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? asked in PetsFish · 1 decade ago

Outdoor 450 gallon Fish Pond Help Please?

I have a rubber-lined outdoor fish pond @ about 450 gallons. Pump broke down last week & I didn't get it replaced for several days (four) :(

By the time, I did, some of my fish were dying & the rest were swimming at the top gasping for air. The pond had been exposed to rain one day & sunshine for the following three with no pump. Algae/seaweed began.

In the pulling of my old pump up & replacing it and all the filters, I noticed that the water (once stirred up by me digging down into the bowels of the pond) smelled very much like hair-perming solution.

The water is starting to clear up again now & all of my fish have died. I know I really messed up in no replacing the pump in a timely manner (I was broke & really still am.)

We are in a severe drought here and are no allowed to fill ponds, so I cannot empty,clean and refill pond.

I wonder specifically what I can/could/should do to expedite cleaning my pond so that it can once again be a hospitable environment for goldfish?

Update:

I have a net for fishing out leave and a manual pump filter for sludge...but should I use an chemical or store-bought additives? If so, what? I get so confused reading labels.

Update 2:

Thanks to both of you.

I just re-confirmed via our city website...'municipal water may NOT be used for ponds or fountains' as I would love to empty, scrub & refill, but I simply cannot.

Googling those mats, which I had never heard of, I found them to be about 150 bucks for ones that are too large for my pond...looking for something smaller & hopefully less expensive.

Update 3:

Thanks Saucy. I had those fish for years & unfortunately, I think you are right. The new pump and filters are doing their job, but I'm thinking it'll be fall or maybe even next spring before I add any more fish. I wish I could have replaced pump sooner. Timing was not good.

Update 4:

loolleah...

Thank you!

Yes, I replaced the pump & filters last week.

And, I have been siphoning off the bottom for the past three nights now with a manual filter pump & catching my 'drip' water from the kitchen sink in a pot & pouring it in there. It's a slow process, but I imagine persistance will pay off.

Thanks for your time & input. i think I will combine advice from you and commenter right before you. Clean this year & perhaps more fish next year...or in the fall.

5 Answers

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  • Saucy
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If you're dealing with a drought, I'd just leave the pond empty, because if you can't clean the water and give the pond adequate water changes, you shouldn't put fish in it. Definitely not worth it. I'd wait till the drought is over, then try and fix the pond for now.

    I'd try and clean out the pond the best you can by hand, then get the pump running to keep the water circulating. That way you won't get anoxic areas (that smell) or any debris laying too long. Then you wait... I hope your drought is over soon!

  • Tarheel T
    1 decade ago

    Well since you have killed everything in your pond this is a good time to completely drain it. Scrub your pond with the remaining water. Use a soft bristle brush to loosen up the Algae on the sides and bottom. Drain you pond and clean up all the sludge from the bottom. I don't know where you live and what local laws are in effect with your drought but I can't imagine with your pond only being 450 gallons that you would not be able to fill it. Check with your city or county offices to see if they will allow you to maintain your pond during the drought. There are several chemicals available at pet stores and landscaping stores to get your algae under control.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I lost some of my fish last year when my pump died so I can sympathize with you

    we too are in a drought, so what I did was to top off my ponds at night when not everybody could see

    you do need to clean your pond since it has that ammonia smell

    can you siphon off the bottom of the pond to clean it? then refill and get your pump going again

    this time when you buy fish don't get too many so that if it happens or when it happens again your fish won't be overcrowded

    I just sold most of my fish and got rid of my 7500 gal pond

    because I can't maintain it anymore, I now have two 400 gal

    ponds and I'm keeping 4 fish in each one

    good luck with your cleaning

    Source(s): goldfish/koi breeder 35 yrs
  • tsweeney1
    1 decade ago

    Go to a local landscape supply shop. They will have these mat like things that naturally eat away bacteria and sludge.

    Source(s): Landscape Professional
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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    challenging thing. research using google. just that can assist!

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