Question on water change

[Meyer Jordan]

@Meyer, sorry I missed that you had asked me a question earlier in post #121 and I didnt reply so, Yes, my pond does have a waterfall with a free fall and two airstones that also create extra water movement.

I would guess that you fish occasionally gather under the waterfall. Is this also the outflow of your biofilter? If so, they are enjoying the munchies supplied to them in this location that grow within the biofilter along with the Nitrifying bacteria. If they have become acclimated to this then they will associate any splashing water with 'snacks'.

 

[Gemma]

I am constantly seeing references to "the other harmful substances", but I have yet to see any actually identified.

Names were probably given, in at least some of the materials I read, I just don't remember them!
I'm sure at the time I found it irrelevant to keep track of details, all I was interested in, was to learn how to avoid those accumulations! I had no idea at some point someone would ask me the proper name

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Names were probably given, in at least some of the materials I read, I just don't remember them!
I'm sure at the time I found it irrelevant to keep track of details, all I was interested in, was to learn how to avoid those accumulations! I had no idea at some point someone would ask me the proper name

I apologize @Gemma if you got the impression that I was focusing on you in particular. That, I assure you, was/is not the case. The idea of reducing the build-up of harmful substances through water changes has been advocated here on this Forum in previous threads, you can find a variation of this statement on any other Water Gardening forum on the web, not to mention it also being stated in individual blogs and articles. There may be those that list these substances that need reduction but I have yet to see them.

 

[Usman]

Names were probably given, in at least some of the materials I read, I just don't remember them!
I'm sure at the time I found it irrelevant to keep track of details, all I was interested in, was to learn how to avoid those accumulations! I had no idea at some point someone would ask me the proper name

see in the end chart is given too , beside that its imformative paper on water quality and fish farming . https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/as/as-503.html
what i think happens is that we add water to our pond then after some days it evaporates and leaves its chemicals minerals in the pond then we add more water and so on it gets denser saturated , some harmful chemicals may increase and some useful minerals may decrease after consumption , we cant measure most of these chemicals easily ... this may not effect all the ponds in same way as all areas have different water composition and pond ecosystem , can b the case why all experts encourage this , also one theory of pheromones which fishes produce we discussed here in great detail in one thread ...

when i add fresh water , my fishes behave differently like they are happier more active and looking for food so there must be some difference may b its lighter more fresher as we feel difference in closed room air and fresh air outside ? yes as u have said i hv seen all the experts say this and i showed clips here too on this same topic in one thread .

 

[Meyer Jordan]

see in the end chart is given too , beside that its imformative paper on water quality and fish farming . https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/as/as-503.html
what i think happens is that we add water to our pond then after some days it evaporates and leaves its chemicals minerals in the pond then we add more water and so on it gets denser saturated , some harmful chemicals may increase and some useful minerals may decrease after consumption , we cant measure most of these chemicals easily ... this may not effect all the ponds in same way as all areas have different water composition and pond ecosystem , can b the case why all experts encourage this , also one theory of pheromones which fishes produce we discussed here in great detail in one thread ...

when i add fresh water , my fishes behave differently like they are happier more active and looking for food so there must be some difference may b its lighter more fresher as we feel difference in closed room air and fresh air outside ? yes as u have said i hv seen all the experts say this and i showed clips here too on this same topic in one thread .

I fail to see any mention of other substances that are named other than Iron which is never a health issue for fish and H2S which is endemic in most earthen-bottom ponds and extremely rare in lined Garden Ponds. And unless I overlooked it, could find no mention of water changes. This paper, though a good reference item on water quality in farm ponds, offers no information that would pertain to this thread.

 

[IPA]

I apologize @Gemma if you got the impression that I was focusing on you in particular. That, I assure you, was/is not the case. The idea of reducing the build-up of harmful substances through water changes has been advocated here on this Forum in previous threads, you can find a variation of this statement on any other Water Gardening forum on the web, not to mention it also being stated in individual blogs and articles. There may be those that list these substances that need reduction but I have yet to see them.

It is true that pond keepers have often been taught to do periodic water changes and many of those telling us that also told us we need to do the "Spring cleaning." I feel like the keeping of eco-ponds, if that is the proper term for a balance of plant and fish in garden ponds, is still a bit of a sidebar when it comes to information available to the consumer. Not that the information isn't out there but you have to know what your looking for to avoid the same old practices we've all been taught for so long.

 

[moby]

@ Meyer, yes regarding them being attracted to the waterfall drop, and its especially so after it's been backwashed and the dirty water that runs out momentarily till it's filled up runs through. Thanks.

 

[Gemma]

This is another reason why it is important to define what type of pond you are discussing. .

You mentioned that based on my posts you believe my pond is a hybrid, is that a pond something in between Eco-pond, and DKP?
What would you need to know, or see (pics) that would help you determine with a higher level of certainty what type of pond I have?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

You mentioned that based on my posts you believe my pond is a hybrid, is that a pond something in between Eco-pond, and DKP?
What would you need to know, or see (pics) that would help you determine with a higher level of certainty what type of pond I have?

Does your pond have a bottom drain?
Does your pond have a gravel (or other substrate) bottom?
Are the inner walls of your pond lined with rock?

 

[Gemma]

Does your pond have a bottom drain?
Does your pond have a gravel (or other substrate) bottom?
Are the inner walls of your pond lined with rock?

No bottom drain! I wanted it, but I was led to believe it was best without it...whole other topic!
There is nothing on the bottom in the main tank where the fish are, I have river rocks on the bottom of the upper tub where the plants are (not a Bog)
The walls of the main tank are bare, aside from some large stones on the step that connects the upper and lower tank.

 

[sissy]

I have seen people who put in bottom drains and baby fish ,frogs and snails were killed .Even skimmers can be a death trap .

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I have seen people who put in bottom drains and baby fish ,frogs and snails were killed .Even skimmers can be a death trap .

Water pumps are the real killers, skimmers and bottom drains are just accomplices.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Water pumps are the real killers, skimmers and bottom drains are just accomplices.

Actually that's not true, many of my fish frogs and even snails have been saved by getting caught in the skimmer or going through the bottom drain and getting caught in the settling tank and not getting sucked straight through to the pump. So they are more like heroes!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

No bottom drain! I wanted it, but I was led to believe it was best without it...whole other topic!
There is nothing on the bottom in the main tank where the fish are, I have river rocks on the bottom of the upper tub where the plants are (not a Bog)
The walls of the main tank are bare, aside from some large stones on the step that connects the upper and lower tank.

You have a 'Hybrid'. Your goal is not maintaining crystal-clear pristine water or having a pond for strictly viewing the fish.

 

[sissy]

You need a pump you don't really always need a skimmer or a bottom drain .In my case I don't have either one and the pumps have cages around them so that helps save snails and fogs and baby fish .With my old pump I would find baby fish in my filter but with lagunas none have gotten caught up in the pumps and dumped into the filter