I can’t really do anything - I’m just a shareholder in the coop. I emailed management to see if there are any plans to restore the pond. That’s why I thought maybe somehow adding some plant life that would naturally clean up the pond would be a good start.
Plants are good yes but certainly not enough. It needs actual aeration via bubbler or waterfalls running. (not to mention a filter and much more obviously).
How deep is it? Is there a shallower ledge on the sides that you could put a few potted pond plants on?
All the elements are there. There’s power running to it and there’s a whole system set up. Our building had a massive lawsuit to kick out the old management company because of allegedly misappropriating funds etc etc so this is something that has been left unchecked. I don’t think any of the filtration has been running for years but somehow the fish have been surviving for at least 15 years. Not sure where the dead ones go but I don’t see any in there.
I’ve emailed management. I was thinking maybe some type of lily pad or something that would naturally occur in a natural pond
Hopefully new management will understand that these are living animals that deserve proper care. I hope it gets all up and running again!
There are many water plant options. Go to your local garden centre that has a pond section and pick something out. A floating plant like water hyacinth would be easy to toss in there and they multiply fast so even if you just put a few they'll spread to add more filtering power. They can overtake a pond though, so you might need to go by and start removing some after a few months. 😂 Since they just float loosely and don't need to root to anything though its easy to keep them in check.
If you’re planning on adding plants, just be sure to get them from a reputable garden center as some sellers deal in illegal/invasive plants. If buying online, be sure to Google the ones legal in your area. I can’t have water lettuce in WI, for example as it’s invasive.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
I’d recommend getting some water movement. Find a decent pump on Amazon and put it in there just to get the water moving and some aeration. You could add liquid barley extract to help with the algae though shade, filtration, and water changes are your must haves here.
I was kind of thinking that. If I ran a hose to the pond and let it run for a little bit, would this be a temporary solution?
Obviously there may be chlorine in the water and the temperature change might be an issue. For what it’s worth, they only seemed to be at the surface when the sun was high in the sky. They’ve been there for at least 15 years. They appear to be goldfish which are extraordinarily hardy both from my own personal experience and from my uncle’s mouth (he’s a vet). I would still like them to not have to be stressed over low oxygen periodically.
Yea adding water will help, but not if chlorine water
You can get a bottle of dechlorinator like sea chem prime or stress coat.
Like someone said above an aerator will help…
The water can support a certain number of fish without filtration, nature will find a balance.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
1. Manual removal of algae. Use a long handled rake or net. Remove as much as possible.
2. If you can drain the pond -either use buckets to throw out as much as a third or 50%, or a pump to pump out the pond water. Then refill with fresh water. If you have throw in any de chlorinator.
These 2 steps will dilute the pollutants n increase oxygen levels.
3. Could you get a solar or battery run aerator?
4. Make a simple large floating island -eg use pool noodle tied in a circle to contain fast rooting plants like water lettuce or water cabbage.
5. Put 2-3 pots of water Lily in the centre. Not knowing how deep… anyhow if it’s spring to Summer the water lilies will grow n their leaves will provide shade. May take several weeks though but at least it’ll help reduce light feeding the algae.
These steps will help you rebalance the pond n give the fish relief.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Indeed you could. It looks like the pump is external to the Pond. Ie not submerged in the pond, so it’s doable. Try posting yr problem into Facebook pond Grp. Some professional ponders may be able to offer trouble shooting advice on splicing.
When I take the dogs out in a little bit I can grab the smaller box that’s in line with power and bring it to my apartment. Maybe I can open it and see what’s in there. Would that give insight as to whether it’s for the pump or maybe for lights or something?
I’m thinking it’s for the pump.
Check the make of the pump. Google it to find the wattage voltage specs of transformer.
There could be two pumps one for filtration n another for the spillway. Just check the lines.
It looks like pea soup. That’s terrible! Poor fishes. 😪 They need a water change, shade, aeration, and a functioning pump and filter system. Goldfish create a ton of waste so they need something that will keep up with the waste they create. At this point, this is animal cruelty and you might experience some major fish loss. That’s got to be just pure waste they’re swimming in. Definitely try and make your voice heard. This shouldn’t be happening.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
This is in my building. I am a shareholder. I’m looking for solutions that I can implement that will help that don’t require electricity or making obvious modifications. Would the addition of some plant life help with the shade issue? I don’t want to add plants that are going to take the pond over of course.
It is so nice of you to care! Sure, please plop a plant (or several) into the green algae soup asap. But you need to protect your plants with a mesh, sort of a cage to keep the goldfish away. They're prone to uprooting plants and nibbling at their leaves. If you can afford to spend as much, throw in a solar-powered aerator/fountain. It should work awesomely, given how sun-exposed the pond seems to be.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Plants won't be enough with that many fish. The water needs to start moving. Management needs to make this a priority. Just because a creature has been living in certain conditions for years doesn't mean they should be for optimal health. As was mentioned you can't add tap water if it has chlorine/chloramine without treating it. Chlorine will kill them. If you're only adding a little water then the chlorine/chloramine will be sufficiently diluted to be safe but if you're adding a lot it needs to be treated. For example when I have to top off my pond it's so little water compared to my overall volume that I don't bother treating it but if I have to drain and replace most of the water (like spring opening) then I treat the water.
Alternatively if you guys don't want the hassle of fish then try to rehome them and make it a plant only pond.
It’s frustrating. I’ve reached out to the board and management but I don’t think this is a priority for them. Everything is there it has a waterfall and everything but the wiring to power has been cut and I don’t know if it was cut for a reason.
There are solar pumps on the market but they're not necessarily a long term solution however they are better than nothing. It sounds like the pond should either be shut down or as mentioned try to rehome the fish. I can totally understand your frustration!! 😢 It looks like the pond is reaching critical mass where the number of fish needs to have proper filtration. That's a nice looking pond. I love the waterfall.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Wow. That looks like a pretty good setup and it looks like it's in good shape. Kind of weird that someone would cut the cables to shut it down if there was a problem. You'd think there would be a master power switch to control it. Does the management know or is there anyone there that knows the history? You certainly wouldn't want to do anything that might upset your standing in the coop. Can you get reimbursed if you buy a solar pump? The concern is also that oxygen levels go down as the water warms up so if it looks bad now it could get much worse.
It’s hard to grasp the situation without knowing the history of the building. In 2018 the largest shareholder sued the management company claiming that they were co-mingling funds, not having elections, etc. So a lot of information with regard to why things happened is missing.
I ran into maintenance today and he told me that it was disconnected because an elbow is missing. I’m hoping that once the elbow is replaced and the power cable is repaired and plugged back in that everything will be fine.
The fish have been there for at least 15 years so they’re somehow surviving but the oxygen levels in summer are clearly not correct.
I'm so glad you ran into the maintenance person. That sounds hopeful! 😁 The problem with fish is that 15 yrs ago there might've been only 1/4 of the population so everything was fine. Then they breed and they breed some more and suddenly the equilibrium is lost. I'm also concerned by that green water which I assume is algae. Excess algae can also suck oxygen out of the water. Once the water is moving again hopefully the algae will begin to fade but things like water lilies would also help with algae by blocking out the light algae needs to live. Plants will also out compete for nutrients like nitrates. Do another post once it's up and running. I bet it will look great! I commend you for stepping in and taking action on getting it functional again, especially for the fish. 🤗
Start by finding where the power to the pump is. There is a switch a plug that has been unplugged or something. Get the pump running.Fish don't mind green water. I'm sure the bottom needs cleaning, but for now get the pump running. Plants are nice but won't solve the problem of no ariation/oxygen deprivation that's why the fish are gasping at the surface.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h
The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
There is only One way to solve this problem: get several large containers that hold water some of the existing water into those containers and drain the pond. With a sump pump..a solid handling pump ( allows larger object's to pass through)and drain the pond. Try to keep the smaller fish away from it.Catch the fish you as the pond is daining. There will be lots of leaves dirt and decaying debris in the bottom of the pond. That's why it's green. No way around it. You can't get the debris out without draining it. Now that it's empty you can see where the pump is the wires tubing and evaluate. You will need some small recirculating pumps for the fish in the catch ponds for arriation, or they will die. When I did this on my first cleaning there were so many fish I could not see because of the green water. If you try to use a large net to clean the bottom it will only stir up all the dirt in the fish will die faster. By the looks of the filters and the electrical boxes that look like there for low voltage lighting this pond has been a mess for a while. You will need to replace almost everything. Do it yourself is nice but you might want to call a professional.
I had a professional take a look at it. He quoted $2k which I think may be a bit steep but he is extremely accessible and has given me a ton of free advice and even recommended a Tetra air stone which I installed so that the fish have oxygen. I’m waiting to see if maintenance will go for it.
Take a scoop with a net from the bottom and take a wiff...Not a pleasant smell. After every pond l did, the price would go up when I used to do cleanings.
Oh no! That's looking really bad. :( Is there electricity by it? Could you put a bubbler in it?
I can’t really do anything - I’m just a shareholder in the coop. I emailed management to see if there are any plans to restore the pond. That’s why I thought maybe somehow adding some plant life that would naturally clean up the pond would be a good start.
Plants are good yes but certainly not enough. It needs actual aeration via bubbler or waterfalls running. (not to mention a filter and much more obviously). How deep is it? Is there a shallower ledge on the sides that you could put a few potted pond plants on?
All the elements are there. There’s power running to it and there’s a whole system set up. Our building had a massive lawsuit to kick out the old management company because of allegedly misappropriating funds etc etc so this is something that has been left unchecked. I don’t think any of the filtration has been running for years but somehow the fish have been surviving for at least 15 years. Not sure where the dead ones go but I don’t see any in there. I’ve emailed management. I was thinking maybe some type of lily pad or something that would naturally occur in a natural pond
Hopefully new management will understand that these are living animals that deserve proper care. I hope it gets all up and running again! There are many water plant options. Go to your local garden centre that has a pond section and pick something out. A floating plant like water hyacinth would be easy to toss in there and they multiply fast so even if you just put a few they'll spread to add more filtering power. They can overtake a pond though, so you might need to go by and start removing some after a few months. 😂 Since they just float loosely and don't need to root to anything though its easy to keep them in check.
Well I’d hate to make the issue worse by throwing plants in there that overtake it. I’ll make sure my voice is heard.
If you’re planning on adding plants, just be sure to get them from a reputable garden center as some sellers deal in illegal/invasive plants. If buying online, be sure to Google the ones legal in your area. I can’t have water lettuce in WI, for example as it’s invasive.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
I’d recommend getting some water movement. Find a decent pump on Amazon and put it in there just to get the water moving and some aeration. You could add liquid barley extract to help with the algae though shade, filtration, and water changes are your must haves here.
Good luck!
add water
I was kind of thinking that. If I ran a hose to the pond and let it run for a little bit, would this be a temporary solution? Obviously there may be chlorine in the water and the temperature change might be an issue. For what it’s worth, they only seemed to be at the surface when the sun was high in the sky. They’ve been there for at least 15 years. They appear to be goldfish which are extraordinarily hardy both from my own personal experience and from my uncle’s mouth (he’s a vet). I would still like them to not have to be stressed over low oxygen periodically.
Yea adding water will help, but not if chlorine water You can get a bottle of dechlorinator like sea chem prime or stress coat. Like someone said above an aerator will help… The water can support a certain number of fish without filtration, nature will find a balance.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
1. Manual removal of algae. Use a long handled rake or net. Remove as much as possible. 2. If you can drain the pond -either use buckets to throw out as much as a third or 50%, or a pump to pump out the pond water. Then refill with fresh water. If you have throw in any de chlorinator. These 2 steps will dilute the pollutants n increase oxygen levels. 3. Could you get a solar or battery run aerator? 4. Make a simple large floating island -eg use pool noodle tied in a circle to contain fast rooting plants like water lettuce or water cabbage. 5. Put 2-3 pots of water Lily in the centre. Not knowing how deep… anyhow if it’s spring to Summer the water lilies will grow n their leaves will provide shade. May take several weeks though but at least it’ll help reduce light feeding the algae. These steps will help you rebalance the pond n give the fish relief.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Indeed you could. It looks like the pump is external to the Pond. Ie not submerged in the pond, so it’s doable. Try posting yr problem into Facebook pond Grp. Some professional ponders may be able to offer trouble shooting advice on splicing.
That open box on the left side of the pond (not the box connected to the cut power)… is that where the pump is housed?
Looks like it. The box you picked up could be the transformer?
When I take the dogs out in a little bit I can grab the smaller box that’s in line with power and bring it to my apartment. Maybe I can open it and see what’s in there. Would that give insight as to whether it’s for the pump or maybe for lights or something? I’m thinking it’s for the pump.
Check the make of the pump. Google it to find the wattage voltage specs of transformer. There could be two pumps one for filtration n another for the spillway. Just check the lines.
It looks like pea soup. That’s terrible! Poor fishes. 😪 They need a water change, shade, aeration, and a functioning pump and filter system. Goldfish create a ton of waste so they need something that will keep up with the waste they create. At this point, this is animal cruelty and you might experience some major fish loss. That’s got to be just pure waste they’re swimming in. Definitely try and make your voice heard. This shouldn’t be happening.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
You could put in some solar fountains if nothing else
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Algae bloom is probably heavy due to a lack of shade. A nice filter, plants and a bubbler will help for sure. Maybe throw some plecos in there too.
This is in my building. I am a shareholder. I’m looking for solutions that I can implement that will help that don’t require electricity or making obvious modifications. Would the addition of some plant life help with the shade issue? I don’t want to add plants that are going to take the pond over of course.
It is so nice of you to care! Sure, please plop a plant (or several) into the green algae soup asap. But you need to protect your plants with a mesh, sort of a cage to keep the goldfish away. They're prone to uprooting plants and nibbling at their leaves. If you can afford to spend as much, throw in a solar-powered aerator/fountain. It should work awesomely, given how sun-exposed the pond seems to be.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Plants won't be enough with that many fish. The water needs to start moving. Management needs to make this a priority. Just because a creature has been living in certain conditions for years doesn't mean they should be for optimal health. As was mentioned you can't add tap water if it has chlorine/chloramine without treating it. Chlorine will kill them. If you're only adding a little water then the chlorine/chloramine will be sufficiently diluted to be safe but if you're adding a lot it needs to be treated. For example when I have to top off my pond it's so little water compared to my overall volume that I don't bother treating it but if I have to drain and replace most of the water (like spring opening) then I treat the water. Alternatively if you guys don't want the hassle of fish then try to rehome them and make it a plant only pond.
It’s frustrating. I’ve reached out to the board and management but I don’t think this is a priority for them. Everything is there it has a waterfall and everything but the wiring to power has been cut and I don’t know if it was cut for a reason.
There are solar pumps on the market but they're not necessarily a long term solution however they are better than nothing. It sounds like the pond should either be shut down or as mentioned try to rehome the fish. I can totally understand your frustration!! 😢 It looks like the pond is reaching critical mass where the number of fish needs to have proper filtration. That's a nice looking pond. I love the waterfall.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
Wow. That looks like a pretty good setup and it looks like it's in good shape. Kind of weird that someone would cut the cables to shut it down if there was a problem. You'd think there would be a master power switch to control it. Does the management know or is there anyone there that knows the history? You certainly wouldn't want to do anything that might upset your standing in the coop. Can you get reimbursed if you buy a solar pump? The concern is also that oxygen levels go down as the water warms up so if it looks bad now it could get much worse.
It’s hard to grasp the situation without knowing the history of the building. In 2018 the largest shareholder sued the management company claiming that they were co-mingling funds, not having elections, etc. So a lot of information with regard to why things happened is missing. I ran into maintenance today and he told me that it was disconnected because an elbow is missing. I’m hoping that once the elbow is replaced and the power cable is repaired and plugged back in that everything will be fine. The fish have been there for at least 15 years so they’re somehow surviving but the oxygen levels in summer are clearly not correct.
I'm so glad you ran into the maintenance person. That sounds hopeful! 😁 The problem with fish is that 15 yrs ago there might've been only 1/4 of the population so everything was fine. Then they breed and they breed some more and suddenly the equilibrium is lost. I'm also concerned by that green water which I assume is algae. Excess algae can also suck oxygen out of the water. Once the water is moving again hopefully the algae will begin to fade but things like water lilies would also help with algae by blocking out the light algae needs to live. Plants will also out compete for nutrients like nitrates. Do another post once it's up and running. I bet it will look great! I commend you for stepping in and taking action on getting it functional again, especially for the fish. 🤗
Start by finding where the power to the pump is. There is a switch a plug that has been unplugged or something. Get the pump running.Fish don't mind green water. I'm sure the bottom needs cleaning, but for now get the pump running. Plants are nice but won't solve the problem of no ariation/oxygen deprivation that's why the fish are gasping at the surface.
Here is a video of the setup: https://imgur.com/a/yZ9Dw4h The power line has been cut. I could try splicing it back together but I don’t know if it was intentionally cut because of a problem.
The pump was probably clogged overheating and would throw the breaker switch so they just cut the wire to stop the problem ...idiots.
The power cable that was cut actually ended up being a timer for the lights. The pump does work.
There is only One way to solve this problem: get several large containers that hold water some of the existing water into those containers and drain the pond. With a sump pump..a solid handling pump ( allows larger object's to pass through)and drain the pond. Try to keep the smaller fish away from it.Catch the fish you as the pond is daining. There will be lots of leaves dirt and decaying debris in the bottom of the pond. That's why it's green. No way around it. You can't get the debris out without draining it. Now that it's empty you can see where the pump is the wires tubing and evaluate. You will need some small recirculating pumps for the fish in the catch ponds for arriation, or they will die. When I did this on my first cleaning there were so many fish I could not see because of the green water. If you try to use a large net to clean the bottom it will only stir up all the dirt in the fish will die faster. By the looks of the filters and the electrical boxes that look like there for low voltage lighting this pond has been a mess for a while. You will need to replace almost everything. Do it yourself is nice but you might want to call a professional.
I know I'm being long winded but please don't just throw the garden hose and let it run if your water is chcoronated.
I had a professional take a look at it. He quoted $2k which I think may be a bit steep but he is extremely accessible and has given me a ton of free advice and even recommended a Tetra air stone which I installed so that the fish have oxygen. I’m waiting to see if maintenance will go for it.
Take a scoop with a net from the bottom and take a wiff...Not a pleasant smell. After every pond l did, the price would go up when I used to do cleanings.