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Thread: Please help save Dad's fish
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20-06-2020, 12:12 AM #1
Please help save Dad's fish
Dear all,
I'm hoping you don't mind me asking on here, as I'm not a pond owner myself.
My Dad has a pond with several large Koi in it. Sadly his health has deteriorated over the last months and he is now in hospital diagnosed with leukaemia and has also just had a pacemaker fitted. We are obviously hoping he will recover enough to start treatment and be home soon. However I was not aware as to the extent he has not been able to look after his pond of late, due to the lockdown and work pressures I had not seen the pond for some time but on inspection this week the water is green and the pump is not going.
I have no experience of looking after ponds. I'm fairly handy but have to admit I'm a bit worried about doing something wrong and making things worse. If I can at least save the fish that would be something.
I have taken some pictures of the pump and filter system and was hoping for some friendly advice to perhaps guide me on how to fire it up and get it working again. Dad is not able to communicate right now and even if he could he is reportedly very confused. Any advice on how it might work and the best course of action would be greatly and sincerely appreciated.
Many thanks indeed,
Steve
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20-06-2020, 03:44 AM #2
Welcome. I know there are a number of people with this type of filter on the forum.
I can’t help directly with the filter but two immediate things:
* oxygen levels
* water parameters (ammonia and nitrate levels)
Is there an air pump? Is there a water test kit?
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20-06-2020, 03:44 AM #3
If you put your location,somebody local from the forum may call in.
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20-06-2020, 07:16 AM #4
Where abouts are you?
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20-06-2020, 08:09 AM #5
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21-06-2020, 03:50 PM #6
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21-06-2020, 05:29 PM #7
You can buy ( about £20 ,00 ish ) a Superfish air pump with a couple of air stones on to drop in the pond ( air stones )
not the pump that is, to help get a bit of oxygen in there for now, better than nothing at all as we have a bit of a heat wave on the way apparently . …. Good luck, hope everything works out ok for you all....
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Sulphurman Thanked / Liked this Post
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21-06-2020, 05:44 PM #8
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-06-2020, 06:36 PM #9
Have today been to Dad's and managed to find where the pump switched on. Pump just made a buzzing sound so I set about trying to isolate it from the rest of the system (it's all a bit 'Heath Robinson') and once I'd managed to get it out I stripped it down as far as I could and found there was some debris inside. Once cleared and re-connected it sprang to life! So the fish at least have some water splashing in to create some bubbles. There are what looks like UV pipes in the plumbing and the filter is what it is. Time will tell if the water will improve.
Thanks to those of you who took the time to offer advice. I'll report back in the future and let you know how it goes.
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23-06-2020, 08:10 PM #10
West Sussex big place are your gatwick way
2500gall
55w uv
cloverleaf cl3
5000 Ltr hour pump
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23-06-2020, 09:28 PM #11
East Grinsted in post 5. Other side of the M23.
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28-06-2020, 09:41 AM #12
Just a short note to say that Dad passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning. We are obviously devastated but will carry on. Mum was pleased that I managed to get the pump going and we told Dad the pond was ok. This is a very difficult time but I want to try to understand the pond system and keep it going. If anyone has advice I'd be very glad to hear it. The water is getting clearer and we can now see the fish swimming around, which is great.
At the moment I'm noticing that the water coming back into the pond after going through the system slows down after a few days. A couple of days ago I turned a few of the valves here and there and some water went down a tube into another outlet to the pond and some to a drain and then the water flow was better. I'd really like to understand a bit more so I know what to do. Mum is grieving now, they were together for 60 years and she wants everything to be the same right now so I have to keep it all going.
Many thanks again to this community for any help - I'm sorry if it looks like I need to be 'spoon fed' the information instead of going looking for it but my life is upside down with so much to do suddenly. Being able to just come back to this one page easily would help greatly. Any advice and tips are welcome.
Thanks for listening,
Steve
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28-06-2020, 10:25 AM #13
Hi Steve, sorry to hear about you're Dad. Hope you're all okay.
I think your filter setup is very similar to mine. The flow slowing down after a few days is caused by the bead filter getting clogged with debris and in need of a back wash. It sounds like you have worked this out for yourself. Switch off pump, close valve on the inlet pipe, open valve on the pipe to waste. On my filter I also need to open the air intake valve which helps wash the beads. You shouldn't need to drain cometely, just enough to get rid of the worst of the gunk. You may need to repeat a few times if your pond is really murky. After you have done this, close the waste valve, close the air intake valve and open the inlet valve then switch your pump back on.
Try and keep the pre-filter on your pump clear and skimmer basket empty if you have one.
Hope this helps, all the best
Tim
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29-06-2020, 10:54 PM #14
Many thanks Tim - I'm starting to understand it slowly. If I post some more pictures I wonder if you could help me identify some bits please? There is a little flexi-pipe sticking out the bottom, is this the drain or the air inlet do you reckon? There is a little bucket that I think Dad used for some gunk so maybe I think it's the drain but then I'm not at all sure if there is an air-inlet. I'll have a look tomorrow if I get a chance. Dad made me executor so my life has just gotten very busy indeed.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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30-06-2020, 07:19 AM #15
Yes, absolutely. If you post some pictures I will do my best to label everything. The short length of flexi pipe is fit draining down the bubblebead filter. Be careful if you open this as all of the beads will come out if drained down too far (I learned this the hard way). I think it sounds like your dad had a better backwash system on the inlet so you shouldn't need to use the flexi piece unless removing the filter completely.
Cheers,
Tim
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30-06-2020, 08:37 AM #16
So sorry to hear of your loss . Its a credit to you that you are doing your best to keep your dads pond going during what must be a very difficult time for you and your family.
Hopefully , somebody local will read this and be able to come round and help . Must be a bit overwhelming , as there`s a lot to take in , but sounds like you are beginning to make progress , though , and well done to Tim and the others who`ve given you some good advice .
Just to add , as you probably know now , the priorities are to get air into the pond , and get the pond clean . A testing kit for Ammonia , Nitrite and PH , would be a good purchase .
Also , if your water is green , there`s a good chance that the bulb in the UV will need replacing . They only last about a year , maximum .
Another thing to think about is blanket weed , which as you might know , grows in green strands on the pond walls and floor . If this is present it will need removing before it blocks your filters .
Anyway ,don't be afraid to ask any questions - there`s plenty of people on here who will help you out .
Keep up the good work , and good luck with everything .Colin
2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber
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30-06-2020, 12:44 PM #17
So sorry to hear of your loss and can relate to what you are going through.
Hope you get the pond sorted.
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01-07-2020, 07:03 PM #18
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Sulphurman, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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02-07-2020, 08:25 AM #19
Just on quickly this morning as I have to go to work. There are some pictures in my original post and I'm not sure if I take any more pictures it would be any different but please have a look and let me know if you need any more. I'm going to have a look at everything again after work today.
I cupped my hands around the UV light and thought I could see it working - will keep checking. Have looked in Dads garage for a testing kit and haven't found one so far but will order something off the internet if it doesn't turn up. I'm sure he will have stuff but in the last few months he had become quite untidy as his health was failing...not that he was the tidiest person anyway..!
Many thanks to all for the kind wishes. It's really hard right now but we will get through.
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02-07-2020, 11:34 AM #20
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