water temp question - koi
Keith & Wendy Slonecker
is calling for some attention. 3000 gal,
14x7x4 with 15 8" koi.
We live in the Willamette Valley in
Oregon and our evening temps are
still hovering around 30. Days are
up to 50s this week.
The pond has a lot of long dark
string type algae, and also lighter
color green algae about 3" thick on
the walls and around the plant pots
and rocks, and also covering the
rock bottom of the entire pond.
I bought a swimming pool net
this weekend to use to scrape the
sides and catch that algae, and also
to "swirl" at the bottom to try to
suspend the bottom clumps of algae
so that I can net them out.
There are also a few aspen leaves
hiding in the corners behind and under
the milk crates the plants are on.
My question is: will swirling around
the water cause the water temp to
change enough in a 4' deep pond to
cause the fish any problems? I have heard
about the layers of water having different
temps and dont want to hurt the fish, but
would sure like to get a head start on
this algae. Also, the green stuff on the
walls is filled with little air bubbles in
case that helps identify what kind it
is.
Thanks a heep to everyone who has
helped us as we come up on our 1 year
anniversary of being ponders.
wendy in Oregon
K30a
Don't scrap anymore algae on the
sides of the pond - that helps balance
the pond.
String algae - take a stick and swirl
it around in the string algae.
K30A
pond tips
http://hometown.aol.com/k30a/myhomepage/writing.html
vern
My concern for myself in cleaning is to try and do it when it will stress
the fish the least. I keep wanting to clean the sludge that has collected on
the bottom as soon as I can, but plan to wait until the fish start eating so
that their strength is up a little. Just a thought.
vern
--
Please visit my ponds at: Http://www.webpak.net/~vrolson/
"Keith & Wendy Slonecker" <slon...@smt-net.com> wrote in message My
to...@iglou.com
Wendy you are going to hear as many different ideas as we have posters.
He is my opinion and is only that. It worked in the past on my last pond
and I am going to use it on new pond built last year. I don't like to mess
with the pond till the fish become active and start eating my cheerios. I
feel like it is best to not stir the muck on the bottom when they are
hibernating. The really don't swim much and when you stir up the muck it
releases trapped amonia. With them not swimming much and staying on the
bottom it looks like it is more likely to bother them health wise than
when they can swim around and get out of the heaviest concetrations of crap
in the water. I wait till the water is between 50° and 55° There is still
plenty of time. I know about being anxious. There is such a thing as
getting started too early. Not gospel, just food for thought.
Cheers,
tonyf
KY USA
zone6
Nedra
until the water is about 55 degrees on a constant basis. I agree.
I've been ponding since 1994 and I envy you all the healthy algae on the
sides and the bottom of your pond. This indicates a very healthy pond.
Relax and Enjoy!
Nedra in Missouri
zone 6
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
<to...@iglou.com> wrote in message news:3aa3dde0....@news.iglou.com...
jan jordan
> My question is: will swirling around
>> the water cause the water temp to
>> change enough in a 4' deep pond to
>> cause the fish any problems? I have heard
>> about the layers of water having different
>> temps and dont want to hurt the fish, but
>> would sure like to get a head start on
>> this algae. Also, the green stuff on the
>> walls is filled with little air bubbles in
>> case that helps identify what kind it
>> is.
Here's an interesting thing I found out about my own pond, the smaller one,
650 gallons and 2.5 feet deep. I have a good spa floating thermometer at
the top and for Valentine's Day DH got me the Aquatic Eco-Systems solar
power thermometer. So we calibrated it to our first rate, high class
computerized (and still have 5 years to pay on) furnace/heat pump and AC
thermostat. Then I took it outside and sunk the probe to the bottom. It
registered 4 degrees colder than the surface water (33.5 versus 39F). "What
the?"
So I pulled it up wondering if I needed to calibrate to cooler temperatures
but found after the prone sat next to the spa floating thermometer that
they read the same.
Just checked them a minute ago, and the floating therm says 42F in the
small flow coming out of the pre-filter. Bottom of that pond, 39F. Hmmmmmm?
Maybe if there was ice on the pond I'd see more laying in the opposite
direction? I have moved the floating therm out of the flow to see if there
is a difference. ~ jan
Wotansfolks
>it around in the string algae.
>
I bought some cheap bottle brushes from the 1$ store and attach them to a stick
handle, then I twirl them in the string algae
Cindy Zone 6
>registered 4 degrees colder than the surface water (33.5 versus 39F). "What
>the?"
I find the same in my pond but it usually depends if its sunny or not. On
overcast colder days it reads warmer on the bottom.
})i({ Cindy })i({
If you think the grass is
greener on the other side,
get fertilizer!!!
: )
Live, Love, Laugh!!!
Don't lose sight of lifes simple treasures, they cost nothing yet are priceless
WaynSmit
put my pond pics on the net, got any ideas or recommendations? Did you get that
"hammer" thing I sent you? Wayne
tomb
All ponds do a natural turn over . At some point in the fall and again in
the spring. Once the surface water is cooled by the atmosphere to a point
where it is heavier than the warmer water below, the whole thing does this
aqua flip. It would still be there even in a small pond . Maybe not so
noticeable since it takes several feet of water before you get a thermocline
that is really noticeable.
have a good one, Tom
jan jordan wrote in message ...
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