i came home tonight later than usual and nearly died with i looked out and could see through the netting that the pond level had dropped about 10 inches!!!!

i obviously have a leak so my first priority was to get the fish out as i didn't know how fast the water level was dropping. I sent the other half to b&q for another tub... 50 gals this time and i raced off to get a filter... i now have three tubs in my dining room 2x25gals & 1x50gal & i had a job catching the pond fish in the dark (can't believe how big they've all got in a few weeks!). the pond has only went down about another inch since i got home but i'll see in the morning if it's dropped any futher!

the other half has suggested letting it empty itself as far as it's going to go and then we may be able to see any damage. i haven't got any liner repair stuff so am going to phone round in the morning (i've a feeling it's going to have to be sent over from england)...i also hope it can be patched up okay...i bought a really good liner and underlay and used sand and i can't believe this has happened...i just hope i can find the hole okay!

i'm totally fed up with things breaking/being broken and generally going wrong... i could list about 6 things in my house that have broken lately...i sent our camera for a swim last week...some lovely person smashed my cars headlight on saturday night....needs an entire new light now....and now this....i'm ready for the hills

apologies for the rant!!

Jude

Aww Jude what a bummer. Maybe a root or something got through? I agree to let it drain on its own and see where it stops. Hope its not too big a hole to fix. Did the liner have a guarantee as some do?

yes it has a 25 year guarantee...how would that work though as it's not like i could just take it out and swap it

i'm phoning the place the liner came from tomorrow as they have repair kits and repair tape so i'll explain to them what has happened and mention the guarantee and see what they say!

...and just when i thought all the pond work was coming to and end and that i'd just be able to sit back and enjoy it now...oh well!

Did you look for possible drips or leaks in the filter setup? Don't know the details of what you have, but it's happened to me.

Yeah I was also wondering if maybe you have a leak in the filter, connection to pump? Or maybe tubing? If you have that turned off and it's still leaking obviously it's the liner. Sorry to hear about all this bad luck. I hope that things are resolved as quickly and smooth as possible. Good luck

thanks guys! i actually never thought of that at all...i did turn the pump and filter off last night when i took out the fish, i'll leave it off today while at work and if the level remains i'll turn the pump etc on again and see if it empties any further tonight.

in the mean time i'm going to get some liner repair anyway...after this scare i think it's something everyone should keep on hand for emergencies!!

fingers crossed i find the leak easily!!!

jude

Didnt even occur to me either it could be the filter, just assumed it to be the liner. A look around the filter if its visible should show some water or wet area?
Isnt that whats great about this forum, all angles covered.

Ohh dear Fins crossed its just the filter.

Hope things work out and it is your filter rather than the lining.Especially after the time you have spent creating such a wonderful pond.

thanks guys.... well the filter has been off all day and the pond level has remained the same...actually an inch or so fuller as it has been raining all day. I inspected round the water level and don't see anything obvious wrong with the liner.

i have now turned the pump and filter back on and have left the water level as it is to see what happens now. I looked all round the filter and can't see any sign of leakage on the bit that's above ground level and under the slab that hides the hoses is dry.

so if it continues to empty i'll lift the filter completely out of the ground to see if it's cracked below ground level, although i don't want to do this until absolutely necessary as our ground is soaking with the rain and the whole it's in will quickly fill with water from the surrounding ground (this happened before and made such a mess), although even if it wasn't raining the ground surrounding it will be sodden anyway if the filter is leaking so i guess i may remove all the slate chippings from around the filter to keep mess to a minium!

if it doesn't empty anymore now that the filters back on then i will be stumped!

jude

Sounds like your on the right path. This sort of detective work isn't fun because it's also a waiting game and in the mean time your fish are getting angry at you because they want to get in that nice big pool! They'll be happy when things are resolved, just as I know you will be.

Hows blu? Still doing good?

Scott

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i found the leak.....it's the filter!

there's seven really awkward clips around the edge and when i cleaned it out last weekend one of then broke off and the one beside it hasn't closed right from near the start. i thought it was sealed enough but boy was i wrong...i had forgotten all about the clip breaking as well! the clip can't be repaired so i'm going to have to get another filter...maybe one of those box like ones with the media slotted down into it (if i have space)! Phew what a relief to have found the source!



Scott, Blu is doing really well...my new camera will be here on monday so i'll post some pics to show how well he has recovered...he LOVES his pond!!! Also Inca with the finrot and ulcer is mending really well to...again i'll post pics at the start of the week!

Thanks everyone!

Jude

Hooray!

Glad you solved the mystery. I hope you are trouble free from now on.

Wow - what a relief only it would've been better if you didn't have to go out and buy a new filter

Is there no way you can get new clips? Many filter manufacturers supply replacement clips - it just seems strange they have no backup plan if one of them breaks....

i will certainly look into find new clips as a temporary measure, as i've already forked out £500 on unxpected things this past two weeks, but if i can't get clips it's not somthing i can wait on obviously

my liner repair kit arrived today...but it's like if you own a bike you need a puncture repair kit on stand by so at least i have it should i ever be unlucky enough to need it!

such a stressful week...i'll be gald to see it over...my smashed headlight on my car was going to cost over £700 to replace...luckily i found one on ebay for £65 so that was a big relief!

i'll get the fish back in the pond tonight and will leave the filter off, so i'll just have to do regular water changes to keep everything under control!

Maybe you can replace the clips with something similar. I find those round metal clamps at HomeDepot in the plumbing section. You can screw them tighter or bigger with a screw driver, and they come in big and smaller sizes, depending on your pipe diameter. I always use those to hold the pipes and such to the filter and other things. And they are less than a buck...

Found them!
Stainless steel hose clamps

it's not actually the hoses that are leaking so unfortunately that wouldn't really work but thanks for the suggestion none the less...

well tonight as again been well, erm...eventful! i started to move the fish back into the pond and had a poke at the filter and got one of the hinges cliped on again leaving only the broken one undone. i figured it looked quite secure so i switched it on and sat for a while watching it and checking for leaks and there was nothing..."great" i thought, this might tide me over for a month or two and i can get a new filter when everything else stops breaking. so i went inside to continue moving the fish... then i noticed the filters indoors had stopped...the pond filter had had blown the electric leaving me with only the kitchen lights fridge and freezer going which was strange... i was without full electric for 3 hours...what a lovely way to spend a saturday night

the fish are now in the pond with nothing running. they have perked up so much getting back in the pond and all seem pleased to see each other as they where split up in two tanks!

Okay, well sounds like things are getting better. To bad you may have to replace this filter, if you can't find new clips. That part is lousy. Is there someplace you can post this filter so that others wont end up wasting money on it? That is of course if there is no way of fixing it.

I'm happy to hear that the fish are doing well. Looking forward to some new pictures. You know for now my pond life is being lived through everyone online because I still don't have a pond I miss my fish.

Scott

Oh Scott... I can't begin to imagine how much you must be missing your fish!

you're into your new house now aren't you? surely you must have some plans for the new pond drawn up by now... you should start a new thread and begin to share them with us as as i know everyone here would just love to see what you've got planned...it'll be amazing if your last pond is anything to go by!

i've posted a review of the filter in the product review forum....thanks for that suggestion i wouldn't have thought to do that otherwise!

now i'm about to start my research for another filter

It's a good thing we have a place like this for you to live your pond life vicariously.

Both good for you, and good for all the folks you give great advice to.

Glad you're here,