in & fill it back up. The water is regular chlorinated water-same as in the house & it doesn’t bother the fish at all. In winter I have to pull the pump & just run the waterfall & put a horse trough de-icer in there-same kind as I use for my horses water trough & it’s fine all winter @5-6 below zero. I skesyd clean it good in the spring before putting the filtering pump back in. Piece of cske

So you don't use de-chlor for your chlorinated water to your fish pond? Amazing it does not hurt the fish. You aren't saying you do this when you drain all the water out, just when adding some new water to raise the level back right?

 

[Mmathis]

I respectfully disagree with that. It’s hot in Utah & even with a waterfall the water gets really warm & the rocks get kinda grimy. I pump the whole thing almost dry while hosing down the sides to get any gunk off the rocks n liner then just throw the hose in & fill it back up. The water is regular chlorinated water-same as in the house & it doesn’t bother the fish at all. In winter I have to pull the pump & just run the waterfall & put a horse trough de-icer in there-same kind as I use for my horses water trough & it’s fine all winter @5-6 below zero. I skesyd clean it good in the spring before putting the filtering pump back in. Piece of cske

@Marion777 Do you realize this thread is 3 years old…..and the OP hasn’t been around since the initial intro?

As @j.w commented, I wonder why you don’t dechlorinate your chlorinated water when doing a total refill. Do you know if your water contains chloramines as well as chlorine? Chlorine will dissipate on its own with exposure to the air. That is not the case with chloramines, and many cities are adding this to their water. Glad it works for you, but as a general rule, we DO encourage the use of a dechlorinator to our readers and members.

 

[Marion777]

Pretty green in the spring till I clean it-them it’s crystal clear all summer/fall

So you don't use de-chlor for your chlorinated water to your fish pond? Amazing it does not hurt the fish. You aren't saying you do this when you drain all the water out, just when adding some new water to raise the level back right?

I never use anything & the fish are fine. I pump out about 850 gallons till the fish are barely covered w water still, spraying down the sides & pumping out that gunk too, then just put the hose in & fill it up. It’s chlorinated water same as in the house. De chlorinating is all bs. I do the same with my freshwater 100 gallon tank inside & I have all diff tropical fish in there. I only drain that 3/4 down, not as far as the pond. I’ve done that since I was a kid & im 60. Never had a problem. There’s a lot if bs chemicals out there. Same w an aquarium. Lots of people get “ick” & other diseases in their tanks & buy all kinds of crap to cuts the fish. If u keep your tank at 79-80 degrees (which a fish store will tell you is bad for the fish) ick & other diseases can’t grow & never will. It doesn’t hurt the fish. It’s all abt them making $$

 

[Marion777]

I never use anything & the fish are fine. I pump out about 850 gallons till the fish are barely covered w water still, spraying down the sides & pumping out that gunk too, then just put the hose in & fill it up. It’s chlorinated water same as in the house. De chlorinating is all bs. I do the same with my freshwater 100 gallon tank inside & I have all diff tropical fish in there. I only drain that 3/4 down, not as far as the pond. I’ve done that since I was a kid & im 60. Never had a problem. There’s a lot if bs chemicals out there. Same w an aquarium. Lots of people get “ick” & other diseases in their tanks & buy all kinds of crap to cuts the fish. If u keep your tank at 79-80 degrees (which a fish store will tell you is bad for the fish) ick & other diseases can’t grow & never will. It doesn’t hurt the fish. It’s all abt them making $$

I Meant cure not “cuts” the fish.