On 23 Aug 2005 10:02:28 -0700, wrote:

OK, my sword plant is ported in a 4" herb pot for now, Acrorus is in a
6" pot near the top.

Now my question about the filter. I asked about adding an aquarium
filter, but my fountain pump already has a big sponge cylinder over the
intake. 600 GPH per hour, this is already providing pretty good
filtration, right? I can just take it out and wash the sponge
regularly?

Would the goldfish die from the heat? I checked temperature it gets
to over 80 around 5pm. 1pm-5pm would probably be the worse times.
The fountain is on a bubbler nozzle I don't think there will be a lack
of oxygen.

I was under the impression the goldfish will eat anything when they are
hungry enough, like the Anacharis and other plants to support
themselves.


The temperature swing might be bad for the goldfish, 80F by itself
would not be too bad, but the variation day to night might be. Is
there some way you can shade the container so the sud doesn't hit the
sides?

I left my goldfish for over two years without feeding them, they lived
on what they found in the pond. They did alright.

wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, my sword plant is ported in a 4" herb pot for now, Acrorus is in a
6" pot near the top.

Now my question about the filter. I asked about adding an aquarium
filter, but my fountain pump already has a big sponge cylinder over the
intake. 600 GPH per hour, this is already providing pretty good
filtration, right? I can just take it out and wash the sponge
regularly?

$$ 600 GPH is quite a strong pump for a 30 gal barrel. Doesn't it make a
lot of current or water turbulence? This current can be exhausting to fish.

Would the goldfish die from the heat? I checked temperature it gets
to over 80 around 5pm. 1pm-5pm would probably be the worse times.
The fountain is on a bubbler nozzle I don't think there will be a lack
of oxygen.

$$ My ponds reached 94F and all koi and GF lived through it. They remained
at the bottom of the ponds under the lilies until sundown. I didn't check
the temp of the barrels but the fish in them are fine.

I was under the impression the goldfish will eat anything when they are
hungry enough, like the Anacharis and other plants to support
themselves.

$$ If the pond is big enough that is true. What can they find in barrels
besides some algae and a few bugs? Hardly a complete and balanced diet.
Surely you can manage to feed them some fish food at least a few times a
week.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Charles" wrote in message
...
On 23 Aug 2005 10:02:28 -0700, wrote:

OK, my sword plant is ported in a 4" herb pot for now, Acrorus is in a
6" pot near the top.

Now my question about the filter. I asked about adding an aquarium
filter, but my fountain pump already has a big sponge cylinder over the
intake. 600 GPH per hour, this is already providing pretty good
filtration, right? I can just take it out and wash the sponge
regularly?

Would the goldfish die from the heat? I checked temperature it gets
to over 80 around 5pm. 1pm-5pm would probably be the worse times.
The fountain is on a bubbler nozzle I don't think there will be a lack
of oxygen.

I was under the impression the goldfish will eat anything when they are
hungry enough, like the Anacharis and other plants to support
themselves.


The temperature swing might be bad for the goldfish, 80F by itself
would not be too bad, but the variation day to night might be. Is
there some way you can shade the container so the sud doesn't hit the
sides?

I left my goldfish for over two years without feeding them, they lived
on what they found in the pond. They did alright.
====================
How large was the pond? A few fish in a good size pond wouldn't need to be
fed - but a lot of fish in a smaller pond would not fare too well.

McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

The barrel fountain kit (20 gal) came with the 600 GPH fountain pump,
it has a valve and I didn't set it to max, doesn't seem to suck in the
plants so I think it is fine. Nozzle is 2 ft high so there is some
head loss.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 13:51:31 -0500, "Reel Mckoi"
wrote:


"Charles" wrote in message
.. .
On 23 Aug 2005 10:02:28 -0700, wrote:

OK, my sword plant is ported in a 4" herb pot for now, Acrorus is in a
6" pot near the top.

Now my question about the filter. I asked about adding an aquarium
filter, but my fountain pump already has a big sponge cylinder over the
intake. 600 GPH per hour, this is already providing pretty good
filtration, right? I can just take it out and wash the sponge
regularly?

Would the goldfish die from the heat? I checked temperature it gets
to over 80 around 5pm. 1pm-5pm would probably be the worse times.
The fountain is on a bubbler nozzle I don't think there will be a lack
of oxygen.

I was under the impression the goldfish will eat anything when they are
hungry enough, like the Anacharis and other plants to support
themselves.


The temperature swing might be bad for the goldfish, 80F by itself
would not be too bad, but the variation day to night might be. Is
there some way you can shade the container so the sud doesn't hit the
sides?

I left my goldfish for over two years without feeding them, they lived
on what they found in the pond. They did alright.
====================
How large was the pond? A few fish in a good size pond wouldn't need to be
fed - but a lot of fish in a smaller pond would not fare too well.

McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o


Small, 350 gallons.

On 23 Aug 2005 10:02:28 -0700, wrote:

Now my question about the filter. I asked about adding an aquarium
filter, but my fountain pump already has a big sponge cylinder over the
intake. 600 GPH per hour, this is already providing pretty good
filtration, right? I can just take it out and wash the sponge
regularly?

Rinse in pond or dechlorinated water so you don't kill off the bio-bugs,
or.... if you would like less maintenance you can take off the sponge
filter and set the pump in one of the black mesh baskets for pond plants,
add filter media and top with screen or weed fabric. This makes for a large
surface area and doesn't clog as readily as the small sponge filter pumps
come with. I've had one going in a stock tank all summer and haven't
cleaned it once.

Would the goldfish die from the heat? I checked temperature it gets
to over 80 around 5pm. 1pm-5pm would probably be the worse times.
The fountain is on a bubbler nozzle I don't think there will be a lack
of oxygen.

I've had goldfish in worst, including temperature swings. You just have to
watch out for ich on them if the swing is too great. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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