A Garden Pond From Scratch

My pond has frozen over

There wasn't a speck of frost anywhere this morning - not on house roofs, grass or the road outside my house.

But, to my horror, I discovered a layer of ice had formed over my pond.

I gently broke the ice, so there were holes to allow oxygen to reach my fish.

I'm glad I did not remove too much weed from the pond, because the fish seem to like it.

I went to work at 7.50am and returned around 4.45pm. While I was away, ice re-formed over the pond.

Weather forecasts are predicting temperatures as low at -4 for the next two nights.

Looks like I'll have to check the pond for ice at regular intervals.

Disaster averted during storm

It was only by pure chance that I peeked out of my sitting room window to check my garden before heading off to work.

In an instant, my heart missed a beat. My pond was all but empty of water.

I screamed, very loudly, and ran outside - to find my three, beautiful fish flapping about in a mere puddle of water in one tiny section of the pond.

My daughter grabbed the hose pipe and, within two minutes, we were filling up the pond.

I added Tap Safe as we went, because I didn't have time to pre-mix it.

My great fear was that the pond had sprung a leak. Hence, I had to take the day off work to monitor water levels.

The truth was much more worrying. It dawned on my that water pumped up through a fountain was being blown out of the pond. The strong wind must have diverted water onto my garden for much of the night.

Now, when I know it is going to be windy, I turn the pump off. Bear in mind, I've got just three smallish goldfish in a reasonable-sized pond.

What a scare.

My fish are happy and don't appear to have suffered any ill effects.

My goldfish look hungry

Will my fish waste away and die if I neglect to feed them all winter?

Although I have been advised to stop feeding them now that the colder weather has started to arrive, they are still active and swimming around. They look, to me, as though they are looking for food.

Hence, I have been giving them a few flakes every couple of days.

I am going to continue this until we get another cold snap.

I am sure they will be more dormant then.

Predators eyeing up my pond

ARE pond fish more likely to be taken by predators in the autumn and winter?

Early yesterday morning, I spotted a scarggy-looking cat standing on the rim of my pond. One of its paws was in the water. I opened a window and shouted at it to go away.

Just minutes later, it was back again. I ran out and chased it away. All day at work, I worried about what may happen while I was away. However, my fish were fine.

They have got a cave they can go into to hide from predators, but I think they mainly rely on their quick reactions to threats.

Otherwise, pond crystal clear. Fish happy. I have stopped feeding them.

Pond fish: winding down for winter

I have slowly reduced the amount and frequency that I feed my fish.

At the moment, they are receiving a small pinch of flakes every three days.

Soon, I will stop feeding them completely.

Because I am learning 'on the job', so to speak, I may have to revise my feeding system - if I think a change is required.

It rained quite heavily last night and this morning so, hopefully, topping up of the water level will not be required this week.

I top up fairly regularly because, when it is windy, the fountain in my pond allows water to spill over the garden - sadly not in my plant pots, which have had it for this year.

What started out as a half decent garden in April has slowly deteriorated. After all the rain in August, I gave up weeding my rockery areas.

Now, after a prolonged dry spell, my planters and hanging baskets have shrivelled up.

The pond remains the centrepiece of the garden.

Jobs to be done: cull of pond weed. I need to take some of it out, but not all. It rooted and has grown quite considerably. If anybody has any advice on what to do and what not to do for the pond at this time of the year, I'd appreciate it.

I am removing stray leaves on a daily basis.

The water is crystal clear.

Fish are still swimming around, but at a slower pace.

They remind me of submarines.

If they make it through the winter, I am hopeful that they may breed in the Spring.

Will my fish survive the winter?

I have had my pond fish for almost seven months. They are currently in tip-top condition.
However, I'm worried about what the winter will bring.
I am aware of my duty to prevent the pond from totally freezing over, re oxygen.
What I am worried about is the depth of my pond. Is it deep enough?
I'd say it is around two feet deep.
Can anyone advise?
My fish are goldfish.

Almost clear as a bell

My pond water is getting clearer and clearer.
And, yesterday I could have sworn my fish were watching me strim the grass.
They are curious.

Water clarity

I have noticed today that my pond water is clearing.
I'm assuming this is due to a slight dip in temperature.
Pond weed has taken root. Will probably 'cull' a bit, to avoid it taking over.

All is going well

I have been topping up my pond, when necessary.

The fish have really grown and seem active and happy.

I haven't seen the large frog again. However, I've noticed a number of baby frogs hopping around my garden.

I'm hoping my fish will breed next spring.

New inhabitant

My pond has attracted a large frog.

Down to three

One of my goldfish did not recover from white spot.
It disappeared for a week before surfacing - dead.
The remaining three were treated to a water top up.
They look really, really healthy.
Full recovery.

White spot back

One of my goldfish still has white spot and the pond water is murkey brown and looks like soup.
Carried out patrial water change and added more white spot treatment.
I don't know what else to do.
Also, one of my fish is changing colour. His tail and fin have turned black.

White spot gone

All four fish free of white spot, happy, looking healthy.
They have been uprooting plants and the water is murkey, but test kit says it is safe.
Will carry out a 50 per cent water change when temperature drops later in the week.Will refill very slowly to avoid maor change in pond.

Treatment complete

I complete the cycle of white spot treatment on Monday.

I have now carried out a water change, using Tap Safe.

Two of my goldfish appear to be recovering well.

Unfortunately, another seems to have disappeared and the four I've only spotted once in the last few days.

I'll keep you posted.

There's hope

All four fish are still swimming around. White spots reducing.
Continuing with treatment.