Here are some pics of the pond outside:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture368.jpg
This is some sort of tubing running into the pond.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture367.jpg
This is a tube where the water pours into the pond?

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture366.jpg
Pic of the pond

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture365.jpg
Pic of it from the other side

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture364.jpg
Pic of the algae that is growing all over the inside.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture363.jpg
More algae pic

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture362.jpg
Another pic of that tube that pours water into the pond

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture361.jpg
Another pic of the pond from a different angle

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Ni.../Picture360.jpg
Another pic

Let me know what you all think!!!

wow that's a pond with lots of potential! with some planting works, it'll be a beaut!

humm, i am not sure, so wait for other's opinion, but i think you should remove the leaf on top i am not super sure about this though have you seen any plugs around the pond Nickie? maybe you should move those rocks over abit to investigate where the tubing is leading too, lol.

once it's done and ready, it'll make a beautiful home for Jaws and Hammy

I agree!..Are you planning on Jaws and Hammy going in when it's done?

From the position of the tube I think that it's connected to a submersible pump on the bottom of the pond and it runs water over the rock for little waterfall. Look for the electrical cord. Cleaned but not scrubbed it will be a nice home for your finned kids.
Carli

It looks like a 125 gallon from home Depot

nice.....good luck with it

Yeah, I agree that I need to do alot more investigating. I went and looked in the breaker box and there are two breakers labeled "spa" but they don't have any type of spa at all here, so I think those may be the breakers to the pond. I am going to move the rocks some and see where all the cords lead to. The pond is so dark that I can't see the bottom at all, so I don't know if there is a pump in the bottom or not.

What should I do about that ant bed that is right next to some of the rocks? I don't know if I can put poison on it, because if it rains, it may drain into the pond from the ground.

Okay, here is my idea for the pond:

1. Clean it out of leaves and sticks that could harm my fish.
2. Figure out how the pumps work, etc.
3. Buy a screen to go over the pond.
4. Buy some plants to go inside. (Eventually).
5. Move my fish into the pond.
6. Do a fishless cycle on my 29g tank.

I know I will have to educate myself on how to maintain a pond, how to feed fish while they are in the pond, etc. This is something I plan on doing over the course of a month or so. What do you all think? Any sugestions or ideas?

that is a cute little pond it will look good when it is all cleaned up looks like your plan is good nickie

Thanks, Dan!

when its all fixed up, it should be a really cool lil pond

Thanks! I hope so! There is A LOT of work to do on it, though!

thats pretty cool Nickie, Jaws and Hammy will love it!

It looks like just a waterfall. How many gallons is it? It doesn't look big enough that you could'nt put more than two fancy GF it from the pics. How much sunlight does it get during the day? How close is it to the house and how many inches deep is it? It definitely has alot of potential. I bet it will make a great summer home for your babies. You wanna go ahead and get started on it so it will be totally ready by mid spring. Since you live in GA mid spring would probably be the perfect time to put them out!

Actually, I can't answer many of the questions yet as I haven't actually gotten out there and measured. It is fairly close to the sunroom. Not sure about the sunlight yet as the sun always shifts in the Spring and Summer months. I plan on getting out there this weekend and try to get it cleaned out, measured, etc. I don't plan on putting any fish in there besides Jaws and Hammy, then I will do a fishless cycle on their tank while they are in the pond.
There are some things I need to buy for it before I can put them out there: a screen to put over it to protect them, some plants, chemicals (if you have to add any to a pond?), and I need to find out how to work the pump, etc. There is a lot of work to do! LOL!

There has to be more than a pump to have the pond properly filtered, Nickie - maybe there is a filter on the bottom of the pond?

As for those ants, all you really need is a bucket with boiling hot water - that'll do it for most ant hills. I'd rather not put anything chemical within close distance to the pond.
I do love the flat stones that suround the pond, and with some neat plants, this will be fish heaven. You'll see your fish grow like weeds over the summer with all that extra "food" and space.

It is so dark in the pond water, that I can't see the bottom, well, alot of that problem is all the leaves and debris in the pond that are covering the bottom. There is a some tubing that goes into the pond water and then a tube that I assume pours water into the pond. I am sure I will have more answers as soon as I clean it out some. I am going to try and clean it out of all of the sticks in there and at least as many leaves as I can. However, I DON'T want to mess up the water chemistry that is going in there now. Any suggestions on this?

Let us know when you get your measurments. I'm so excited for you. I love setting up ponds it's so much FUN! Andrea's right about the pump thing but what I like to do is run a hose from the outlet of my filter that way I can use the filtered water to make the water fall. As time goes by you'll get that stringy, mossy, looking algae on the rocks that the waterfall flows over. Don't get rid of that stuff coz it's extra filtration and oxygenation. Combining the waterfall with your filtration will make for some energy saving smartitude. lol

Thanks, Liv! Believe me, I will have TONS of questions for you all!!!!

Clean it but leave any thick furry carpet algae on the sides. Barebottom is best for the same reason as in aquariums. Remove the water and replace. Just like an aquarium do partial water changes. Find and clean your pump and or filter. If you are only going to keep 2 fish in there and you intend to have plants in there then you probably won't need a filter, just a pump over rock to help aerate. Don't buy plants, I can send you some in the spring. Go to Americanponders.com and read. They are more into the goldfish and watergardening part of ponding than the koi sites and in the spring they have members that send plants for postage. Kat (a member) has nice prices on waterlilies too. As for the screen, get some bird netting, the kind used to cover fruit trees. Nothing is 100%, raccoons will go under it to fish, herons will stab through it but it's better than nothing. A scarecrow, a motion activated sprinkler is a good but slightly pricey alternative. A dog outside is a great deterrant. For sure you should have something set up in the pond for the goldies to hide in. I have heavy lily coverage but I also have a crate that the lily pot sits on and they hide in there. Just be aware that even with the best of precautions fish loss to predation is possible so if you really love them you might consider a couple of feeders for the pond and keep the fancies in the house. I know that sounds bad but it's realistic.
Carli

Thanks, Carli! I have a few questions, though:

1. Why change the water in the pond before the fish go in? I do plan on making the pond bare bottom and leaving all the algae on the sides, etc.

2. Would a screen made out of metal work? I was thinking of using the type of screen they use on rabbit cages and then getting some stakes to nail it into the ground to totally cover the whole pond. Then, when I need to, I can take a few stakes out, take the screen off, and change the water, etc...

That pond is so small that a 100 percent water change will not be a bad thing. Especially if you leave the algae on the sides of the pond. In fact, the leaves have probably leached tannic acid into the water and have rotted in there. I'd do a 100 water change on it, start with fresh dechlorinated water and throw several bunches of submerged plants for the fish to hide in and help establish the pond. Plants are great for that.

As for the screen. You can do that a couple of ways..... You can get plastic pipe and fittings from the hardware store and make a frame to go over the pond. Sew fiberglass screen to it instead of metal screening. OR you could go to the fabric store and buy black bridal tulle (it looks like netting) and sew that to the frame. Another option is to take bamboo plant stakes/poles and stick them in the ground around the pond in an A-frame then drape netting over that. I do that with my pond and it keeps leaves and critters out.

Here's a pic to give you an idea:



I definitely would not use metal screen on the pond. It could rust or leach into the water.

I'm betting that you have a pump somewhere in the pond and that it pumps from the pond up to a waterfall -- hence the pipe.....

How deep is that pond?

Hi Sherry,
Thanks for the tips. I am not sure how deep the pond is. I am going to try and get a closer look this wkend and post back with measurements. The reason behind the metal screen is because of my cats. I need something that their claws can't tear thru. Do you think changing out all the the water will bump the cycle? Right now, the params are:
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate= 0
PH= 7.6

There won't be an ammonia reading because there are no fish in the pond. There's nothing in the pond producing ammonia, so no beneficial bacteria to eat the ammonia..... Once you add the fish you'll have ammonia production. Now, if you have a very small fish load (two fish) in a big pond, you may not have any problems..... Also, go out and buy a few bunches of anacharis or some kind of submerged aquarium plant. Pot it up in a container of stones and set that in the pond. Live plants do a lot for the cycle...... You can also detoxify any spikes in ammonia or nitrate with PRIME, so keep some on hand for dechlorinating the water and protection in case of a spike. Water changes are good too, but test your tap water to be sure it's not high in nitrates to begin with......

You could use the plastic pipe to fashion a tent and put the hardware cloth (the metal rabbit cage mesh) over it and set it up in tent fashion over the pond. Use zip ties and you can just lift it up and move it when you service the pond.

I'm looking at those pictures carefully and figure you've got about 150-180 gallons there, maybe a little smaller. I'd need dimensions and depth to be sure. Also, the moss covered rock looks to be a waterfall of sorts. The pipe comes out there and the moss indicates that water flowed over it at one point. I'm guessing there's a pump in there somewhere.

Gosh, I'd be out there tomorrow draining that thing and cleaning it up, LOL...... But I'm a crazy pond fanatic.

If you've got 30 gallons per fish or more, you'll be fine with two fish in there. It's a good thing to cover the pond -- good move. A pond like that will attract a lot of predators, so you want to be careful.....

I'm so happy for you. Your fish will love that pond!!!!!

Oh I agree, you are so lucky and what an exciting project for 2008 Fab

Thanks to you both, Sherry and Imo! Believe me, if I weren't still trying to get settled in the house, I would be out there in a flash getting it ready!
About the ammonia; there were three commons/comets in there up until this past Saturday. There were prolly about 6" long. Those fish had been in there A LONG TIME with out any filters or pumps running, or any running water or anything, so shouldn't there be ammonia in the pond from them???

I am trying to understand what you were saying about the "tent" over the pond, Sherry.

Also, remember that I have to figure out HOW to drain it, how the pumps turns on, etc. LOL! I don't know anything about the pond, but plan on getting out there tomorrow and seeing what I can see, I will prolly take more pics as I discover things, too.

Sherry- dont you think Nickie should try and preserve that pond cycle by getting something in there to excrete ammonia or adding ammonia soon? How long will the bbs survive to support that set up?

Those 3 fish might not have produced enough waste to even get a reading of ammonia. And fish have different metabolisms when its colder, and it has been quite a bit of cold here in southern GA, even way below freezing. At that point, fish hardly do anything, their metabolism goes down so far, that they don't swim, they just sit there and breathe really slow. It looks scary if you don't know whats going on, and you think something is wrong with the fish, but they will be active and fine again once the temperature goes up. At that resting stage they hardly produce anything, they aren't eating either.

Plus, there was bacteria living in that algae on the walls of the pond, and maybe some in the dirt on the bottom. However not much likely they are surviving down there without any oxygen, and all that dirt is harboring is anerobic bacteria, which is more of a gas, and can be toxic and deadly. Kind of like the stuff that gravel harbors if we don't clean vacuum it regularly.
I would never put any of my fish into a pond that hasn't been properly cleaned, and with so much leaf debris on the bottom. You don't know whats in there, and with so little care from the previous owner I just wouldn't risk it.

A pond can be its very own miniature filter and maintenance operation if you let it. It is a bit different from a tank, and plants in a pond do not only enhance the look, they also are major factors in filtering the water. Their roots eat up so much nitrates, give off oxygen, and are generally little cleaning machines. I'd definetely pick some plants with some huge root systems - water hyacinths are one of those with enormous roots dangling into the water. Plus they look pretty when they bloom a pale violet.
Nickie, you can even find plants in your local garden department that aren't originally meant for ponds. I got dwarf water papyrus (and they aren't dwarf anymore in my ponds ), or those white lily plants. They die during freezing, but come back nicely in the spring. I also have taro plants submerged in the water. Right now, everything looks dead, the leaves are all gone, but the roots are still alive, and the plants will come back in the spring. I only took my papyrus inside and potted them for now.

Here is a picture of two of my above ground ponds with some non-aquatic plants, as well as some anacharis in the round rubbermaid that works as additional filter. The other plants are the Taro plant (which is a bulb plant, I believe), and the spider plant, which you can get at any Lowe's as a hanging plant.


Another one with the darf papyrus I mentioned earlier - however, that "dwarf" variety grew over 6 ft in the pond. I guess the roots got plenty to "eat"...


Here is picture of the Lily plant in my wakin pond - it'll die down after any frost, but comes back in the spring.



Basically, pick some water loving plants, even non aquatic, and it should look wonderful in the spring. Plus some added help with the filtration doesn't hurt either. Those plants are little wonders of nature!

Andrea,
I noticed that you have some plants actually IN the pond, and some planted in platers along side of it. Why is this? BTW, I plan on doing a complete wc in the pond before adding the fish. I just have to figure out HOW as I only have a regular python and one regular syphon. I don't think either of these would work.

No, they won't. They work with gravity, which you don't have. If you could find that pump that is in your pond, you can plug it in, and pump the water out that way. You don't see any kind of electrical cord coming out of the pond somewhere, do you?

If you can't find the pump for now, I usually have one of chose cheap power heads from Wallmart for around 20 bucks, or one of the cheaper pumps they have at Lowe's. I think the slowest they have is a tiny fountain pump for around 18 bucks, and that'll do the trick. I used those little ones to pump out some of my tubs, and when not used for that, I have one of those red well pump cast iron thingys around, and the little pump will pump water through there, kind of like a fountain in the pond.

THe plants in the pond are the papyrus and the lily - they would be just too big for any use in a home made filter. So I use them as decor (and filtration) in the pond itself. Especially that papyrus got so many nutrients out of the water, that it grew into that huge giant. I had to divide that plant numerous times, and all the offspring got this big as well. The roots literally popped some of the plastic pots they were in!
The plants in the DIY filters are the spider plant, which is a hanging plant, and I didn't even pot that thing. I just stuck the plantlets with their little thick roots into the rocks in the filter, and they started growing. The Taro plant doesn't have actual roots, but a bulb, and I just washed off the soil around it and stuck the bulb in the filter. You probably don't have to buy a finished plant - just buy the bulb.

All the plants in the filter I just use for additional filtration, and to enhance the oxygen in the tubs. I stuck the anacharis into the round little tub with some lava rocks, drilled two holes in the front, so that the water coming from the original filter would flow through the rocks and the plant, and then exit into the fish tub. I always try to find spots where I can stick plants - I truely believe the enhance not only the look of any pond, but also the filtration system. :)Plus, the plants compete with the floating algae for nutrients, and that keeps down on the green water if you don't want that in your pond.

Thanks, Andrea! I will look today to see if I can find that pump!

Okay, I just went out to take a quick look at the pond and I see some cords; gonna have to find out where they go to. I DO NOT want to put my bare hands in this thing. There are dead centipedes and stuff in there and Lord knows what else! Can I use some rubber gloves????

Rubber gloves, large garbage bags, anything but your bare hand. Yeah, sounds gross!

Thanks! OMG! Now I am thinking about what ELSE may be in the bottom of that pond.

Maybe you can fetch a stick or something and put it straight into the pond. That way you know how deep it is, and just maybe that stick stumbles upon the pump you need.

LOL! Yeah, I will have to try that!

Use a big net to get anything at the bottom of the pond, then drain the water -- a Python will actually work, but you can bale with buckets, use a wet/dry vacuum, or pump the water out with a pump.... Get as much debris off the bottom, INCLUDING ANY MUCK OR MULM (black, dark, stinky, muddy stuff). Removing the mulm is of the utmost importance as it harbors the most nasty stuff.... Do not scrape the algae off the sides and do not leave the pond empty as the algae will die off.

Refill the pond, add dechlor and throw in several bunches of submerged plants like anacharis from the local fish shop. You can rubberband the anacharis around a rock and toss it in the pond.... or plant it in a bucket or pot in aquarium gravel.... The submersed plants provide a safe place for the fish and they will feel much more secure with it in the pond. It will also do a lot to balance the water, lower nitrates, provide vegetative matter for the fish to feed on, provide safe harbor from predators, and harbor fry after a spawn. Buy several bunches, and be ready to trim it once summer comes..... It can grow an inch a day in the heat, but don't let that deter you. Get it -- the fish need it.

Okay, once the water is in the pond, wait a day to let the water temp stabilize. I recommend that you hold off putting fish in the pond until water temps get above 65 degrees consistenetly. The fish will do much better in warmer water in the late spring than starting them off in the middle of winter, if it's cold in your area. Fish need to be conditioned with lots of rich protein food to get through a winter without much food, so hold off.

BTW, in answer to an earlier question about beneficial bacteria, the bacteria needs something to feed off of. Taking the fish out of the pond lessened the ammonia, but if there's rotting bugs and vegetation in there then there's bacteria. Doing a 100 percent water change will not harm the bacteria, but do not allow the pond to completely dry out. Do not leave in the middle of the job. Try to get it done in one day.

Also, have a covered bucket nearby to put any frogs in. Winter ponds have frogs usually, so be prepared for them. Since it's cold, they may be sluggish. Once the pond is filled and the water is a good temp you can put them back in. Don't forget the dechlor!

After the pond is filled, it will be time to turn on the pump and try to see if you can get the water to recirculate.... FIRST, WITH THE PUMP UNPLUGGED, CHECK THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CORD FOR ANY CHEWED SPOTS OR RAW WIRE STICKING OUT!!!!! If the cord is damaged, get another pump. Do not try to work with a damaged electrical cord. Squirrels and other rodents LOVE to chew on cords, so check it carefully if it's been outdoors for awhile. I check mine twice a year when we are changing over components on the pond (winter to spring, and fall to winter).

If the pump has been in that mucky pond, you should take it out, take it apart and clean the impeller and magnet. Awful slime and junk can clog a pump and interfere with an impeller and impede the function of the pump. A good thorough cleaning is usually all it takes to get a pump back up and running.

If you have a filter, hook it up to the pump and then turn on the system.... Even an airstone on a smallish air pump will begin to move the water if you do not have a pump ready. Circulating water is important as it will not sit and stagnate. Check the waterfall to be sure water is flowing over the rock and not leaking from the pond. A spray from a waterfall can quickly empty a pond, so watch to be sure the water is going where it is supposed to go. Check for the rate of the water at the fall. If it's flowing too fast you may be able to adjust the pump.

If you can, add some marginal plants at the side of the pond in a bucket in the water. Japanese water iris or pickeral weed is very pretty and will not grow out of hand quickly, like some others. Goldfish LOVE marginal plants. During mating season they will chase each other through the reeds and spawn. It's really something to witness. Also, if you can, invest in a dwarf water lily. Plant it in a bucket and put it in the middle of the pond. The water lily pads will shelter the fish and when they cover more than half of the pond surface any green water or excessive algae will go away. Water plants are a very good thing in any goldfish pond. If you need ideas on how to plant the marginals and water lilies, post a separate thread and I'll tell you how. It's totally easy -- messy, but easy, LOL...

Okay, once the water is above 65 degrees and you're sure your pump is functioning and the filter is filtering (it will filter debris even with no fish in the pond, so rinse the media regularly), you'll be ready to add fish. I would start off slow. I added SIX very small feeder goldfish to a 2000 gallon pond when I started.... So for your small pond, you may want to add two fish and see how things go. I'd still like to know how many gallons your pond is.... Do not overstock the pond. Try for one fish for every 40 gallons.... So if you've got an 80 gallon pond, you'll stock two fish, tops.... Remember goldfish breed like rabbits, so understock..... After a few years my six original fish numbered at more than a hundred!

Finally, if you're concerned about predation, cover the pond.... I check my pond at least twice a day in warm weather -- once a day in winter. And in the summer I'm usually out there working in the garden a lot too.... You should check the condition of the fish, keep an eye on the water level and top off if necessary, do water changes (DECHLOR!) trim plants. feed fish, and rinse filter media when needed..... And don't forget to take time out to just sit and stare at the fish! It's so relaxing and wonderful! Nothing is like a pond, really..... It's the one thing in my garden that is really worth all the work.

Andrea, if you're out there, I was wondering if your Wakin have bred in the 300 g. Rubbermaids? Or are you just using them for babies? That is such a cool concept.

And Sherry, what kind of filter do you have on your pond in the pic?

Thanks,
CK

Oops! My bad. Sherry I found the posts about your SkippyFilter. Looks awsome.

CK