I have a small (50 gallon) preformed pond. Then water kept turning very green, I cleaned the pond 2 weeks in a row but kept turning green from algae. I bought "Algaefix", and proceeded to drain the pond again. While cleaning it I found several earth worms in the water, and many tiny little red worm like looking things that I could actually feel crawling on me when they attached to my hand. My goldfish now one by one seem to be dying. They are not floating they have all been at the bottom of the pond. I was wondering if I may have killed them with this new chemical, or if this is a parasite, and how do I get rid of it? I am buying a UV filter/Sanitizer this week.
My Fish are Dying Help Please!!
- Thread starter LILPONDAVE
- Start date
IMO, what happened was the pond was going through the usual algae cycle. When you tried to clean the pond it had to begin this process all over again. I'm not sure about chemicals because I don't use them myself, but it could be the reason for the dead fish. Algae needs oxygen to survive. Maybe the "algaefix" tried to smother the algae out, but instead it only succeeded in smothering the fish out. I will tell you that when I initially built my pond, it took almost 6 months for it to actually cycle properly and achieve the proper balance. I lost a few expensive koi before getting it right.
water parameters
I am a total rookie, I thought this was going to be like have a goldfish bowl but on a larger scale so I don't even know what you mean by water parameters... sorry but if you will explain I will go get what I need to check. These are just plain old goldfish, but I want to help them survive.
I am a total rookie, I thought this was going to be like have a goldfish bowl but on a larger scale so I don't even know what you mean by water parameters... sorry but if you will explain I will go get what I need to check. These are just plain old goldfish, but I want to help them survive.
That is a really small pond. How many goldfish do you have? That size pond would really only support one goldfish, for optimum health. And a small one at that, I think. And do you have some sort of shade for the pond so that it is not in full sun? At least some floating plants? That size pond will heat up really fast. Do you have an aerator of some kind? You should have some kind of filtration system to keep the water clean and aerated.
By water parameters, what mattmartindrift means is your ammonia/nitrate/nitrate readings. You will need a liquid test kit. I think the most common brand is API, and it costs around $25.00. But it will last you a very long time. How old is your pond? Did you add something to neutralize the chlorine when you first added the water? You should always do that, because chlorine will kill fish. Exactly how did you "clean" the pond when you did so? You shouldn't empty all the water out at once, as already mentioned it just starts the cycle over. And I wouldn't recommend chemicals to kill algae, it can be bad for the fish. My pond is about 800 gallons, and I add something called "Microbe-lift" every six weeks or so, which has naturally occurring bacteria that keeps algae under control. It's a liquid. Some ponders don't even like the use of Microbe-lift though, preferring to allow algae to disappear naturally. I never had much luck with keeping my water from looking like pea soup naturally though, despite a lot of plants. At any rate, I am not certain what to suggest you do now since you added chemicals.I would do a partial water change if I were you, about 25% right now, and be sure to add something that neutralizes chlorine.
I hope someone will have some better advice for you. Eek, re-reading this I sound very long-winded, my apologies! I'm just trying to help.
By water parameters, what mattmartindrift means is your ammonia/nitrate/nitrate readings. You will need a liquid test kit. I think the most common brand is API, and it costs around $25.00. But it will last you a very long time. How old is your pond? Did you add something to neutralize the chlorine when you first added the water? You should always do that, because chlorine will kill fish. Exactly how did you "clean" the pond when you did so? You shouldn't empty all the water out at once, as already mentioned it just starts the cycle over. And I wouldn't recommend chemicals to kill algae, it can be bad for the fish. My pond is about 800 gallons, and I add something called "Microbe-lift" every six weeks or so, which has naturally occurring bacteria that keeps algae under control. It's a liquid. Some ponders don't even like the use of Microbe-lift though, preferring to allow algae to disappear naturally. I never had much luck with keeping my water from looking like pea soup naturally though, despite a lot of plants. At any rate, I am not certain what to suggest you do now since you added chemicals.I would do a partial water change if I were you, about 25% right now, and be sure to add something that neutralizes chlorine.
I hope someone will have some better advice for you. Eek, re-reading this I sound very long-winded, my apologies! I'm just trying to help.
my advice: read
there are tons of FAQs on here that will near-instantly answer your questions.
P.S. goldfish bowls are ridiculously cruel for a fish that grows upwards of 10 inches. I think you'll find that most people agree.
50gallons is also enough for maybe two goldfish.
there are tons of FAQs on here that will near-instantly answer your questions.
P.S. goldfish bowls are ridiculously cruel for a fish that grows upwards of 10 inches. I think you'll find that most people agree.
50gallons is also enough for maybe two goldfish.
DAVIDFBT
Extinct? Since when?
I just wanted to add, the red worms you saw were probably midge larva, totally harmless to your fish.
I'm so glad there are still people who don't get cranky when something goes wrong and it's their fault.
I think many, if not most, of us started the aquarium hobby the wrong way by killing a few fish. At least today we have the internet.
good luck in your pond, and keep us updated.
Do you have any type of filter running on the pond? Plants in it? etc? Tell us how many gallons it is, how many fish are in there, the size of the fish etc.... I have a small preformed pond also and its doing great. Will help if I can.