Should I put Barley Clear by Pondcare in my pond?
pond_girl
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (15)
pondbucket
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agobillinpa
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
How can I safely put rocks in the bottom of the pond?
Comments (7)The question weather not you can safely have rocks in the bottom of the pond. The answer is yes but not in the ways they are commonly put in unless you want a lot of work. My koi pond has about 10 inches of rock in the bottom and has never been cleaned in 15 years. There is 11,000 lbs of 3/4 inch gravel on the bottom. It has never been disturbed from the day I put it in. The rock stays as clean as the day it was installed. You are thinking either I am lying or something is going on. You see I have a series of pipes running at the bottom of the gravel bed that are 12 inches apart and lots of holes in pipes and I suck water thru these pipes. During the winter about 3000 gph and during the summer about 9000 gph. The only maintenance that has been done on this pond since last Nov has been to feed the fish three times a week The pump baskets on the skimmer pumps will need to be cleaned out in the next month but that is it. I also built a pond for a client three years ago that wanted koi and rock on the bottom. So we installed bottom drains that were level with the 4 to 5 inch rock that we lined the bottom. The rocks were mortared together to keep debri out and let the bottom drains work. The bottom for the most part stays clean and has not needed to be cleaned. But these are not the normal ways that rock on the bottom is installed. Ponds with rock on the bottom the water will test just fine unless you are testing for HS or CO2. Since most people don't test for these they don't know they have a problem. Mike...See MoreWhere to put barley straw, UV, screen, mosquito dunks
Comments (3)A few mosquito dunks in that size pond will have minimal impact and specially so for moving water. If you look on the package you'll see the recommended dose. You'd probably need a dozen or two to get the concentration of the larvicide up there. Are you having a mosquito problem? If not I wouldn't bother with the dunks and if you are having a problem you'd probably need many, many more to handle the mosquito issue in that manner. The rule of thumb is 1 dunk per 100 square feet of surface water but that's for non-moving water. Your algae issue appears to be mostly suspended algae (as opposed to the string type). The higher capacity UV should help but you may also wish to think about adding plants that might remove the nutrients that are stimulating the algae growth. ---David...See MoreHow and When do I start winterizing my S.W. Michigan pond?
Comments (6)First of all, according to various people, you may want to reconsider keeping your catfish and pond fish together. I posted a link below - or you can do a search yourself on the subject. In our pond in Upstate NY (similar in zone to you), I remove all my tropical plants in early October. We cut back our hardy water lilies which are planted directly in the pond and drop to the bottom the other hardy plants. Our pond is 3 feet deep and approx. 3,000 gallons so the fish overwinter in the pond. I don't know what you should do with a pond that small. We purchased a plastic 100 gallon tub at Country Max for our tropical plants, and I think that would work well for your fish if you decide to bring them indoors. You would have to add a pump or air stone for aeration and something for filtration. My husband altered the "plug" with a faucet and we can drain it pretty easily with a garden hose into our basement sewer come spring. Here is a link that might be useful: catfish in a pond...See MorePondCare Algaefix safe for fish???
Comments (19)Please STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT!!! I have a well established 6,000 gallon pond with a large waterfall and a brook feature. This year was quite unusual for "pea soup" algae. I can usually control the algae with constant aeration through the waterfall and brook as well as brushing the liner and rocks along with a 50% water change. The filter was also thoroughly cleaned and UV clarifier bulb replaced. This summer was quite hot for 2-3 weeks with high humidity and little rainfall. But despite all of these efforts, the pond water was still green. I tested the pH, nitrites and ammonia levels as usual, no plants were degraded or replaced, so I decided to use Algaefix after a great deal of research. I purposely underdosed the pond by using 2 cups instead of 2.5 cups, and after about 30-40 hours 38 of my 44 goldfish and shubunkins were floating on the surface as I proceeded to feed them with my 4 grandchildren. I retested the water right after I found them, and the ammonia level was high off the chart! It was totally devastating, so I spoke with 1 customer service rep, 1 quality manager and 1 director who all totally backed up their product and refused to admit that their product caused the incident. They kept apologizing but would not take any responsibility and offered me a "care package" of some of their other products as they stated, "to get my pond reestablished again!" I actually became angry and laughed at them after they denied my insistence at remuneration for the cost of their product as well as the cost of 50% of the cost of the fish (some were offspring of the original livestock), which probably amounted to about $250.00. They repeatedly refused even after I offered to send them a water sample and a dead fish with black blotches due to toxic ammonia levels! Once again, "Corporate America" shows their true colors and reaffirms that making money far outweighs the concerns of the consumer....See Moregroundbeef1
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopond_girl
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosleeplessinftwayne
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodonaldb
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopond_girl
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agojohnkr
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agotootseug
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodrh1
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopond_girl
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoernie_m
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosouthron_9896
8 years agok_mcpherson61
7 years ago
Related Stories
GARAGESHouzz Call: How Do You Put Your Garage to Work for Your Home?
Cars, storage, crafts, relaxing ... all of the above? Upload a photo of your garage and tell us how it performs as a workhorse
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNWhy You Might Want to Put Your Tub in the Shower
Save space, cleanup time and maybe even a little money with a shower-bathtub combo. These examples show how to do it right
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHow to Make a Pond
You can make an outdoor fish paradise of your own, for less than you might think. But you'll need this expert design wisdom
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOME12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers
These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNKoi Find Friendly Shores in Any Garden Style
A pond full of colorful koi can be a delightful addition to just about any landscape or garden
Full StoryPETSSee a Deluxe 'Catio' Built for Feline Fun
Sixteen lucky cats get the run of a protected outdoor patio with ramps, steps and even a koi pond
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGGet It Done: Store Decorations and Tidy Up Postholidays
Move on to New Year's with a clear conscience, knowing you've recycled thoughtfully and packed carefully to make setup next year easy
Full StoryARCHITECTURE7 Stunning Glass Walkways in Modern Homes
Enclosed but not hemmed in, these modern walkways provide a path between rooms and clear views of the landscape
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOME10 Tips for a More Peaceful Home
Turn your everyday living space into a serene retreat by clearing visual distractions, softening your lighting and more
Full StorySHOWERSTurn Your Shower Niche Into a Design Star
Clear glass surrounds have raised the design bar for details such as shampoo and soap shelves. Here are 4 standouts
Full Story
chefcarl