|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 7, 2007 21:24:32 GMT
Has anybody ever used one and if so, are they any good  I'm tempted to buy one but think that they may be a load of tosh! S x |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 8, 2007 6:00:50 GMT
They're only really worth it Susie if you spend a lot of money on them....the cheap ones are pretty tosh !
What might be a better thing to do is to hire one....many water garden shops have decent ones for hire and you should only need to use it once every couple of years.
My koi pond has been set up for 2 years now and i don't have a bottom drain and that is reletively gunge free.
You do get the occasional good one come up on ebay too so keep your eyes peeled if you do decide to get one.
HTH
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 8, 2007 9:56:14 GMT
Thanks Andy  What do you call alot of money? More than £30? S x |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 8, 2007 11:24:54 GMT
Thanks Andy What do you call alot of money? More than £30? S x Errrm yeah....£300-£500  It really depends on what you want it for....let us know the type of use it'll get and i'll have a look round for prices for you |
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 8, 2007 11:47:44 GMT
HOW MUCH  All I want it for is mainly to clean the tiles around the inside of the pond and maybe clean the first shelf!! Tadge expensive for a once a year little job or two My birthday's coming up Andy so, if you're at a loss as to what to get me.....................................................  Thanks again! S x |
|
|
|
Post by dirtyboots on Apr 8, 2007 17:34:51 GMT
I think perhaps andy could change his name to "pond man" or some such. What a lot of information he has about ponds and waterplants !! Thank you andy ;D fancy a holiday en France?  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2007 7:28:02 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2007 8:55:28 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 10, 2007 7:19:24 GMT
Now I'm totally confused and baffled  S x |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 10, 2007 7:44:07 GMT
What exactly is the problem in the pond Susie....do you have a build up of detritus or sludge on the shelves or are you getting blanket weed ?
In 3 and a half decades of pond keeping, i've never used a pond hoover. The problem you have may be much simpler to resolve than you think.
Give us some details of the pond...size, fish stock, plant stock, filter and UV etc
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 10, 2007 17:04:06 GMT
I just want to clean the tiles on the side of the wall just below the surface water  . They're covered in green gunge at the moment S x |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 10, 2007 17:55:35 GMT
My suggestion would be to use a combination of a stiff washing up brush and elbow grease....i don't think a hoover will touch them. But within weeks...it'll be back, it's part of the pond thing. You can get a very good blanketweed killer from most good aquatic outlets called "cloverleaf blanketweed answer".....it'll turn your pond milky white for a week but no more blanketweed for the rest of the year.
I used it last year and it was superb and comes recommended by most koi keepers.
I don't really understand what you mean by "tiles"
people are trying to help you Susie but you seem reluctant to give the details needed
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2007 20:29:55 GMT
I just want to clean the tiles on the side of the wall just below the surface water . They're covered in green gunge at the moment S x A nail brush will remove the algae from the tiles Susie, but a pond vac wouldn't, as Andy has so rightly said.  I've just tried to find a photo of your pond to show to Andy, Susie but can't find one - I'm sure there is photo of it on GWD somewhere. |
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on Apr 11, 2007 21:26:03 GMT
My suggestion would be to use a combination of a stiff washing up brush and elbow grease....i don't think a hoover will touch them. But within weeks...it'll be back, it's part of the pond thing. You can get a very good blanketweed killer from most good aquatic outlets called "cloverleaf blanketweed answer".....it'll turn your pond milky white for a week but no more blanketweed for the rest of the year. I used it last year and it was superb and comes recommended by most koi keepers. I don't really understand what you mean by "tiles" people are trying to help you Susie but you seem reluctant to give the details needed As long as there is no washing up liquid left on it, as this could harm the fish in the pond!! Keith |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Apr 11, 2007 22:00:17 GMT
Here is Susies lovely pond I love it  I'm no expert on these things but I think you have hit the nail on the head with the brush Andy and maybe some kind of water treatment |
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on Apr 12, 2007 21:02:52 GMT
Just thought of something, how about one of those algae pads designed for the algae on fish tank glass. It would be safe and no chemicals!! It also wouldn't scratch unless you got any stones stuck to it.
Keith
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 12, 2007 22:04:53 GMT
Thanks for all your patience and help guys I've put some pond salt in this afternoon so hopefully this will help. If I use a nail brush to remove the algae from the sides will make the water go yukky ?? S x |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 6:46:49 GMT
Thanks for all your patience and help guys I've put some pond salt in this afternoon so hopefully this will help. If I use a nail brush to remove the algae from the sides will make the water go yukky ?? S x Why have you added pond salt?  |
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 13, 2007 9:15:40 GMT
The guy around the corner swears by it and said that it would clear some of the algae Obviously not eh |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 13, 2007 9:43:38 GMT
Definately not....if salt is good enough to kill algea, it's good enough to kill all the other water plants too...and all the bugs within the pond
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 13, 2007 10:26:54 GMT
So why would you put salt in your pond?
|
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on Apr 13, 2007 10:34:09 GMT
It used to be used as a medicine for bacteria and parasites, but there are better things for that now. It is still ok for a short term bath for newly aquired fish, but why alter the water parameters/chemistry for freshwater fish to deal with algae?
Keith
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 13:27:13 GMT
I used it once and regretted it  It killed most of my pond snails and ruined loads of my pond plants too. |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 13, 2007 14:16:48 GMT
Usually Susie, adding salt is only usually done to sterile koi ponds which are totally devoid of all other plant and animal life.
However, more and more koi keepers are stopping using it because it makes the fishes body work harder (there's a lot to do with complicated osmosis).
As Keith has said, it is often used for a saltwater dip or bath. The fish is placed in a freshwater container and salt is slowly added. The parasites can't stand the osmotic pressure and fall off or die. You can do the reverse with salt water fish and give them a freshwater bath too.
I'd personally do a good water change now and another maybe on sunday.
Good luck
|
|
|
|
Post by lottielady on Apr 23, 2007 20:02:35 GMT
Snowy - I had a brochure from these people today in a mag - don't know if this is any good to you or not... Pond Vac LLx |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Apr 23, 2007 21:06:05 GMT
Susie, as a short term fix can you lay something across part of the pond to get you some water surface cover. I put wooden planks over a 3rd of mine to stop the sun until the lilies come up . Mine is in a wooden surround so doesn't look too bad with planks over the top. Yours is a beautiful pond and I know it wouldn't look good but if it helps till you get some floaters etc, maybe you could pretty it up by putting some small pots on the wood. Just an idea |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2007 22:03:00 GMT
Snowy - I had a brochure from these people today in a mag - don't know if this is any good to you or not... Pond Vac LLx I'd been trying to find one of those on the net LL as a suggestion for Susie - but I couldn't find one anywhere. Although a pond vac won't remove the algae on Susies tiles. |
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 23, 2007 22:11:30 GMT
Snowy - I had a brochure from these people today in a mag - don't know if this is any good to you or not... Pond Vac LLx  .....thanks hun What I think I really need is a huge piece of blotting paper to soak up the algae on the surface I really don't want to start scrubbing the algae off the tiles as I'm sure it will just make the problem in the water worse I'm seriously considering throwing Jazz in the pond to lick the tiles clean  ;D S x |
|
.....thanks hun