Help needed I'm moving my Pond

[Chuckles]

I want to move my pond from the middle of the garden to another area and need a little guidance with some bits as I go along. I'd like some help moving it really as it going to be a beast of a job dismantling it.

The water area isn't huge, it's a 69 gallon black rigid plastic pond and it sits in a raised area made of stone and wood. Two sides are set in a wooden surround with two seats set into each of the sides with a wooden top and the other two sides are a rockery area, it did have a second water area that was a waterfall into the main pond. I did start to take some of the stone bits away some time ago and then it got left I love the seating area but I want to open up the whole area where it is.

Here's where I need some help........I believe now is a good time to be setting up a new pond, but as I need to dismantle first I really need to move the fish out. The plan is to put my 3 fish in a holding tank containing water from the excisting pond. The tank is about 2ft across and 2ft deep, will they be ok in just the water for a couple of weeks maybe longer.

The excisting pond from two sides



I'm not even sure how the new area will look yet but this is where it will be, it's a mess at the moment as I've been moving stuff around. I want the pond raised again but only the depth of the tank and we are thinking of a brick surround. We will use the square area that is soil and took it up to the fence as well where the pale pot is.

[madonplants]

When we moved here, we brought our four pond fish (nearly said three then!!) with us. One golden orfe and three comets. We brought them in a blue plastic container, which had a bit of oxygenating weed in it. When I sorted out my large catfish, the pond fish all went into his travelling container (similar to blue one, but slightly bigger) and stayed there for about 2/3 months, while I dug the pond for them. I will try and take a photo of the container I used. I also put a bubble up box type filter in it, with media from my tropical tank. This was put in the kitchen and they did very well. I changed about 20% of the water occasionally, with dechlorinated tap water, just to be on the safe side. I still left some of the oxy. plant in the container as well, whether it helped I don't know. I kept them in the kitchen as it was april and temperature fluctuations outside would be great, which is not good for any fish.

Hope this helps.

[madonplants]

Here is the container, I used, it is 28 inches long and 18 inches wide. Oh I forgot to mention 18 inches deep, but filled to about 15, as it was bowing out a bit!! Also this is the sort of box filter I used....
www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/A000_HAGEN_Box_Filters_17.html

Hope this helps.

keith

[Dutchy]

I remember my aunt taking her goldfish out of her pond every winter. She thought the concrete pond would break down every winter, which it never did.
The fish, five I think, were kept in a normal not very big indoor cold aquarium with some oxigenating weeds and sparingly fed. They never seemed the worse for wear afterwards.

p.s. very brave project You seem to thrive on hard work

[Deleted]

I agree, now is a good time of year to build a pond, but moving a pond containing fish is best done in the warmer weather.

I think your fish will be fine for about 2 weeks Chuckles, but you will need to do partial water changes, as Keith has suggested.
The temperature of the water in your small holding tank will fluctuate greatly, so I would suggest that you don't start your mammoth task until the weather has warmed up at night quite a bit more. Make sure the tank isn't kept in full sun for the same reason though. Adding some oxygenating weed would be good as the fish will feel vulnerable if they haven't got somewhere to hide. I would suggest you feed them as little as possible too.
Don't forget to keep some of the mud from the bottom of your old pond. Keep the existing water too, if you can.

[Chuckles]

Thanks for all your advice folks on the holding tank. What you say Rita makes perfect sense and I will be waiting a little while longer, quite relieved actually as it's going to take me a few full days plus to distmantle and then I need OH around to build the new surround so timing is important on that score too, I have to wait longer than his customers Then it all needs to settle down a bit. I'm on hols 28/4 for 2 weeks so maybe best to leave it till I get back.

Good job BusyBee didn't get carried away and let Chuckles take control for a change ;D

[madonplants]

If the holding tank is outside, no matter where it is, it would be an idea to have some air going into it via an air pump and stone. Also put some floaters in 'if possible' (as well as some oxy weed) to make them feel safer. I put some netting over mine, as I know, orfe in particular, can jump if stressed. I had to do what I did in early March/April as I was moving house so the fish stayed in the kitchen. When they finally went into the pond, they soon made good growth and fed well within 2 days. The only problem I had in the holding tank, was that one gave birth, so lost the babies. Inexperience there, as maybe I should have separated her from the rest. Is there any chance your fish may breed soon? Then you might have babies to move as well! Worth a thought! Like you said, if you are going on hols soon, you don't want to be worrying about fish in a holding tank, while you are away. At the end of the day, look after the water as that will look after the fish. Something I have learnt through keeping tropicals and the thing I keep getting told when we move house with our large catfish. Basically don't move the fish (or in your case fishes) from the holding tank, until what they will go into is really ready.
Hope this helps.

Keith

[Chuckles]

Thanks for your advice Keith. My fish have not had babies in the 8 years or so that I've had them, well not that I've seen would be nice if they did, they may be all male or all female

I think best I leave the move till after hols