Pond life.

I have just bought a house with a couple of large ponds (2500 litres and 1500 litres at a rough guess) in the garden. I know nothing about fish or ponds so am seeking some advice about how to look after them as well as some good/reliable on-line resources.

There is a strong possibility that there are some Koi in the larger pond, as well as some other similar fish. There's also some black fish too!

The smaller pond has a pump/filter and a water feature that fills a small top pond (with no fish) that then water falls into the main part of the pond. The large has no pump/filter as the previous owner took it, along with his Koi (or most of). He originally had a large pump, with a UV light in it.

How do I not kill them?!

Any help, gratefully accepted.

P.S. I have also inherited a couple of white doves... How do I look after them???

If there is a pump and the water "falls" from one pond down into the other, then hopefully that should be enough to suitably oxygenate the water.

We have a large pond. The size of what used to be 3 large silage pits. It is 10ft at its deepest and is now filled with some goldfish but mainly Koi Carp. Apart from making sure the water is oxygenated, all we do is buy specialist fish food.

Sorry. Water flows from a small feeder pond, into the small fish pond. The large pond has no pump or water flow into it.

What's the best/easiest/cheapest way to oxygenate the water, and what food do I need to get?

Do I need to feed them in the winter?

Regards
Phil

No, I don't think they get fed in winter. We have a pump and also, a small solar powered fountain to oxygenate the water. Anything that makes bubbles in the water will be oxygenating it.

For a while our puump was broken so all we did was get the garden hose and sit it so that the water was "bubbling" as it went into the pond, if you know what I mean?

As for food, if you go into any fish food shop and tell them you are looking for foor for koi carp they will sort you.

Cheers hun.

Do some fishing

No probs Phil. I will speak to Dad tomorrow when I get home from work and PM you with any further details

[Jayneflakes]

At this time of year, deep ponds can stratify into to two distinct layers of water. Oxygen rich and oxygen depleted. If this occurs you can get anaerobic bacteria in the sediments at the bottom which will cause the pond to give off hydrogen Sulphide, which stinks. As the bacteria build up they reduce O2 levels even more and the pond will effectively become stagnant and you can lose fish. To avoid this, get some oxygen in there ether by using pond plants or a pump. I studied this for my degree in 1996, is it sad that I can still remember the details?

+ 1 on the pond plants, they produce oxygen

[Richie]

Cold temp freezes water... So I was learn't in Physic at Skoll

By simply placing some ramdonly scattered tennis balls into the water before it freezes one might add, one can remove them and get below the ice layer to feed fish if required.

every fancyed going to the local refuse collection tip/dump to retreave an old discarded fridge...
If the Bad cfc's have been removed then simply rip out that old compressor, (the majority of fridges / freezers are discarded due to cosmetics looks and not functionalaty) the compressor will pump air into you pond via some rubber hoses easy gained from an iron mongers or other suitable retail outlet.
they will also inflate tyres too.

hth's if not then Meh.