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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

pump eat my gold fish - how do you stop this?

15 years ago

Added a dozzen goldfish to my new pond. Checked the filter trap every few days and no fish were being sucked up. A few days ago I checked again and almost all were in the filter. The temps got warmer, and I guess the fish became more active.

How do you prevent this? I have a 2" abs inlet line and it has quite a suction.

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Comments (7)

txgdnr
15 years ago
Cover the inlet to the pump with a pre-filter or put the whole pump inside a covered plastic tub, such as a Rubbermaid tub, just a little bigger than a shoebox size. I drilled holes in the top of the box & cut a notch out for the cord to go thru. I surrounded the filter with filter media & put a piece of filter material over the top. Snap the lid on & you have a homemade pre-filter/ fish saver. I put my filter box up off the bottom of the pond & clean it about every 2 weeks.
Good luck
Dianne
madtripper
Original Author
15 years ago
Should have mentioned this is an external pump.
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txgdnr
15 years ago
Where is the inlet located? If you just have your 2" inlet in the pond without a pre-filter or some sort of device that will be too small for the fish to get sucked into, such as a cover etc...you will always have a problem of fish getting sucked in. Since I have no experience with outside pumps, I am having a hard time visualizing your set-up. A little clearer explanation would be helpful.
Dianne
lsst
15 years ago
I have 55 gal. barrel mechanical filters before the intake for my pump but to prevent any stray debris that make it past, I added a 2 inch plastic screw on strainer. You can buy it as a pond item. I found it much cheaper in the sump pump dept. at the big box stores. This may help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pump strainer
madtripper
Original Author
15 years ago
That strainer would work, provided it does not restrict the flow too much. Thanks lsst.

I also considered drilling a lot of 1/4" holes in the 2 inch pipe and plugging the end. Anyone tried that?
lsst
15 years ago
The strainer does not restrict pump flow at all.
I have a bog filter that has a 2 inch pipe with drilled holes and a capped end. It is not used for the purpose quite in the same way you would use it but the drilled hole pipe would work, too.
If you are close to a big box store, It would be so much easier to just buy an abs smooth/threaded connector- glue it on and screw on the strainer.

If you live in a rural area than the drilled pipe may be easier and cheaper- given the price of gas. LOL

Do you have any type of mechanical filtration before the pump?
pikecoe
15 years ago
I don't have a bottom drain. I tried a retrofit bottom drain, but had the problem of it sucking up fish, some pretty large ones. So I did exactly what you are considering. My 2 in. pipe runs down the side of the pond and I have an elbow then a piece of 2 in. pipe laying across the bottom of the pond. I have a cap on it and have holes drilled along the pipe across the bottom. Holes are about 1/2 to 3/4 in. can't remember exactly. Spaced about 6 in. apart and staggered, so that the holes on one side aren't opposite the holes on the other side. I think it works perfectly, because I have not had any fish sucked up except the little tiny bluegills that had already died. I get a lot of crud that accumulates in the basket that I empty and wash out about once a week. This goes to the bottom of the bog filter and is forced up through the gravel and returns to the pond via a waterfall. Glenda

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