Advice please chaps!

Mick Mutlow · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject: Advice please chaps!

In my 500 gallon pond I have 4 seven inch koi, 3 shubunkins and 7 goldfish. All very healthy, extremely lively and eating well until last Friday. It was as if they had totally disappeared. In fact I thought they had. I disturbed some of the oxygenating floating weed that has grown on top (covers 60% of the surface)and they were all huddled underneath it, at the bottom of the pond as if it was winter again. They have been there ever since. I think possibly two things............either they have been spooked by something like a heron (I have seen the odd one)and are stressed, or I have a bacterial problem. When I disturb the weed, I try to look at them as best as I can, and they do not appear unhealthy as the dorsal fins are not clamped.
I have tested the water twice since Friday and the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are all perfect. The PH is a bit high, reading at 8.0 but then again it has always been at that level.
Any ideas?
Mick

Canovas · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject:

Your PH is ok.

Do you have some air pump or venturi in your pond? Perhaps you don't have enough oxigen in the water.
Do you have foam? If you have many fish and not much oxigen then probably you can have foam.

Mick Mutlow · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply.
I have a Green Genie filter with a UV lamp inside. The pump circulates around 400 gallons per hour. The fish have been established in the pond for 2 years now. I thought if there wasn't enough oxygen in the water the fish would be gasping for air at the top.....or am I completely mistaken on that one? If that is the case, why have I suddenly got the problem now?
Thanks
Mick

Mick Mutlow · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

A slight improvement..............went out to the pond during my lunch break and saw 2 of the koi and 2 of the goldfish swimming about. As soon as they saw me though, that was it. Back underneath the floating plant they went like a shot from a gun.

Canovas · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

Don't feed your fish for 2 or 3 days.

Perhaps when you're going to feed them again, they will go to surface.

Mick Mutlow · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:23 am Post subject:

I haven't fed them since last week, simply because they are no where to be seen. I did put some food in today to tempt a couple of goldfish that were visible, but again they saw me and shot off under the floating plant again.
The koi in particular are all just lying on the bottom as if it is winter again. I can see them when I disturb the plant.
I must admit, this is worrying me now.
Mick

Canovas · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

The KOIs are fish very active.
They usually are stopped in winter or when they don't have oxigen enough.

Mick Mutlow · Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

Strange.......................whilst sat on my decking yesterday, I noticed there was some action in the water yesterday. Basically there was 50% of the fish out from beneath the floating weed. I then threw some food on top, and whoosh, out they all came although a little bit nervous of me. Today they were all out, and feeding again and ferreting about as per normal. Basically virtually back to normal..................was I just being too nervous or too observant of their behavour and exagerating the issue?

downtoearth · Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject:

It sounds like they are, as you said, spooked. They were happy and have been scared. either a cat or a racoon or a herron. Ours spent two years acting terrified after the autumn herron visit. The herron murderred 7 koi and the survisors didn't start acting 'normal' again for two whole summers.