Caryl Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I have just had a lady ring with a problem. She set up a large pond about 4 months ago. It is lined with polythene, 400cm deep and about 30,000 litres. It had about 100 goldfish in it (largest was 8"). Recently they have been dying and she has lost 45 over 3 weeks. Their tails appear to be shredded. If it is finrot, is there some way to treat a pond that size that doesn't include medicating such a large volume of water? She has tested the pH and nitrites and both are good. There is a fine layer of pollen on the surface and she wondered if this was causing a problem. Fish are at the surface but not gasping (although that is probably normal at the moment as it is warm and sunny). There is a small fountain at one end and an overflow, so it has had plenty of fresh water into it over the past month thanks to our heavy rainfall. Sorry about the mix of imperial and metric but it is how she gave them to me 8) Any ideas please? They are off to Aussie tomorrow and she is concerned about more dying while they are away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I meant to add that all the largest fish are dying first. There are a few fry in the pond so it is possible the raggedness is a result of spawning but doesn't explain so many deaths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imsweet Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 evrything i've read about fin rot says to improve water qualityy. but you say it has fresh water constantly... the only other thing, were the fish all from the same source? and chucked in the same time or added gradually? Quote from my bible:: Overstocking a pond, esp if its not well established, places great stress on its occupants, and fish may succumb to the usual bacteria thats in the water. Overfeeding is another common envoronmental problem.....etc Bit of a shame it's happening when theyre going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Sounds like overstocking. May be 3000 liters, but 100 large goldfish is 30L each with practically no water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 that was 30,000 litres? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 The fish came from different places at different times, not all at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 30,000 liters is allot of water. I dont think it could be from build up of nitrate/amonia. Has she checked to see if their is any close trees over hanging??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 that was 30,000 litres? Ohh...Yes, an extra 0 makes a small difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Fin rot is a bacterial infection that often comes after damage which as suggested could have arisen from mating but I have no idea how to treat fish in 30000litres without moving towards bankruptcy. Improved water conditions and treatment with antibiotics is the usual cure---but that is a lot of water. There are a number of bacteria naturally in the soil that can cause disease in goldfish if they multiply to a high level and they also need to be treated with antibiotics. Sorry I can't realy help---you need some input from someone with experience with large ponds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orim Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 some case in China like your one they get the finial answer is pollen mixed with some DOC become poison, but this should not happen in large size pond or tank if you can, try test the DOC, see any problem on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo1 Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 I had a guy ring me last week with a similar problem. Turned out he had been spraying near the pond so might pay to check that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 Yes, having someone spraying something nearby was my next thought. It has been so wet here though I don't think anyone has been able to spray anything anywhere! Thanks all for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Well, I know nothing about keeping an outdoor pond...so no help How are her fish doing Caryl, any more deaths? Any answers yet as to what could have caused all the deaths? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 No idea Caper as she is overseas. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskas Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 I also have a friend who has had her fish dying. She has bred goldies for over 45yrs and recently they have been dying off for no apparent reason. Unfortunately it has also been all her larger breeding stock. She has 5 ponds, we have done water changes and cleaned the ponds out, it didn't help. She decided to just leave them now and count her losses The only thing we could think of was the neighbour was spraying and it was coming over the 6 foot fence - the only prob with this idea is that the ponds are on different fence lines. Perhaps it is the changeable weather??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 is there a sizeable amount of algae in the pond? just asking cos as im sure you know, but just in case.... algae respire like any other animal at night, using up O2 and creating CO2. thus at night in a body of water with a large amount of plants you can have fish literally choking and dying of asphixia. also you could look at adding a airstone or some sort of water movement thatll bring the detritus up from teh bottom, as in a large pond like that is could be that aerobic bacteria are sapping the depths of the pond of oxygen, and if that happens you get anaerobic bacteria taking over and producing sulphides that could kill the entire pond overnight if enough was generated. the air stone would just make sure that the aerobic bacteria keep going rather than the anaerobic. just a couple ideas that im pinching from my aquaculture papers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2008 I haven't seen the pond myself but doubt it could accumulate that much algae in 4 months. Good thinking though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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