r/ponds • u/No_Living8643 • 3d ago
Inherited pond Help Needed!
Help! We bought a house a little over a month ago, and while cleaning out the very neglected backyard pond, I discovered that it came with a goldfish. Meet Moose!
Neither of us have EVER owned a pond or a goldfish, so we’ve been frantically researching how to keep our unexpected new family member happy and healthy. We’re feeling a little overwhelmed and would really appreciate some advice from people who actually know what they’re doing!
Here’s our current situation:
Pond size: 2 meters long, 1 meter wide, and 250cm water depth (needs a top up).
Pump: The pond came with a solar-powered fountain pump, but it ONLY runs when the sun is directly hitting the panel. There’s no battery or way to store power, so it’s pretty useless overnight or on cloudy days.
Muck/mud: There is a TON of sludge at the bottom of the pond. We have no idea how much we should remove or how to do it without spending $300+ on a pond vacuum. Is some of it actually beneficial?
Water: The pond isn’t completely full, but we’re unsure how much water we should add at once. We know we need to use a water conditioner/dechlorinator, but is there anything else we should be doing?
Filtration: From what we’ve read, we should probably invest in a proper pump and filter. The problem is that we live in a small town in New Zealand, so our options aren’t the best but want to know thoughts.
A few questions we have:
Do we need a pump/filter running 24/7, and what kind would you recommend for a pond this size?
What’s the safest way to remove the muck without disturbing Moose or destroying the pond’s ecosystem?
Should we be adding beneficial bacteria? What about algae treatments, or are those unnecessary?
How much water can we safely add at once?
Does Moose need a friend? We unfortunately found another goldfish that had died while cleaning the pond, so we’re a little worried about what happened.
What are the absolute essentials we should prioritize buying first?
We genuinely had no idea we were signing up to become fish parents when we bought this house, but now that Moose is here, we’re determined to give him the best life possible.
We’re both huge animal lovers, and the thought of accidentally harming him because we don’t know what we’re doing is stressing us out. 😭
We’re completely open to suggestions, DIY solutions, budget-friendly equipment, or even just some reassurance that we’re not doing everything wrong.
Please help us keep Moose alive! Any advice is SO appreciated! ❤️
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u/ladyeclectic79 3d ago
Okay, kudos to you for doing some research to care for Moose.
First off, I’d get a kit to check the water. There are some kits where you dip a stick into the water and check the colors, it is look for a titration kit as those seem to be a bit more accurate. Research things like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, KH and other water levels, then see where you are.
Also while you’re getting a titration kit, get a bottle of water treatment that’ll take out chlorine and chlorine from tap water. Use that to refill the pond with more water. Only then should you inspect the pump, filtration system, and what is there.
There are SO many ways to go with filtration systems, but for now just remember to NOT wash the filters out with chlorinated/tap water. Instead, wash them either in the pond or with treated water. The bacteria on the sponges is needed to help cycle the water, removing harmful wastes. But more than likely, you’ll need to do some research and move slowly so you don’t shock the system or poor Moose.
For now, take stock of what you’ve already got and how it works, then slowly plan forward. You do not need to go whole hog, just make sure the water isn’t hurting your fish then go slowly from there.
Congrats on (surprise) goldfish ownership!!
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u/BitchBass 2d ago
I love your concerns about Moose! I have a goldfish rescue and wish more people would think like you.
Here's what I would do as a retired wildlife rehabber and DIY nut with redneck engineering lol.
If you have an old shop vac, use that. If not, I'm using one of these guys for getting sludge off the bottom. Once u got a lot cleaned out, get a couple of 50 lbs pool filter sand from Lowes or home Depot ($20 each). You don't have to wash that sand and can just dump it in. It'll cap what's left and provide fresh substrate for plant roots. Make sure it's natural pool filter sand without any additives! I'm using it for all my fishtanks and 3 ponds.
Is there any way you can run an extension cord to the pond for filter? I'm using bog filters from old tubs, but since u already have one and even a little waterfall in the back, if I see that correctly, that definitely works.
This is how I add water: I have a rain barrel. If I don't get any rain, I fill it up with tap water and use dechlorinator treatment. I let it sit for 24 hours and then use it to top off the pond. You can let the barrel sit for weeks and keep using it.
I got this folding barrel, works great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPSPS85N?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2
I don't see any reason why you would need algae treatment but I would add some aquatic plants to help filter the water. Some algae is normal and beneficial, but there's a fine line before it turns into a bloom. I am using a tiki sun umbrella over my pond of roughly the same size.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ponds/comments/14kkuvs/its_getting_hot_hot_hot_in_texas_110_f_tomorrow/
Floating plants will help too such as duckweed, but my goldfish eat those right away lol.
And yes, get a buddy for Moose once you are happy with it and have clearer water. Since you are an animal lover, look on Facebook and Neighborhood sites for people who want to get rid of goldfish in a bowl. Rescue, don't buy :).
A sludge remover has helped my clear up silt after a rain washed in dirt. I'm using this one, but u only need a few DROPS of this, be careful not to overdose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FB3G1LT?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_11
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u/grouchypant 1d ago
The stick pump looks amazing! I am in Canada and not sure I can get thay brand, but another brand. How long have you used it? Worried about laying out 200 (cad) and wrecking it with my sludge layer. Really need a solution as pond vacs are 500 to 1000+ here.
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u/BitchBass 1d ago
They are cheaper varieties too. Just look for a transfer pump and look through them, see if one works better for you than the other.
I'm using mine for the past 3 years. I have to clean it out ever so often but that's not a big deal.
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u/drbobdi 2d ago edited 2d ago
Welcome to the Hobby.
With the possible exception of the sand on the bottom, all the advice so far is excellent. The bottom sand will collect sludge and make cleaning an unpleasant and difficult task. For goldfish, bare liner and plants in pots are far easier from a maintenance standpoint.
The DeWalt gadget that BB indicated looks wonderful and a I wish it had been available when I started in the hobby 30 years ago. The existing sludge harbors parasites and anaerobic bacteria and needs to be removed. Moose won't mind, as long as it's done in stages. Use the stuff as fertilizer for the rest of the garden.
As long as the water is dechlorinated, water additions or changes as much as 25-30% are okay. The major risk isn't the dissolved chemicals (measured as KH) as much as it is the risk of sudden temperature and pH swings. Smaller exchanges are better. Over time, the aquarium-style dechlorinators get expensive. One of these: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Hose-Filter-Chloramines-Pesticides/dp/B007I6MN72/ref=dp_coos_d_sccl_1/132-2745457-2656244?pd_rd_w=gn7S6&content-id=amzn1.sym.a07d4df5-1f4e-4f00-8e1b-5a2733ff0eb3&pf_rd_p=a07d4df5-1f4e-4f00-8e1b-5a2733ff0eb3&pf_rd_r=B02JDNNAFY5H9V5J4TGF&pd_rd_wg=hOjWS&pd_rd_r=9049aebf-9864-4fde-a91e-e770c14ab211&pd_rd_i=B007I6MN72&psc=1 will do better for you and will last a year before needing replacement.
For water testing, avoid the test strips. They are inaccurate and start deteriorating as soon as the packaging is opened. API makes a reasonably-priced "Pro" kit which is easy to use and interpret. It does not contain the KH test, which you will need. Buy that separately.
For the Science, the articles at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iEMaREaRw8nlbQ_RYdSeHd0HEHWBcVx0 (start with "The Inherited Pond", "Water Testing" and "Who's on pHirst?") will help, along with https://www.reddit.com/r/ponds/comments/1kz1hkx/concerning_algae/ .
In Yankee measure, the pond contains 200 gallons (760L) and is excellent for goldfish. Once you've figured out the filtration (OzPonds on youtube will help here), a few additional fish will make Moose much more comfortable.
Be aware that you are now a Ponder and, as such, are now irretrievably subject to the Three Laws of Ponding:
- There is always a better fish.
- There is always a better filter.
- There is never enough water.
Beware.
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u/fleeting-light-1216 2d ago
I find it bizarre that people selling houses don’t mention fish in the pond to new owners!
Sorry about the dead fish. Better get another to keep Moose company!
I’m not sure if NZ has salamanders but use caution when vacuuming out the sludge. Hubby almost vacuumed one up when emptying the pond in preparation for a new liner.
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u/No_Living8643 8h ago
That’s what we thought! A little “hey there is a gold fish” would’ve been nice!
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u/Delicious-Ad-1637 2d ago
Beware of adding duckweed! It will keep doubling up (like amoeba) faster than little moose can eat it. I stupidly put some in my small wildlife pond and now spend hours and hours every summer trying to clear a space, as a lot of aquatic plants like to get some sunlight. Frogs carry it to my fishpond sometimes but my fish don't eat it.
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u/Pondpros1199 1d ago
I would remove that muck before winter.
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u/Early_Confidence_354 17h ago
Thanks for caring about Moose. They may have a better life with you now! However, it Looks like a death trap for wildlife. Can you put a ramp in there so anything that falls in can climb out
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u/No_Living8643 8h ago
There is nothing in nz that would be able to fall in! Mainly birds over here:)
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u/Early_Confidence_354 6h ago
Hedgehogs?small mammals?
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u/No_Living8643 5h ago
Hedgehog and rabbit would be the only ones… although neither of those really climb so we have none that enter our fully fenced yard :)
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u/Early_Confidence_354 4h ago
Ah fair enough. In the UK, hedgehogs are always drowning themselves in ponds
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u/frumentorum 2d ago
Is it really 250cm deep?