Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Patio pond help required

Dobbin26Dobbin26 Posts: 60
in Problem solving
Looking for advice please. I've just recently started a small patio pond in a 60cm diameter x 45cm deep plastic container. I've got Elodea Densa oxygenating plants, a couple of grasses, a water iris and a small lilly along with 3 tiny goldfish for my grandsons. There is a small filter with fountain but no matter what I do the water always appears murky. The inside of the container slimy and stringy pond weed is forming. I've put another small filter in (Amazon purchase) to see if that helps but both this and tge fountain pump have nylon mesh filters which need cleaning every couple of days as they are clogged reducing flow. Should/could I use a chemica / natural pond cleaning solution? Not looking at spending a fortune but any assistance in rectifying this issue would be appreciated. 
«1

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Hello,we also have a pond on our patio. We have a very fancy underwater UV filtering system,also has those meshy things. Bought a new one last year. Put on here about it clogging up, hubby takes it out every couple of days clears it out.   With much effing and blinding! Water is clear,sides are clear, bottom does get sludgy. We put in 4 small goldfish 10 years ago, actually had one die this week. There are plenty of babies. We have never resorted to chemicals. They are only supposed to remove green water....we don't have that.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719

  • Dobbin26Dobbin26 Posts: 60
    Thanks @Nanny Beach out of curiosity what size is your pond and what filter are you using.  I saw the UV filters and am aware of them for reducing Legionella risk. 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    You know "the law of sod" I am sure!!! I have looked everywhere for the booklet, but hubby says the box it came in,is in our garage. That's in a slip road,a little way away. At the moment I am catching up washing, including duvet and big cotton floor mats. He will have a look at some point today. He asked me,do you remove it from the pond, disassemble,and completely wash out? Just measured the pond,it's 4ft x4.5ft ,2.5ft above ground,I don't know how far it goes down below ground, sorry.
  • Dobbin26Dobbin26 Posts: 60
    Thanks,  don't go to any trouble. Yes, I remove the pump,  filter etc and give them  thorough clean.  I also change some of the water each time.  By the sounds of it and the size of your pond your pump/ filter system would probably be far too large for my small pond. I've just looked again online at All Pond Solutions and ordered another one, this time with uv light. Should arrive mid week so hopefully this will work
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 652
    We put in a wildlife pond in about 7years ago around7ft long by 5ft wide 30inches deep in middle ,it took about 2 years to settle had loads of blanket weed but now none the water is very clear plenty of plants and duckweed which I remove regular ,all sorts of wildlife I it and use it .
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Zenjeff,do you have fish. Dobbin, you said you are charging the water, are you actually removing some? For fish and the ecosystem,it must be rainwater (yes, I know, we're in East Sussex, what rain!!) We keep some as far as possible in waterbutts, plus Rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries. Otherwise,it's fill up everything we have and sit to dechlorinate for 48 hours. You can get smaller versions of the one we have. The pond evaporates because of wind here is and it's been steadily around 30c for a long time,water added is poured in the corner,very carefully and slowly,so as not to bring up the silt 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    A good way to keep the sides of your pond clear of algae is to introduce some snails.
    I have ordinary Pond Snails in my little w/l pond (about 6ft x 2-3ft and 60cm deep) and they can be quite prolific.
    A better option for your pond may be Ramshorn Snails. They're smaller and less sex-mad compared with the Pond Snails.

    Most aquatic stores will sell them, just be wary that they're alive when you buy them.
    My first lot I bought were stored on a rack in full sun. It wasn't till I got home and opened the bag I realized by the stench they were all very much dead.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Dobbin26Dobbin26 Posts: 60
    Thanks everyone 
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Hi Dobbin26. Even without all the plants, your container isn’t big enough for 3 small goldfish because they will quickly outgrow the space. When this inevitably happens you’re stuck with deciding what to do with them. Also you’ll not see them in a short while anyway because the lily pads will cover the entire water surface obscuring all.

    If your grandkids are anything like mine then they’ll all want to feed the fish. Over feeding is not only bad for the fish but it’s also a prime cause of dirty water because uneaten food sinks to the bottom and contaminates the pond, causing algal growth and disease.

    Small water features like yours don’t lend themselves to keeping happy, heathy fish I’m afraid. They’ll also eat all the wildlife they can fit in their mouths so not good from that perspective either.

    Even a small pond minus fish will soon be colonised by all sorts of insects. You may even discover you have a frog or newt population in your area like I did and my grandkids think they’re much cooler than fish.
Sign In or Register to comment.