19 replies to this topic

[Bickley]

I've got 2 ponds out back with koi, comets and fan tail goldfish of some sort. Over the last 48 hours have lost 8 fish from one of the ponds none from the other one. A few fish have scales missing or hanging off and like white patches on them. At first thought it might have been heat or the water jet spraying back in knocking them out and drowning them but not sure now with the patches on them. Up until a week ago there was Marron in the pond did a huge water change (8o%-90#) when swapped them over. have added some melafix.. Is there a common disease or pest in ponds I don't know about ?

Cheers Bickley

[Mr_docfish]

Need water tests - detail on products used - details on how the fish died (mouth wide open, slimed up etc)

[Bickley]

Out at the moment will do as soon as I get home. Fish were a bit slimy mouths weren't really open. The couple fish that still alive look really bashed. And melafix is the only thing used today after seeing battered scales and followed instructions on label. Connected a uv filter a week ago.

[Mr_docfish]

Check your ammonia and nitrite.... And pH while you are at it... After you take a sample - do some water changes until we can work out what to do...

[Bickley]

Ok must have disturbed the filtration to much.

Ph- 7.8
Ammonia- 2.00
Nitrite- .25
Nitrate- 10

So looks like im going through the cycle again
Just did a 80% water change on both ponds
Might have to add some cycles media from my sump inside
Would it speed up the process if I use the water from my 6x2x2 inside to refill the ponds for the water change ?

[Mr_docfish]

All you can do is wait for the filter to catch up - no need to add bacteria from other sources - the bacteria is already there, just have to wait for them to multiply on their media.
Meanwhile, keep up the water changes until it catches up.

[bigjohnnofish]

yes by adding more bacteria from inside will speed it up slightly... but in the overall scheme of things it maybe only by a day or two....

[MUZZYBEAR]

why would you do 80-90% water changes??
30% is heaps, no wonder everything is outa balance

[Jeff]

I do weekly 50% water changes on all of my tanks to keep nitrates down. Sometimes more. Large water changes aren't a problem if temp and ph of water changed in is similar to the tank water.

Edited by Jeff, 01 January 2013 - 05:53 PM.

[Bickley]

why would you do 80-90% water changes??
30% is heaps, no wonder everything is outa balance

As stated mate had Marron in there and they realy trashed the water did a large water change to clean the pond out. Probly over exadurating abit though 80% max

But an update: lost a couple more over the next few days but mainly only the ones that were really battered (damage was already done) haven't lost any out of the big pond. So looks like I disturbed the filtration on the smaller ponds filter don't know how maybe left it off for to long or maybe just was taking longer to cycle then the other ponds filtration

Thanks for all the advice guys

[bigjohnnofish]

I do weekly 50% water changes on all of my tanks to keep nitrates down. Sometimes more. Large water changes aren't a problem if temp and ph of water changed in is similar to the tank water.

agreed large water changes arent a problem... look at it this way you buy a new fish from the shop to acclimatise it you float it to get similar temp and you add water to the bag intermitantly to get it used to the water chemistry from your tank... this fish will be receiving a large waterchange

now look at it this way you have drained out 80% of your tank... to get your fish acclimatised to the new water your changing with you simply add it at a slow rate so the fish acclimatise to the changes slowly... much the same as the bag theory in the above statement...

simply removing 80% tank water and filling it back up with bucket or other method immediately is prob asking for trouble... but do it over an hour and it should be fine....

pump water in from a water reservoir pre treated with water conditioner and do it reasonably slowly...

[Bickley]

Well my dog decides to get me a bday present bought it to me dropped it at me feet tail wagging and all. Just what I wanted more fish only problem is it was my prize koi out of my ponds biggest one I have 40 odd cm

Don't know if this is the precious cause for fish dieing though as I have never seen him up near ponds and I havn't had a problem in that pond since last time and all fish were just floating in the ponds before. I'm wondering If the koi jumped out and then the dog got it what's everyone think?? great way to start your bday hey lol

[sandgroper]

I was going to suggest that something might be attacking them as i've had cranes sometimes land in my backyard and attack the fish. Might have to put a net over it to keep the birds, cats and dog out.

[ice]

My oldies had a bloody pelican in their back yard once, it was stealing small goldfish from their small pond.

Happy birthday also mate, hope the rest of your fish make it!

[Mattymak]

Happy birthday brother!

[gezza]

I had goldfish and koi missing day by day they both had missing scales and dead ones in the pond so I put a camera near the pond and found out a white faced Herron eating them

[bigjohnnofish]

our male dog is a great marron hunter... we have a small pond out back and when my mate brought round a heap to eat - so we put em in the pond till we were ready to cook em...... he watched us take out the first one then paws on edge of pond plants his head under the water and moves around a bit then out he comes with a marron in his mouth!!! good boy thankyou grab another one... the rest is history

[vinnie]

You know there are those ibis birds by the hundreds north of the river. Neighbour said it took most of her koi last year. Even had a go at the dog.

[Bickley]

Yeah mate but my ponds are under a patio so they wouldn't be able to see them so slim chance they would land in my yard work past my dog (who eats anything) and under my patio lol I've set one of my security cameras up watching the ponds anyway so should no soon enough If anything Is trying to eat them

Cheers Bickley

[sandgroper]

They don't have to see them from the air, it's the sound of running water that gets there attention. I have a bull terrier and mine are under the patio also but occasionally i get a visitor, animals are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Good luck with the documentary.