It's Pond Time ... Finally!

[notho2000]

After a long winter, I finally have my pond ready to take some fish. I had to replace my filter and pump this year and now they're in place. So tomorrow, the fish go in. I'll be adding some sunfish along with several species of cichlids and probably a few goldfish. My Green Terrors did so well last year, I'm going to try them again ... one male and two females. This time I'll collect some fry. By the way, I have a mallard duck on a nest in the yard, just back and to the right of the pond. She's been sitting in the ferns on her clutch of eggs for about a week now. About three weeks ago, I found her swimming in the pond, and since she stayed, she must have liked what she saw. Here are a few pictures.

 

[notho2000]

Once the duck eggs hatch, I hope mother duck doesn't take the 'kids' for a swim. I put a few fish in there that could "take out" a newly hatched duckling. Fortunately, there is a 10" jump up required for them to get in. So unless they get lifted in, that won't happen.The fish I put in today were 2- 12" male Paraneetroplus melanurus, 1- 10" male Nandopsis beani, 3- 8 to 10" Green Terrors (1M, 2F), 2- 8" male Cichlasoma portalegrense, 1- 8" female Paraneetroplus breidohri, and 11-3" to 4" Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus). I'll probably put in a few more fish once I see how the dynamic looks. Right now, the 'beani' is the assertive' one, mainly chasing the 'rivulatus' around ... no harm done though. Here are some of the fish that went in today. By the way, the water temperature in my pond is a balmy 25.5C (78F). Not so for Lake Winnipeg, the 10th largest fresh water lake in the world. Here's the scene as of 2 weeks ago. The ice will be on it at least 'til the middle of June.

 

[Joao M]

Great pond and fantastic fish (as usual...) Jim.

I assume you only use the plants for filtratiion. Do you have any circulation pump or is the pond big enough not to require one?

 

[F1 VET]

Sweet! More plants

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Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[notho2000]

Great pond and fantastic fish (as usual...) Jim.

I assume you only use the plants for filtratiion. Do you have any circulation pump or is the pond big enough not to require one?

I have a fairly high output (3500 gal/hr) Little Giant submersible and a Tetra Pond Pressure filter w/ UV. The pond is about 1200 G (12'x5'x2.5')

Sweet! More plants

There will be soon enough. Once the Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth start to multiply, I'll be overrun with plants. Here's a pic from last year

 

[Joao M]

Thanks for the info

 

[alexanian]

What an awesome pond and great looking fish! What is the outside temp since the pond temp is 25 C? Do you have smth heating it since it's not frozen like the lake?

 

[notho2000]

What an awesome pond and great looking fish! What is the outside temp since the pond temp is 25 C? Do you have smth heating it since it's not frozen like the lake?

Thanks Alex. Presently, the daytime highs range from 20C to 27C (70F to 80F), and the night time lows 10C to 15C (50F to ~60F). Day time highs can reach 30C+ (86F+) in the middle of summer. I don't use a heater until the Fall when we get some really cold nights. The heat from the pump helps some.

Thanks for the info

Your welcome Joao.

 

[dogofwar]

The metal frame around the pond really finishes it off nicely. Custom or available commercially? Are those just paver pieces in it?

Matt

After a long winter, I finally have my pond ready to take some fish. I had to replace my filter and pump this year and now they're in place. So tomorrow, the fish go in. I'll be adding some sunfish along with several species of cichlids and probably a few goldfish. My Green Terrors did so well last year, I'm going to try them again ... one male and two females. This time I'll collect some fry. By the way, I have a mallard duck on a nest in the yard, just back and to the right of the pond. She's been sitting in the ferns on her clutch of eggs for about a week now. About three weeks ago, I found her swimming in the pond, and since she stayed, she must have liked what she saw. Here are a few pictures.

 

[alexanian]

Thanks Alex. Presently, the daytime highs range from 20C to 27C (70F to 80F), and the night time lows 10C to 15C (50F to ~60F). Day time highs can reach 30C+ (86F+) in the middle of summer. I don't use a heater until the Fall when we get some really cold nights. The heat from the pump helps some.

So at daytime the pond is at 25 C, but what about night time when the outside temp drops to 10? I apologize I don't mean to question you, but i'm just curious about what are the low temps some of the fish you have can tolerate. If you have some info on that I'd appreciate it. You probably had some trial and error before you figured out at what temp you have to bring them inside.