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| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288  
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Can't help with the fish but as soon as I read "toddler" my first thought was a secure grill over the top of it ASAP shock:
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23rd Jul 2016 5:10pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3484  
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Never had much experience with Carp. All mine are British Standard Gold Fish and Orfs. We have got vicious with pulling weed / plants out and within reason, the fish seem to cope well. I wouldn't do it all at once. Do a bit at time and let the pond clear before doing a bit more. You will need a good supply of water to replace what you are pulling out. This really needs to be rainwater as chlorinated tap water does not do fish a whole lot of good.
I would second Riverboys concern about a Toddler and a Pond. They really don't mix. If you can't put a solid grill over the top then maybe fence off the pond if you can? The grill will also stop your prize koi's being Scooby snacks for the local herons once you have cleared the pond. |
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23rd Jul 2016 5:57pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20299
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As mentioned, take a bit out at a time about a quarter I'd say and top up with tap water to compensate for removal.
That won't do any harm in smaller amounts, as mentioned don't replace the lot with tap water though. What did you want to have in it / do with it? I'm assuming keep the fish you have still? They can stay put no problem this way. |
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23rd Jul 2016 7:02pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471
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I used to keep koi and invested quite heavily in both fish and equipment. My advice to you is live with it for a bit and keep an eye on the water quality / clarity. The fish to plant ratio is tricky and you may have found that the current environment is in balance. However if you find the water goes green with algae in the summer then by all means start clearing it bit by bit as per the above.
Efficient filters and aeration help but a cost in both maintenance and running. Steve. Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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23rd Jul 2016 7:13pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20299
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Or add oxygenating plants into the water and they do the same job as filters and pumps etc but naturally.
They only need to be pulled out a bit each year so they don't take over. Native species like Hornwort, are UK native and not invasive and a good oxygenator for the ponds biodiversity and the fish combined. Water crowfoot and Watercress are another two that are good. (Avoid Elodia, good oxygenator but invasive and non native.) (Parrots feather again is similar, in fact even worse and has been banned from sale) The plants in the photo look like a type of rush, perhaps a sweet rush or something like that. But too invasive for a garden pond unless contained. Yellow flag Iris would fit in nicely there, but would need containing after a while. Frogbit is another good species, again native with lots of 1" mini lillipads. Those are a few ideas but as I said, what you'd like to do with it is up to you. |
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23rd Jul 2016 10:09pm |
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| huffhuff Member Since: 05 May 2016 Location: Home Counties Posts: 379 
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Hi all,
Thank you for the replies and concern. There is a big cover that fits over the pond for when she gets a bit more 'adventurous'. I'll slowly pull out the reeds over a week and top up when I do. They might not be koi in there, maybe just big fat goldfish (orange, white and black) Ta TD5 Defender 90 Discovery 3 HSE |
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24th Jul 2016 2:31pm |
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554 |
http://www.pondviewkoi.com/j_imported.php or maybe just big fat goldfish (orange, white and black) ?
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24th Jul 2016 2:41pm |
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| bcp Member Since: 01 Aug 2012 Location: East of Scotland Posts: 93 
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I'm a bit biased as I have to pick up the pieces of toddlers vs garden ponds. I'd recommend some decent mesh that a toddler can stand on or make it into a sand pit.
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24th Jul 2016 8:09pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3745
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Hello
We had a pond at the last house and inherited the koi, Great to watch and feed but a lot of upkeep. It had two huge pump filters sunk into the ground. 3 foam filters in each plus the plastic filers, then a UV lamp which needed a new bulb every 6 months. Checking the pH of the water, filters cleaned once a month... plus the cost of the koi food. You may find the filters need s good clean or new ones, then if you have a uv lamp that may need another. Youi can also get all sorts of potions, green away for the algi, We used to take the water sample to our local waterworls. They check it and let us know what we need to do. As for the kids, depending on size though builders steel grids for putting in concrete work well, don't bend and also help against herons. to be 100% though sell the fish and make it a flower bed... |
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24th Jul 2016 8:24pm |
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