Posted on 09/26/2013 2:30:05 PM PDT by Fudd Fan
From the waterfall pic, I’m seeing 2 things: the flow is low, at the waterfall, meaning the pump’s filter might be partially clogged and needs cleaning. And the water looks ‘greenish’, indicating an algae problem, caused by no shade from plant material, too much fish poop from over-feeding, and rotting debris in the bottom causing nitrates to turn into nitrites (fertilizer) which feed the algae.
All that’ll come to an end as soon as the cold weather gets here and kills the algae; then the pond will clear-up, but you’ll have it back 10x worse next spring when warm/hot days arrive.
The entire pond should be drained, cleaned out and washed out and re-drained. My business would routinely do that for ponds we built. Some of the large or multiple-connected ponds we did, took days, a week or even more for 2-3 men. It was expensive, but until the pond is set-up correctly and ‘balanced’, it’s a must-do, unless you like split pea soup.
To get this rectified, a better pumping and filtering system installed, plants purchased etc, it could run - materials & labor - easily into the several thousands.
If you were with a hour or two easy drive, I’d make the drive and evaluate it and give you some recommendations/options. You could always get ahold of some local landscape/water garden contractors; talk to neighbor who have ponds and find out who they use.
Or, when the new pool is installed, remove it completely and save the time and money.
There is some rehab work needed and it’ll cost some serious bucks to get it right, if it’s been built incorrectly. I can’t tell from the pics. Only way to give you the benefit of my 22yrs, would be to get hands-on and take the mechanics/electrics apart, to see how it was built and where the weak points/faults are.
Try some ocal companies first for free evaluations and estimates, and feed them back to me to review. I’d need pics of the waterfall workings, pump, filtering system etc.
A Koi pond is a real delight, once it’s set-up properly and working smoothly in a balanced manner. If it isn’t, it becomes a nightmare and the fish die-off slowly. It’d be more humane to net the fish into a 5gal spackle pail, using pond water, and give them to a neighbor who has a Koi pond or water garden.
Decision time.m seeing 2 things: the flow is low, at the waterfall, meaning the pump
Trigger locks on? Ammo separated and locked-up?
Keep you atty’s number handy, call him ahead and tell him what you’re doing, and make sure he’s got a bail bondsman handy.
Put on a George Zimmerman mask and they’ll wave you right thru. LOL!
You’ll be okay.
Hmmm, it could be an external filter, with a 1-2” line coming out of the pond into the external filter, and another 1-2” line feeding into the back of the waterfall. If I was there, it’s take 5 mins to figure it all out, but that ain’t happening. See what you can find out after you get moved-in; pics of the pump, filter, water lines, back of waterfall etc.
When is the other pool to be installed?
Looking at that pic of the waterfall it is much less vibrant than it is now, maybe they had it fixed. I thought the pond was green as well but I saw the bottom today and it’s clearer than I thought.
We went from a tiny house to a 3.5K 5 BDRM and have plenty of room for you should you ever come down our way...I mean it!
Saw the”Big” whitish Koi today, she/he has to have survived for a while.
Today is day ONE! I want the pool ASAP! They are saying 8 weeks. I call BS.
The toady who put in the Jap garden planted trees across the line of the backyard neighbor’s so I don’t know how I will put in a fence.
Someday, I might show-up... I’d have trouble driving thru MD anyway, with my Kimber and mags. If I travel during troubled times, I carry the Class III AR-15/AR-10 and Beowulf 50. Plus lots of ammo in mags. In PA, it’s no problem, so I stay around here. I’ve risked it a few times over the years, but I don’t know about VA’s laws; I’ll have to check.
The pond shouldn’t be totally clear; that’s as unhealthy as a filthy pond. Fish need algae and bacteria in their gills to live. That’s why I never used chemicals in the water, as it would negate the beneficials for the fish, frogs etc.
After you get settled-in, and before winter arrives, perhaps you can shoot some pics of the important areas I mentioned - I can give you another list - so we can see what the previous owner did/had done and evaluate it.
When is the new pool planned?
“...planted trees across the line of the backyard neighbor...”
That’s idiotic.
What kind of trees, and what size?
Choices:
1) If trees aren’t too big, move the onto your property (costly and messy).
2) Cut them down; replant on your property (also costly and messy).
3) Buy 10-15ft of neighbor’s property to adjoin yours, and put the fence where you want it (costly).
4) Put fence in front of trees.
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