Tropical Fish Forums

[Barchef]

My pond is utterly filthy, and when I took a bucket out, I see this green highlight in the water, under the correct ligthing. Did I mention it was FILTHY! After 20 minutes of being on, the filter literrally clogs with filth. . I made an 80% water change. NO DIFFERENCE! I need advice. The pond stats are:
Size: About 500 gallons
Fish: Shubukin, a fantail, black ornada, small comet. and dojo loach. (Medium size for a dojo loach) (the rosy died a while back. These fish are not big.
Filter: The ones you can buy at home depot.
HELP!
Note: The pond is a year old
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[Barchef]

Also. Once I get the mess cleaned up, I need some suggestions on good hardy plants to put in there. I want to get it cleaned up first.
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[diademhill]

Is the water green or filthy?
Green is algae and there are various ways to combat it with shade being the quickest short term solution.

Filthy? How long has this filter been set up and how has it been maintained please?

[Ferrariman]

as for hardy plants I have heard duckweed is really hardy but very messy and spreads like wild fire

[Barchef]

Ah it is both green and filthy thats the problem you see? The filter has been set up as long as the tank was. The pond is in shade. I maintained it by looking at the sponges inside the filter, and cleaning them about once a month, water changes were also once a month (not big ones) I am beggining to think I need a UV sterilizer filter, but they're 200$ which I don't have. Its a shame the water is so filthy, the pond was really on a roll, the surroundings look really nice, the goldfish were showing spawn like behavior, and a pair of dragonflies moved in. It looks really strange though this green highlight I was talking about, I'm thinking about storing the fish temporarily and rummagining about to see whats down there.
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[Jacko]

What size filter is it? My HomeDepot around here sells 5 different sizes, one for ponds 100+ and the last one for ponds 2000+. I would reccomend doing a complete teardown of the pond. First catch the fish and any other live stuff in it, next take a stick and stir up the water so it is as murky and filthy as possible and then take multiple buckets of icky water out of the pond, refill and repeat, refill and repeat, etc until the pond is clean. If possible, wait until mid July or early august for this to make sure of fry.
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[Barchef]

I don't remember only that it was the medium size. I'm going to make a 95% water change, fry can swim in that. I'm doing a complete cleaning as soon as possible. It has to be done see. Cycle or not, I see no other solution. Those fish are incredibly hardy, they'll live when I put em back, the filter will probobly have some of that bacteria though. I bet I'll find a rat corpse like I did three times before . Either way I'm putting a stop to the problem
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This sig is now severly outdated and will remain like this until I find something worthy to put here. Sorry.

[ceci9293]

[piranha]

A dead corpse would do major damage to your water quality. I would check it out right away. Go for a pressurized cannister with built in UV sterilizer. I use a Cyprio Bioforce with a Titan debri handling pump. Not only will the UV kill free-floating algae but also parasitic bacteria. Check out AZponds.com

[Barchef]

Strangely enough rat corpses have proven to do absolutely nothing to the water. AHEM! UPDATE people! . Theres good news and bad news. The water is crystal clear now, I took out all the nasty stuff piled up on the bottom, not a corpse to be found. Bad news . The electric cable for the filter broke, eletricuting all of the fish and killing them all. I got a shock as well, it was fairly low voltage, but not for them. . Its a shame those fish have been there for a year. The dojo had a very interesting coloration as well (green, blue, and red striped back) I removed the filter right away, and added new fishies to replace them, but it still isnt the same . Things happen. I bet it was one of those stupid rodents chewing on the cables...grrr Anyway I have three little shubukins, a dojo, and a school of white clouds now, but still I'm fairly angry. The rodent extermination begins now
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This sig is now severly outdated and will remain like this until I find something worthy to put here. Sorry.