Feeder Minnows - Page 2

Judge · 10-04-2008, 12:45 PM

You are most welcome. I am assuming this is what you were needing. How about your MIA fish in the pond..any luck there?

Spydust · 10-04-2008, 01:07 PM

Just caught me as I was heading to make lunch. Yes, that is exactly what I needed. I can't thank you enough.

Yes, some headway on the MIA fish. I did not want to go back and read each corresponance so I'll just say... My rocks from my waterfall came sliding down as I was catching the fish the other day. Before it got way too cold I decided to go for that freezing swim to rebuild it. IT WAS COLD!! But no signs of the missing fish.
A quick check this morning to see if my filters had clogged with all the sediment I stirred up and I saw both fish. Cool! They did not get crushed by the rock slide as I feared when I did not see them at all yesterday.
The comet then looked as if he was a salmon trying to swim upstream in the newly situated waterfall. A quick scoop with the net and he was in the bucket.
The much larger Koi I was not so lucky with. Almost black at this point with only an orange nose he is hard to spot. I saw him scoot under the filter. A couple quick scoops with the net produced nothing but stirred up the pond once again.

Pictures attached.

Judge · 10-04-2008, 01:16 PM

Your pond is just beautiful. How much trouble is it, what is the lowest temperature that the fish can withstand, and what kind of filter system do you have? I think after seeing yours I might just have to try one myself. I have several areas that would be perfect for one and I am wondering about the temp because it does not get nearly as cold here in Arkansas as it does there in NY. Just curious. Thanks

Spydust · 10-04-2008, 04:04 PM

Judge,
As with an aquarium once stable there is not much involved. Keep all your knowledge in place for the pond that you use in your fishtank except for the bottom debris if fish need to winter there. As long as your pond does not freeze solid the fish will survive by burying themselves in the bottom debris and collect warmth from the sun beneath the ice. It is recommended to keep a bit of the surface clear of ice for oxygen transfer. They sell devices for that, but a cheap air pump and air stone will work fine. Moving water does not freeze easily.
I have seen fish frozen in solid ice swimming in spring. We once in a while get below zero temps that last a week freezing my pond into the mud at a depth of 3 feet so that is why I go through the trouble of bringing them indoors. It is a pain in the butt, but as you said they are my buddies and I, after all, am responsible for their well being.

Now as for the filter. You may find this funny. I have tried many filters. My own device is the best and easiest I've found but Tetra-Pond filters are the next best thing. I, as you have seen, have a stream which needs some flow or evaporation would exceed oxygenation. My first fish tank back in the day was a 10g starter kit for $5. It had one of those box filters that come with starter kits to this day. I made my own similar thing with a 5g bucket. I have a 2500 gph pump in the bottom then with larger rock surrounding it I put hardware cloth over that. Then large gravel over that until about 3/4 full. Then I use the pads from the Tetra-Pond filter on top. It has both carbon and open foam pads. I only buy one new set of pads per year for the fresh carbon pad. A rope to the bucket handle for easy removal from the depths and that is it. It works great and only takes about an hour to completely clean.
I also have a 850 gph pump in a Rubbermaid shoe box size container with 1/4 inch holes all over in its cover. That pump is strictly for circulation and a decorative water feature that adds extra aeration.
The only thing I would do differently is to a new pond would be to add a skimmer. I enjoy watching my fish so skimming with a pool skimmer while watching them does not bother me. I have ideas on how I would build that too but they do make them. I would not add it to this pond because I need debris for Dragonfly larvae and the frogs that have migrated here calling my pond home.
I think I have a picture somewhere of my first pond when I lived on Long Island. It was a beautiful addition to a blah back yard. This pond was much deeper but the laws governed how deep it could be so after digging it 6' deep at the deep end I caved it in to about 4' and lined the deep end with milk crates to make it only about 2.5 feet deep for all intensive purposes but gave a deep enough area below the crates for the fish and Bullfrogs I bought to survive the winter without being deep enough for anyone to drown. This pond is where I discovered that Blue Channel Cats survive the winter but are hard to see. That is why this pond got Albino.

A pond would be a great place for that driftwood.

Wow. I found a couple good pictures of that old pond. I'll attach a few.
The first picture is when the pond was about 4 months old. You can see the Tetra-Pond filter beyond the waterfall under the tree rose with the purple bow.
The second picture is showing how invisible Blue Channel Cats are for the most part.
The third is showing with just the right lighting how blue they can be.

I enjoy my pond as much or more than my fishtanks. The season is pretty short here but it is still great to have in the summer. If I can help further with yours I'll be glad to. You helped me with my minnow problem up here that was driving me nuts so I feel I owe you.

On Long Island I did not have that minnow problem. There was a store every 5 minute that carried them. Here in the sticks, as I said, the closest place is over an hour away and not guarenteed.

I'd recommend a pond if you have the room and the desire.

To further answer the temperature question, I have not had a heater on my fish tanks in years and have not had any fungus or parasite problems since. I do keep mainly keep African Cichlids and Catfish now though. The power heads on my saltwater tank keeps the temp about 65 degrees and I've not had any problems there either. With much less algea growth on my coral.

Did I get long winded enough??