My goldfish pond

[j.w]

No, j.w., up until maybe eight or nine years ago the Laguna pumps sold in Canada were named for their litre per hour capacity @ a head of one meter, hence the 2000 litre designation. The maximum gph is actually 3,500 USG. Confusing, I know!
John

Thanks for clearing that up. Forgot you were in Canada and things are different then here.

 

[CountryEscape]

Sorry to hear about your fish, CK. Sounds like it got wedged in between the rocks and could not back out of his situation. I've seen where others have found fish dead wedged between plant pots and the pond walls, too, but rocks seem to be where they move forward, and then get stuck in shallow water. My goldfish were swimming UP the overflow to the bog, and that was jumping up over an inch ledge and then across another 6" or so ledge to get to the water on the other side. And, how did they know that there would be deep enough water for them to swim in? I have since moved rocks so they can no longer jump into there. Besides, the bullfrog was perched with his head on the overflow, and I sure didn't want him snatching up any of the smaller goldies for his/her dinner!

 

[j.w]

Keith maybe the fish was a female and she was trying to hide from the males and she just got stuck. That is too bad and guess you've moved that rock now so it can't happen again. I found a little fish stuck in one of my fountain input holes. Now I put the screen thing back on so it can't happen again. I hate the screen thing cuz it gets plugged all the time but don't want any more little ones sucked in there so I shall just have to deal w/ it.

 

[herzausstahl]

Sorry to hear that keith, I had a frog that I found last year all crispy in the pond because he must have moved a rock and trapped his leg at the same time. It was kind of under the decking so I didn't find him until it was too late.

 

[CountryEscape]

I bought some koi last year, put them in the pond, the next day one was missing. It had evidently jumped out of the pond, maybe into the bog, but was laying dead on top of the outside bog rock wall. Very strange! I can only assume that it knocked it's head when it hit the rocks, maybe from the pond to that wall, which would have been about a 3' jump, and that killed it. Nothing took the fish off the wall, so likely it was not done by a critter. Always sad to lose a fish or frog or anything, and we do what we can so it doesn't happen again, and just have to call it nature.

 

[sissy]

Sorry to hear and yep they can get stuck when they are being chased as fish seem to not be able to back up as easy as they can go forward .I block off my water fall so they can't get in there but the water can still go over the tops of the rocks I block it with

 

[CometKeith]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. It broke my streak of 8 months without losing one. My longest streak was 14 months. J.W. I haven't seen a lot of chasing but who know what they are doing when I'm not around! The more I think about it once a fish got in that area there would be no way it could get out because it was surrounded by rock. CE sometimes koi like to jump when they are new. That's too bad. Herz, Sorry about your frog. Was that a bullfrog? I'm thinking about getting a frog/tadpole again and can't make up my mind about which kind to get. By the way it's 51 degrees today, rainy, and overcast. Back to normal!

 

[CometKeith]

I decided over the weekend to open my bio-filter and clean the filters because my water pressure has dropped coming out of it. Probably not the best idea because it has been leaking since then and I was loosing about 4" of water at day. I think I got it fixed now and my water is a lot clearer so unintentionally adding the new water cleared it up. There is a rubber gasket that does not always fit right on the bio-filter and is probably slightly stretched out. Anyway I noticed that one of my Watonai's is exhibiting loner personality and is not hanging with the others. I hope this is not a bad sign. I moved a plant next to him and he took off like a rocket and I didn't notice any markings to indicate he is sick. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Usually anti-social behavior is not a good sign in fish or people!

 

[CometKeith]

I raised the back wall of the liner yesterday by putting paving stones under the back edge of the liner and wrapping them. I'm going to try doing that to the front today. I figure about 3" higher will make the pond hold about another 150-200 gallons. I also included a few pictures of the yard. i'm still thinking about my expansion project, but don't want to take up more of the yard than I have to.

 

[koiguy1969]

ON THE ELECTRICAL USE METERS ANY DECENT HARDWARE STORE SHOULD HAVE THEM..."KILL A WATT" are supposed to be good!

 

[CountryEscape]

That sure will give you more water and space, KoiGuy! I understand the issue of not taking up too much of your yard. I have a feeling you will plan something somehow ....

 

[herzausstahl]

Keith,
roughly what are the dimensions back there? and what are the 3 shrubs in the back corner and how attached to them are you?

 

[CometKeith]

Herz, It's 28' across from the garage to the neighbors fence. I don't think my wife would want me to take any shrubs out. The were planted when we put in the ornamental pear tree. Also I don't want to dig too close to the tree because I would have to take out some roots which might hurt the tree. Our yard is actually L shaped. The first picture shows it. Current dimensions of the pond are 9'x9' on the inside and 11'x11' from the outside including the rocks that are on the parameter. It's pretty shallow at the ends so I think it's about 650-700 gallons when filled to the top now that I raised the edges up all the way around. I put down my measuring tape and weeder 6' from the current edge. I was thinking maybe make it an oval or figure 8 that comes into the yard at a 45 degree angle so the weeder/measuring tape would be the furthers tip? This way it would be a little closer to the sitting area. Then maybe I could build some berms on each side of the new area and plant more flowers? The last picture shows the fish hanging out. It's been pretty chilly here with cold winds off of Lake Michigan the last few day so they haven't been doing much. The water has cleared up with all the water changes I did last week.

 

[herzausstahl]

Couple ideas off the top of my head, but it really depends on what you are looking to get out of it. If you are looking to not take up too much of the yard, I almost think pick the location that you will get the most enjoyment from the new pond. The original idea of trying to connect them seams out since it will take up too much of your yard. At basically 30' you have decent space to work with to leave room around whatever you do. So back to my original idea, I would almost say you would be better off to pick the spot in the yard where you will get the most year round enjoyment from the pond. The mistake with mine I made is that its situated in the best part of the yard, but i should have put my main pond at the top in the corner with the stream coming off of it and a smaller pond at the bottom. I say this because then I would be able to see it easily from my kitchen in winter so I would be able to see it all year round. So pick the spot where you can enjoy it in winter and while on your patio. At first blush i would say at the corner of the garage opposite your current pond. It gives you the flexibility to do an L shaped pond wrapping around the corner or you can put it in front of your patio, kitty korner to your other pond in the yard. You have the experience of building your pond once and redoing it once so now you can use that experience to build your other pond the way you wish you would have done the first pond. Then you can cycle the new pond without having to worry about your fish while they stay in the old pond. Then you have the option to keep both, or if you would like the yard space back, tear out the old pond. Just some rambling off the top of my head ideas. And no I will not redo my pond. Too much work. Only chance for change would be to redo the upper half, but definitly not anytime soon if ever.

 

[CometKeith]

Thanks Herz, Those are great ideas. I had toyed with the thought of getting it closer to the house but had not really seriously considered it. I think that is why it is good to get outside opinions from people that can see things fresh. The one shot of the backyard going across the yard between the house and garage shows the windows from our eat in breakfast area. it would be ideal if we could see the pond and fish from that vantage point. This gives me a whole lot more to ponder...