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New To Ponds. Need Help


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#1 Ryan-w

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Posted 16 November 2014 - 06:59 PM

Hi guys. I've just started moving into my new house and it comes with a monster pond set up. It's well and truly been abandoned by the owners. It's got a big external filter box but a pump that dosent work and is green cloudy sludgy water.

I need to find a new pump but I want to clean it out first as the poor koi in there can't be enjoying it.

Do pond vacs work? Is that the easiest way to keep a pond clean?

#2 Riggers

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Posted 16 November 2014 - 11:25 PM

Hi Ryan

The best thing to do would be to take the fish out temporarily and drain the pond, then you've got a good idea of what you're working with. If there's a good layer of sludge on the bottom it's worth getting rid of it and replacing it with pea gravel or some other coarse gravel, or you can keep it bare depending on your preference.

The box filter is a good start but I've always been an advocate for natural filtration. This involves adding a spill pond or secondary tub or whatever, that flows back to the pond, around 20% of the volume of the main pond. Then it's just as simple as filling the secondary pond/spillway/tub with around 3-4inches of pea gravel and putting heaps of water loving plants in there :)

Within a few days of running a setup like this your water will stay nice and clear and the fish will provide natural fertiliser for the plants :)
Here's a pic of a simple plant filter for reference :)

3d592eac1138a5eb6f24c3c278a58739.jpg

#3 sandgroper

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Posted 16 November 2014 - 11:40 PM

Uv light and products like sludge away or splosh will clear it up but best to give it a good vacuum first and a 50% water change. That way the products will work better and you will get a quicker result. If the pond is to large for a 50% water change then just a large amount will do to freshen it up a bit


Edited by sandgroper, 18 November 2014 - 10:18 PM.


#4 Ryan-w

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 06:04 AM

Thanks guys.
Riggers it looks like it may have secondary ponds that are loaded with plants conected to it. There are a few little ones around it full of plants but I haven't checked the plumbing to see if the are conected yet.

Are the pond vacs that bunnings sell decent?

#5 Riggers

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 08:22 AM

That's good news Ryan, if you've already got a secondary pond it's just going to be a matter of getting a new pump. When you get a pump make sure you get a good pre-filter sponge for it and when you put it in the pond lift it up off the bottom with something like an upside down garden pot to avoid any sludge getting into the impeller

I've never used the pond vac before so I can't tell you if they are any good, I've always used a big dirty water pump and a bucket for the dregs :)

#6 Ryan-w

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 10:51 AM

Fair enough lol




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