My pond runs all winter, zone 2/3

[j.w]

Yes Colleen your water is so clear it looks like it's only inches deep. I can't wait to get my filters in the water. Just waiting for some warmer weather to work out there. Have to pull the old one out first and that is a job. How have you found is best on lifting the filters out to clean? Do you just turn off pump and pull the filters up by the hose or do you have to get in there and undo them from the pump. Just wondering which way would be easier. I was thinking of using a long hose on them so I can move them around on the bottom of the pond off and on and then just pull them up and hose off and back in they go. Would I need to tie a rope to them to pull them up easier maybe?

 

[callingcolleen1]

The water is three deep in top pond, and 2 - 3 feet deep in middle pond, under the yellow flag is 3 feet deep, and two feet deep in the bottom pond. It is deceiving cause the water is so clear and when the sun shines the fish poke there heads out from under the yellow flag in the middle would not beliwve how much dirt come's out of those filters!pond, I swear they are suntaning!

I am pretty sure my water would not look so nice and clear if I did not run the water and filters all year round. After a summer or so, those filters come "alive" and are host to lots of different aquatic life! Inside the filters core, I sometimes see weird red worms, which I was told are good for the pond and filters, plus other strange aquatic crustations that move and are clear colored, not yet identified, but they live in my filters and have been living in the filters for many many years. In the spring I do clean the filters lots cause when the water warms up the algae starts to grow when the plants are still small. I am careful not to kill too many of these aquatic creatures that live inside the filters core. The inside blue core of the filter, I usually clean inside core carefully, and I only clean the inside blue core every now and then. I pressure wash the filters with the garden hose in the spring. You would not believe how much dirt comes out those filters!

 

[callingcolleen1]

JW you can have the filters where it is easy access or if need be, tie a rope so that it can be pulled out. I turn off the pumps before I clean them and I just reach down into pond and pull them out and they disconnect pretty easy from my pumps. Laguna has "click fit" attachments the come away from pump easy. I do not clamp the filters to the pump as my flexable hoses fit pretty snug. my filters are easy to reach and I can walk all around pond for easy access.

 

[j.w]

Thanks Colleen for the info on how you clean yours. I have a nice Pondmaster pump to attach to the filters and might get out today to do the change over as it's going to be sunny and 50f. Then when Spring arrives I can give the filter a good cleaning. My Hornwort has lots of algae on it too right now. Guess I should remove that so the stuff can breath or it may die.

 

[callingcolleen1]

It is typical in colder weather to have lots of algae growing on sides of pond and elsewhere. This is because algae is the only plant that grows well in ice cold water. The other powerful sedges are still dormant for the most part, so hence the algae. The hornwort can be carefully groomed and the string algae should be weeded out until the water gets warm, then the hornwort will out grow the algae and the algae all die off as the other plants come back to life.

For reader how are not aware, winter algae is very good for the pond. The algae will help clean the pond water until the powerful sedges come back to life. Lush green algae also provides vital nutrients for the fish in the early spring, and is easy for them to digest when water is cold.

 

[j.w]

You know I don't think it is algae on the Hornwort. As I moved it around in the plant ring that it's in and the stuff just falls off of it. Think it is muck cuz the plant ring does not have good water movement. I will take the Hornwort out of the plant ring tomorrow and put it in some nice water maybe indoors so it can grow a bunch for the pond in Spring.

I put the new filter in the pond and it's working away doing it's thing. Tied a rope on it and left the hose from the pump outlet long so I can move the filter around from place to place in the pond if I want to.

 

[Catfishnut]

Gordy, as a young chid I grew up watching this wonderful fellow on tv every day. His show was only on in the Pacific N.W. He had a basset hound named No Mo (stood for no motion)and another one named Slo Mo :biggrin:
Course he never sang this song on his children's show. He liked entertaining adults also :cheerful:
He was loved by all.
http://www.stanboreson.com/history.htm

J.W.

That guy is so fun and his song is hilarious! I LOVE it!

Thank you for that one! I am going save the link and to show it to my friends! They are going to have a hoot on that one!

Gordy

 

[sissy]

yummy fishy tasting water .He must be checking out the water quality colleen .Ph is fine and no ammonia and no nitrates or nitrites ,just perfect :cheerful: You can tell by the wag of his tail :cheerful:

 

[j.w]

Gordy if you look on you tube he has tons of funny songs he sang. He was a hoot on the kids tv show too. No wonder I grew up so nuts :biggrinangelA:

 

[sissy]

I never heard of the guy jw and my hubby got a kick out of it .

 

[callingcolleen1]

I used to watch Mr Dress up, Sesame Street, and the Friendly Giant. I also must admit that I liked Mr. Rogers, "it's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood!!

 

[j.w]

Sissy he was only on tv in this area. He lived here and did lots of community events also. Loved people :cheerful:
I think he is still alive but gave up performing in 2012 and is about 87 yrs old now.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Today was just beautiful, most of the ice is gone and the leaf net is almost unstuck over the bottom pond.... but it is still stuck to the ice on the OUTside of bottom pond. Dumb me left the net over that pond just a little too late last fall and now still waiting to get it out!


Today was the warmest day of the year, we made it all the way up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit!! WoW How nice Was That!!! Spent the afternoon outside in the sun. Fish were all VERY Happy!!

 

[MitchM]

That accordion guy had better be careful how much he squeezes that accordion!

 

[sissy]

yikes a boo boo no one is going to kiss . how terrible . :cheerful: gosh I grew up with the flintstones and the jetsons .Real learning there huh ,the future and the past .