hi i need some advice about this please, i have bought a 1/2 whisky barrel to replace the plastic pond i had. its 24" deep by 36" diameter. i filled it with the original water from pond and put lilies in it plus some pond weed and then topped it up with tap water which i then added de chlorinator. it has now developed a milky colour and bad smell also flies on the top. it has a lot of what look like tiny tadpoles but are not, in the water which i have in abundance. also looks like a oil slick on the top which i think is pollen. i guess in my haste i should have washed the barrel out, but i didnt. it isnt lined as no fish will be added. the water lily has bloomed twice but the leaves are not looking too good. as you can tell no doubt, i am a complete novice. i have no splashing water on the lilies but put a pump on the bottom to give some circulation. i also have no filter except what is in the water pump. please help as i dont want to lose my lilies or plants. would greatly appreciate any help in this matter. i have very little money, as a pensioner, but if there is any simple way to cure this problem ??? please help, thanks chrissy

On Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:52:12 +0000, misswaterlily
wrote:


hi i need some advice about this please, i have bought a 1/2 whisky
barrel to replace the plastic pond i had. its 24" deep by 36" diameter.
i filled it with the original water from pond and put lilies in it plus
some pond weed and then topped it up with tap water which i then added
de chlorinator. it has now developed a milky colour and bad smell also
flies on the top. it has a lot of what look like tiny tadpoles but are
not, in the water which i have in abundance. also looks like a oil slick
on the top which i think is pollen. i guess in my haste i should have
washed the barrel out, but i didnt. it isnt lined as no fish will be
added. the water lily has bloomed twice but the leaves are not looking
too good. as you can tell no doubt, i am a complete novice. i have no
splashing water on the lilies but put a pump on the bottom to give some
circulation. i also have no filter except what is in the water pump.
please help as i dont want to lose my lilies or plants. would greatly
appreciate any help in this matter. i have very little money, as a
pensioner, but if there is any simple way to cure this problem ???
please help, thanks chrissy

Is this a real whisky barrel that actually had whisky in it at one time?
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

On Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:52:12 +0000, misswaterlily wrote:


hi i need some advice about this please, i have bought a 1/2 whisky
barrel to replace the plastic pond i had. its 24" deep by 36" diameter.
i filled it with the original water from pond and put lilies in it plus
some pond weed and then topped it up with tap water which i then added
de chlorinator. it has now developed a milky colour and bad smell also
flies on the top. it has a lot of what look like tiny tadpoles but are
not, in the water which i have in abundance. also looks like a oil slick
on the top which i think is pollen. i guess in my haste i should have
washed the barrel out, but i didnt. it isnt lined as no fish will be
added. the water lily has bloomed twice but the leaves are not looking
too good. as you can tell no doubt, i am a complete novice. i have no
splashing water on the lilies but put a pump on the bottom to give some
circulation. i also have no filter except what is in the water pump.
please help as i dont want to lose my lilies or plants. would greatly
appreciate any help in this matter. i have very little money, as a
pensioner, but if there is any simple way to cure this problem ???
please help, thanks chrissy

I suspect it needs cleaning out. I'd just keep changing the water until
it stays good. Maybe change it everyday for a week say and then start
to leave it a bit longer. It could take quite a few changes to get rid
of all of the stuff in the wood. Since it won't have fish you don't
need to use dechlorinator, especially while rinsing it out. Once it's
clean using dechlorinator will allow bacteria to grow on the sides and
that will help keep it clean.

Lilly leaves do die off and rot at an alarming rate. They leave an oily
scum on the surface so should be removed when they do start to die. You
probably know that from your pond though.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail rpont (at) gmail (dot) com

yes whisky was indeed in it

hi thanks for your help chrissy

Hallo Rodney Pont,

have fish you don't need to use dechlorinator, especially while
rinsing it out. Once it's clean using dechlorinator will allow
bacteria to grow on the sides and that will help keep it clean.

Chlorine reacts quickly with everything thats organic and so is very
soon depleted, especially in a vat of (organic) wood. It doesn't harm
plants in the concentrations used for drinking water, or your
oesophagus would quickly be history :-) Dechlorinator in this case is
absolutely unnecessary.

If at all possible, clear the vat, clean it by scrubbing the inside
with steelwool and much water (you may use a detergent at the
beginning, but make sure it is rinsed out completely. A whisky vat has
been in use for many years to store and age whisky, and other spirits
before that. Stuff has soaked into the wood, that now soakes out
again. Not really ideal for a pond. But by following the above
procedure and frequent water changes at the beginning you'll soon have
a suitable vessel for youir pond.


Best regards,

Klaus

hi thanks for all your help. i have decided to install a liner. i have so many mosquitos i gather this is due to having mostly still water, which i gather water lilies prefer although in my old pond i did have a pump which bubbled on the surface and my lilies didnt seem to be bothered. so now im not sure whether to have the pump or not . can you help please, thanks chrissy