Garden pond - ? too much oxygenator

Gizmo · Hazel Tree Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Kildare

Hi,
I have ben following the forum but this is my first time to post.
We have a fairly big pond in our garden with approx 30 fish in it. They seem to be thriving.
We have noticed that the oxygenator has spread quite a bit. It seems to be taking over the pond, with very little clear space left.I know they need this but is it possible to have too much? Should we consider thinning this out and if so when is it best to do this.
The pond has never been cleaned and it is a natural pond - no pump. We moved into this house a year and a half ago. The water is quite murky. We topped it up regularly last year with a hose ( thankfuly water meters are not in yet!)
Do you think we should consider cleaning out the pond or leave well alone.
Have you any suggestions on maintainence.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Gizmo

Sb · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

If the water is quite murky, I wonder do you have to many fish as their poo ups nutrients causing green build up as does excessive feeding of the fish. I think an acceptable level is one fish to 30 litres of water. You seem to have a lot of oxygenators and if fish are not always coming to the surface to breathe then lack of oxygen is not causing the greening. Fertiliser leaking in from the lawn?

verge · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject:

Are you positive the vast majority of plants are oxygenators. Some just offer rapid coverage to close out light which influences algae production, but offer very little oxygen. Any pictures Gizmo, we may be able to enlighten you on the plants.

Gizmo · Hazel Tree Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Kildare

Thanks for the replies.
I will take some photos and get your opinion on the plants.
You may be right about too many fish also. We have not started feeding them yet this year as it is still too cold but already I have noticed some new arrivals.
Aswell fertiliser did get into the pond as the farmer in the next field spread some recently which I noticed landed in our garden and in the pond. So I imagine this has happened quite a bit.
So I will measure pond and get photos and take it from there.
Thanks agian for the advice.
Gizmo

Rockworld Water Features · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:53 am Post subject:

Simple rule of thumb for fish stock in a pond in 1 kilo of fish per thousand litres of water.
Simple rule of thumb for plantlife is maximum plant coverage of 1/3rd of pond surface area.