griff

I have a 5,500 litre pond with 15-20 goldfish, a few WCMMs and plants. Pond is UV filtered. It has been established for about a year and a half. I didn't realise UV bulb need replacing at intervals to keep pond clear. Clarity has reduced recently, although it is not completely opaque with algae. I have a new bulb on order. Have cleaned filter etc. Have been told by lfs to not feed fish every day, which I have been doing over summer. Lfs say feed once a week to help prevent algae. Will this be okay? Anyone else, with experience of keeping a large outdoor pond with goldfish, have any suggestions? Is once a week okay? I would like to try to develop size of fish over time and also have them in sufficiently robust health to breed. I wonder if once a week is a not sufficient, especially in summer - they seem sooo hungry!! Advice appreciated. Thanks.

gyttja

lint

soft

thirteenth

nth

road...advice???

ctnoid

shrub

consiousness

I'm not sure why one would put a cold water goldfish in a tropical tank. The goldfish would like that, would they?

I have a 5,500 litre pond, filtered and about 5m long x 2.5 m wide. I put duck weed into a bird bath-type dish that water runs into and then overflows into the main body of the pond. The duckweed is sort of contained in the dish, although some has run into the main pond. Nothing much of the duck weed has got established in the pond and it's been there for a few months now. The duck weed in the dish has completely covered its surface and I think it looks great. It hasn't been a problem in the main body of the pond - maybe the goldfish are eating it, but I hadn't especially noticed that. I was nervous about introducing it, but it has been no problem in the sunny situation my pond is in. I think it adds a natural authenticity to the pond's appearance. Cheers.

Thanks. The pond is around 5,500 litres- 400mm deep and filtered. So far I have some plants, 11 fish that can be easily seen due to thier size, loads of snails and, an as yet, inderminate number of fry, about which i'm very excited!! (I need to work out how to embed a photo of my pond into an email. I had a look but can't see where the guidance notes are for this on the site. Any one know where to look?). Cheers.

Thanks for the compliment, Stella. Most people just think I'm pompous but I think that the Englsih language is just the most marvellous thing?! I guess when the pond has more snails than it can cope with, some kind of balance will occur. Cheers.

Too dark to check just now. I don't remember the scales sticking out but will look tomorrow.