I have just finished scooping up buckets full of fungus from the bottom of the pond and now have it looking reasonably good, but there must be an easier way of keeping it clean?!

I use a flat dinner plate-sized mesh thing attached to a broom stick and scoop gunk up from the bottom of the pond, as well as swishing it through the water to pick up fungus. The pond is around 40cm deep (18 inches, I suppose) and two metres by one and a half metres.

Are those things that bubble up the water effective? We have water restrictions (Australia) and it hasn't been legal (though it might be okay now) - still, do they work? Are there chemicals you can put in the water that are safe and environmentally okay? Should I load the pond up with plants?

Would appreciate your ideas.

A recirculating pump works well and pond plants serve a useful purpose as well as being decorative and interesting.

Thanks, I think a recirculating pump and a few more plants are the answer.

Plants will knock down some of the debris and filter the sun light to lessen alge growth. Aquascapes Design is located near me and I bury several of their products. They are online too. Aquascape Water Gardens & Ecosystem Ponds (http://www.aquascapeinc.com/about_us/ecosystem-philosophy.php)

I just realized what a crappy speller I have turned into. Sorry. I think the guys at Aquascapes know I don't bury their products, I buy them to kill algae.

LOL!! I was wondering... but didn't want to say anything :)

Well, I was a little disconcerted when I realised I referred to algae as fungus... now what's the difference?

I kind of think of algae as fungus out for a swim. I'm sure somebody knows that true differences betweemn them, I just know I want them both gone. I have a Sears wet vac than has a drain in its bottom. I hock a hose to the drain and then make a screen out of old nylon stockings. I suck the junk and debris up and the vac strains the water for me. Got to remove the vac filter before you suck water. Learned that the hard way.

A Sears wet vac sounds awesome, though a bit confusing. Why does it need stockings? Is it kind to fish? Is it designed for this job in mind - or more for swimming pools?

Does it get rid of the ALGAE which is driving me CRAZY!!

Yes, it is confusing and if you have an ornamental pond you don't want to use a wet vac because this would suck up all your ornamental plants and any decorative fish you have in the pond.

Bellanger knows a lot of stuff but I don't think he is picturing an ornamental pond.

Trust me, recirculating pump and more attractive pond plants and you have it made. It will get rid of your algae, but you have to be patient.

I do some landscaping on the side and have run into some pretty amazing pond set ups over the last years. They are a big thing here in town for closet gardeners (LOL). Not saying you are but these people have enough money to buy gold ornaments for their ponds.

Thanks for that tickle. I will definitely give the recirculating pump and extra plants a go - it would have been awful if I had sucked up my water lily and baby shibunkins with a (confused cross-dressed) wet vac... LOL

And thanks again to Bellanger - it's been good to have a bit of a laugh :)

I have just installed a recirculator, bought some (natural) algae dissolver, and added a couple of plants... and HOPE this works :rolleyes:

I have just installed a recirculator, bought some (natural) algae dissolver, and added a couple of plants... and HOPE this works

I have an ornamental fish pond and use the vac to suck algae from the falls and bottom. The stocking on the drain hose acts as a filter to catch the algae after its been sucked into the tank. I am sure it would do some significant damage if I placed the wand into the plants but I just hit the floor of the pond and the water falls. Aquascapes also sells me several of their algae killers that do not harm plants or fish. Some folks place a small bale of barley straw in the water and for some reason that also inhibits algae. Even with a large recirculating filter with a biofilter there will always be some build up of debris.

I saw a small vac for ponds in the store yesterday that has a hose attached, and is possibly what you're talking about. After manually clearing the pond of most of the algae and installing the water recirculater yesterday, it's looking nice and clear today - and you can actually see the fish. I'll try the vac as well, since as you say, it's likely to need it and could be faster than the wire mesh make-do I've been using so far.

Now I'm wanting more fish, and would like to redo some of the garden surrounding the pond :)

I have an extensive perennial garden in Ontario Canada. Rock gardens being a passion of mine. I would love to have an ornamental pond but have a large hound dog who can't stay out of even a puddle and once almost destroyed a very nice ornamental pond belong to a friend. I am glad you came to some conclusions. Maybe you can include a pic sometime.

We have two ponds.. one koi and one ornamental gold fish. On both we use a UV light with our filter system... works great!

This should answer any questions you have on them... Pond UV Filters, Pond UVC Lights or Pond Ultra-violet clarifiers for algae in garden ponds (http://www.pondmarket.com/uvc_lights.htm)

Your garden sounds awesome tickle and so likewise, I would enjoy seeing photos - also of your pooch who sounds like the boss. My daughter and I bought three new fish yesterday called Goggle, Boggle and Shiba.

I'll see if I can manage to download photos over the next day or so...

And thanks rpg219, that's a great pond link that I'll enjoy dipping into for ideas.. :)

Hello again,

I spent a lot of money on what I thought was a good pump (around AUS$55) and it is hardly working. I know - I'll take it back to where I bought it... just wondering if it's a common problem and if there might be a simple answer.

Also wondering if anyone here would know how to ground the electrical cord that runs from the pond and up through my shed window to the electrical outlet.

Thanks.

Do you know how many gallons your pump was rated. Does you outlet and the pump cord both have three pronges?

Nope... a good pump for a decent size pond will run you about 200... our ponds are about 1200 gals each... how big is your pond??

I agree, you don't get much for $55 when it comes to pumps. Afriend of mine owners a large pond company and holds several patents on filters. He has some company in China that builds his pumps for him and he pays $60 to get the pump, sells for about $175.

Hi ballengerb1, and yes, I paid $55 for a pump that at the moment is sitting in my pond collecting algae :)

I purchased a Watermaster Fountain Pump for medium sized outdoor pumps, 1000lph, 12 volt. It says it has a maximum flow of 1000 litres per hour - more like 10 drips per minute, I'd say.

It has a 2 year warranty so I'll take it back to where I bought it this weekend, and ask if I haven't set it up wrong.

The plugs are both 3 prong and I am definitely feeling nervous about the cord not being grounded.

Ok we may have a typo here or something is mixed up. 12 volt is like a car battery, they do make 12 volt pumps but they would not necessarily have a 3 prong plug. If you have have a 3 prong plug that plugs into a household outlet is is nearly 100% sure its grounded. The third propng is the ground wire but once in a blue moon somebody will install one improperly. If you have a testor or meter I can tell you how to safely check. No meter, I can still tell you how to check but just not quite as safe.

I have the packaging with me and it clearly says 12 voltage/16 watts pump rating. I'll have to wait until I get home to double check the number of prongs at the pump outlet. The extension cord is definitely 3 pronged.

Thanks

There must be a transformer in this wiring, usually a black brick shaped thing the size of an egg. Have a look at my buddy's company site reagrding pumps. AquaForce Pond Pump (http://www.aquascapeinc.com/products/aquascape/pumps/aquaforce.php) When you are done reading about his pumps take alook at the rest of the site or save it as a favorite for future use. I have used his stuff foir nearly 20 years, not cheap but very high quality.

Here are the bits as they're labelled:

Regulator
Front plate
Impeller holder
Seal ring
Shaft
Impeller
Motorhead
Suction bracket

No transformer mentioned on the packaging...

Am I supposed to hook the hose up to the pump by any chance to get the fountain working?

I've looked at your buddy's company site -- looks good, but just hope I won't have to buy another pump :)

am i supposed to hook the hose up to the pump by any chance to get the fountain working


Yes or no... depending on how you are wanting it. The little hole on the side (if I am looking at the correct model) towards the bottom. If you are wanting a waterfall... use a hose at that hole and run to a build up of rocks to flow over to make air bubbles for the fish. If you are wanting an over the water fountain... the pvc piping will connect to that hose to run up towards the surface of the pond to make the "fountain".

Hi ballengerb1, the pump has a 3 pronged plug...

And thanks rpg219. I have not attached a hose and water is only dribbling out of the top. Shouldn't the pump make a reasonable amount of bubbles for stirring the water without attaching a hose? Does fresh water need to be running through the hose?

Frang... the water that runs though the hose is being pulled in from the pond and recirculated. From the top (if we are not confusing each other) there should be some type of pvc hookup that has the water going somewhat like a fountain. See the attached link...
Wholesale Pumps, Pond Fountains, Pond Pumps, Submersible Lights, Floating Fountains, Kasco, Scott (http://www.cheappumps.com/)

Okay, I fiddled around with the pump and took the spray attachment off the top, then voila, water is not exactly gushing, but certainly pouring nicely up out of the spout. It looks pretty and makes that lovely sound of a babbling brook.

It isn't a fountain and looks nothing like the examples in your link, but will do.

Thanks for that! And sorry you had to 'frang' :)

Glad you got it to work... the way you like it! :) Any help I can offer... always glad to do it.

You've all been wonderful... only I'm now wondering about the electrical cord that's been exposed to a lot of rain already. Unfortunately it has to run along the ground for about a meter and then up and around through the shed window, which doesn't seem ideal.

Do you happen to have any ideas on how to make sure it's safe?

Its been a while since we talked about three prongs but I think you said your pump and cord were 3 prongs. That means its grounded but does not insure its 100% safe. If you want to go the big step toward safety you would need to install a GFCI outlet or a breaker in your panel. They do make a GFCI that plugs into a normal outlet and then you plug your cord into that. If you do the work yourself you are looking at $20.

Okay, that doesn't sound so daunting. I'll look into it. Ta.

The easiest is the GFCI that plugs into a standard outlet, just ask at the home store.

Okidoki...

Our cord to the pump has been going along the ground for well over 10 years.

Safe? Not sure now, lol. When we originally started digging for ponds... we were told the cords are made to withstand weather and such... they are made to be submersed in the water, so rain wouldn't hurt it.


Hey ballenger... what is your take on this??

OMG! 10 years is a long time for a cord to be running over your lawn... lol

Lol... yea, guess it can't be that bad... no fires or explosions... yet, lol

Well geez, I guess that should make me feel a lot better... not! Lol

Lol... no really... a pond specialist (the place is called Pond Elegance... right here in Alabama) said that it is not something to worry about... the pump cords are made to be grounded already... now, I am not so sure if you are having run across your yard to be hit with the lawnmower or such. We have ours tucked under the edging of the pond and plugs in right inside the garage. Also, this has not been 1 pump in 10 years.

We built our ponds (both 1200 gal or more) roughly 15 years ago. I don't think you will ever find a pump to work that long, lol... we have been through and built ourselves about 6 pumps and filter systems.

Oooh, mine is attached to an extension cord... hmm...

So the pump cord is safe, what about an ordinary extension cord? And yes, I think I'll move the cord aside when I mow the lawn. Frizzled is not a good look :)

I would say yes... for an outdoors extension cord... but let's wait for the expert on this one ;)