Pond has to go now

[Chuckles]

I've just walked past my pond to find 2 of my 3 fish dead and floating on the top. It's the top 2 on this photo that are no more



I'm am a little bit sad really but am trying to look on the positive side. It has just helped me make my mind up that I am now going to get rid of the pond and open that area up the middle of the garden into the rest of the garden.

Can't understand why they have died though, they look healthy and when it has been really cold the pond has been part covered by a large piece of polystyrene so as to keep part of it unfrozen. The only thing I can think of is I had noticed this year that the birds had pecked at the polystyrene sheet and some of the balls have gone in the pond, maybe the fish have tried to eat them.

[snowowl]

Ahh chuckles that is sad they were lovely fish.But they dont live forever sadly your suggestion could be right about the polystyrene balls fish are silly and would think they were food.
But why has the other one survived?
But if you have made your mind up to be pond free thats ok.
I use my pond for wildlife only there are no fish in there. but lots of tadpoles and frogs lst year.and some baby newts i hope they all return this year.

[Barbara]

OH well have you got any chips, ;D. thats your mind made up for you, it must have been fate. you can grow more veggies now can't you.

[Susie Snowdrop]

What a shame Chuckles . Maybe you could have an ickle wild life pond or grow some water lilies in a barrel?

S x

[carolann]

Sorry to hear about your little fishes Chuckles but as Barbara says you can grow more Veggies now

[Dutchy]

A sarassa and a shibunkin gone and a plain old normal bog standard goldfish left.
Goes to show the breeds are not as strong as the near original.
Sad though.
I hope you have a good home for the survivor?

And yes when something goes there is an opportunity for other things.
Have you made a wish-list for the GC yet

[madonplants]

That's upsetting Chuckles, but don't look to the polystyrene as the only suggestion. I remember an old Practical Fishkeeping magazine and it had an article, Why did my fish die, in it. It made for interesting reading, as it mentioned things like heart attacks, liver failure even would you believe, old age!! It could be just coincidence two died at the same time. From my experience in fishing, fish aren't stupid, especially the carp species and they will struggle to take 'artificial' baits, unless heavily dosed with a flavour, so maybe they didn't eat the polystyrene and just sucked algae off it.

Think about it for a while and then make the decision, unless you've really made your mind up. Are there any frogs or newts in the pond?

[Ladygardener]

Chuckles, sorry to hear you have lost 2 of your lovely fish in the pond. Big hugs. I'm glad to hear you have plans and are thinking positive. I look forward to hearing what you decide to do.

[Rosefriend]

We lost our pond about 15 years ago now and if I think about it, it probably saved a lot of fish an early grave.

A new law came into being that all ponds had to have steel mesh just under the surface, there must be a fence around them and an extra insurance taken out.

After discussing it with my OH for about 10 minutes we decided that as we had lost all the fish every year for the 5 years we had had a pond - probably the kindest thing to do was to fill it with earth and buy some new plants.

Which we did - and my Acer Chitoseyama is my pride and joy there now.

RF

[Chuckles]

Thanks guys, I am quite sad about it really and have just been discussing with OH how old the fish were, we have decided they were over 13 years old and probably up to 15 years or more.

I reckon you have a good point there Madon, they don't usually try and eat anything they don't like do they. I've seen them take in pellets and spit them out, especially if they were a different brand to normal, fussy things.

Well the remaining fish is now out of the pond and in a large plastic garden trug thing, caught it pretty easily. If it survives over the next few weeks I have found a home for it. I reckon if there is some sort of illness/problem that they all had, then it will pop it's clogs soon enough.

I have for the last few years been toying with the idea of moving the pond but wasn't sure were to or removing it all together and either extending the paved area thats on one side or the lawn thats on the other. Unfortunately Barbara the pond is right in the centre of the main flower garden so veggies is a no no. It will be major to move it as it's a raised pond, two sides made up of rock and two of wood with inset seats. I'm dreading whats under it too, probably all sorts of rubble.

Why do I do these things

[Barbara]

Well chuckles, why not keep it as a water feature, who said you had to have fish.

[Chuckles]

Jan 21, 2009 15:41:12 GMT Barbara said:

Well chuckles, why not keep it as a water feature, who said you had to have fish.

Nice idea Barbara but the whole thing takes up to much room really to keep just as a water feature, it's approx 9ft x 5ft. The pics below are from a thread I did ages ago when I first wanted to move the pond. OMG it was nearly 2 years ago.

Mar 16, 2007 9:46:45 GMT Chuckles said:

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.

The excisting pond from two sides

[Dutchy]

How about this one..
Wow nice planters for water plants have you got.
Any meat eating bog plants in there?
Or Lotus flowers?
To sit next to a lotus flower now that is a good one...
Just don't smell it too often, its an aphrodesiac afrodesiac erm thingummy.

Scratch away some of the concrete for little pockets that you can plant fern into or other wall flowering things.

Think about what plants you can grow on/in it before you really knock it down.

And your one fish ( I know yawn but OH said you have a Wanda as it knows how to survive )
I hope Wanda makes it and can go to a good home.

[Chuckles]

Well as usual you can always rely on some good suggestions from you guys However my mind is set on taking the whole thing out at some point over the next few months. It will really open up the centre part of the garden so I can enjoy the surrounding borders more from the patio area.

[Chuckles]

Demolision has started here are a couple of before and after pics from yesterdays efforts ;D

[Dutchy]

Good grief you have dug in have you not ;D
Have you thought of recycling the bits yet?

[prodigal gardener]

CRIKEY ! you dont hang about do you. Shame to lose a lovely pond, I love my little pond and wouldn't be without it - but its your garden. Have you decided what your going to do with the space yet - Oooooooo I love your projects . . . ;D

[Chuckles]

Ooooh yes Dutchy recycling going on, well planned anyway. As usual one job leads to another and I have several things going off in my head ;D

Once I get going KL there is no stopping me I loved the pond to KL, it was a labour of love when OH built it and it has been quite sad demolishing it. As I'd said it does take up a substantial amount of space right in the middle of the garden. It's had it's time there tbo, and the whole garden will look so much better when it's gone.

There is a lot of soil to shift and I have plans for the stone and ideas on how to re use the half round wooden bits too but not quite sure where yet. I did a couple of hours yesterday but will wait till there is more to show then I'll post piccies again.

[Dutchy]

Just some minor suggestions of what to do the next day as we do not want you to damage your back.

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2009 14:16:16 GMT Chuckles said:

I've just walked past my pond to find 2 of my 3 fish dead and floating on the top. It's the top 2 on this photo that are no more



I'm am a little bit sad really but am trying to look on the positive side. It has just helped me make my mind up that I am now going to get rid of the pond and open that area up the middle of the garden into the rest of the garden.

Can't understand why they have died though, they look healthy and when it has been really cold the pond has been part covered by a large piece of polystyrene so as to keep part of it unfrozen. The only thing I can think of is I had noticed this year that the birds had pecked at the polystyrene sheet and some of the balls have gone in the pond, maybe the fish have tried to eat them.

Oh dear Chuckles sad news indeed.

Nothing lives for ever though.

[Chuckles]

As with most garden jobs snow has stopped play but here are the last pics I took of the pond demolision ;D





There is still hell of a lot of soil to move from what was the rockery side. Some of the stone has been used to build up the edge of the bed in pic 4, the soil sloped down to the bricks you can see at ground level so I've managed to put some of the soil in there too. Some more soil has been scattered on other beds and I think I'll end up having to put the rest on the veg garden.

Fish No 3 is alive and well in a garden tub

[Tig]

If I only lived closer I would have loved to muck in and help Chuckles You are doing a grand job there, it will be quite a make-over once you have done, and so many new planting opportunities

Shame to lose the fish though (and the pond, always wanted one myself but too many midges round here and they love me )

Can't wait to see the next installment!

x Tig

[Dutchy]

I do wonder why the pond is still standing filled with water though.
One wrong move and it looks like seriously wet feet.
Or your dog gets a bath.
Not yet though still space for digging and do keep us posted.
It's good fun to see these goings on when one can't do things oneself.

Tig don't the fish eat the larvae of the midgets like they do gnats or is that wishfull thinking.

[Barbara]

Will you tell Dutchy or shall I. ;D

[Dutchy]

;D
Go on then Barbara as you are the first one out.
Do midgets lay eggs in ponds and are they eaten by the fish yes or no.
Believe it or not despite living near some big swamp area's we are midget free.
I am a midget virgin providing you do not count my encounters with the little monsters in Scotland

[Barbara]

Dutchy Midgets are little people, Midges are biting insects.

[Susie Snowdrop]

[Ladygardener]

;D Dutchy so many people say midgets when they mean midges.
It's good to have a catch up Chuckles, you've gained such a lot of space and have done great work removing your pond. I just love those stones that you've used to build up the wall. Will you give the pond itself to freecycle or something?

[Barbara]

Dutchy is brilliant , I couldn't join in in another language, I have trouble with my own some times.

[maggy]

Yes Duchy Midgies do lay lavea in water! any standing water that is why I put fish in my water barrel but now like Chuckles my fish are gone Im a bit worried as midgies love me something to do with warm blood I think ;D they dont touch my husband!! except like you the Scotish midge and they go for everyone especialy when on the West side.