Consumer Homes.

Question:

Hi there, We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with both running into a large pond. We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. My questions are… 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors in the pond? 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. Where in Ontario do you live? Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi there, > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with > both running into a large pond. > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > My questions are… > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors > in the pond? > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

> I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t > lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond > prep stuff after I add more water.

London?  Who built your pond?  DIY or contractor?  I’m talking to people about a waterfall right now… Derek, St. Thomas

Response:

Thanks for the info Lynn. I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond prep stuff after I add more water. Do you monitor the water at all or just go by the plants and fish being healthy?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large > waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several > inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from > the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond > water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, > but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t > see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. > Where in Ontario do you live? > Lynn > Hi there, > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with > both running into a large pond. > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > My questions are… > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors > in the pond? > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

I really don’t monitor my water.  I know that’s a sin, but I depend on the PondPrep.  It claims to make water instantly perfect for plants and fish.  Sometimes I use a PH stick from the spa test equipment.  It always registers pretty neutral.  Fish are HAPPY!  Eating like little pigs and have almost doubled in size since I bought them 6 weeks ago. I also use CSA Bacteria, which is supposed to clear the water and neutralize ammonia.  Since I only have 5 fish in a 300 gallon pond, I doubt if ammonia is much of a problem.  I have many, many oxygenators, a spitting frog and a waterfall.  The waterfall is the reason I lose so much water, I think.  It is a 3-tier limestone waterfall.  When it’s hot and the water rushes over the limestone, it kind of sizzles away.  It also splashes into the surrounding plants. I’m a new ponder, but had aquariums for many years.  I don’t claim to be doing everything correctly and by the book, but so far I have had good results.  No deaths yet this year. Good luck to you, and to everyone. Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks for the info Lynn. > I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t > lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond > prep stuff after I add more water. > Do you monitor the water at all or just go by the plants and fish being > healthy? > I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large > waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several > inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from > the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond > water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, > but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t > see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. > Where in Ontario do you live? > Lynn > > Hi there, > > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) > with > > both running into a large pond. > > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > > My questions are… > > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer > months – > > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing > water at > > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did > have > > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, > is > > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it > affect > > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other > factors > > in the pond? > > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What > should > > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for > and > > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

Well I’m no marine biologist but the chlorine will kill everything living in the pond if too much water is added and the ratio of water to chlorine is decreased. The best way to solve this problem is to draw the tap water and let it sit for a few days to get rid of the chlorine. Not sure how this happens chemically but it does. (Old trick with aquariums) I am working on marketing a water levelling system which is dependant on a chlorine free feed and I am working on ways to overcome this without chemicals. as for normal evaporation rates, it varies according to many factors ie size of pond animals drinking from it, weather, etc. I think it best to watch your water bill to determine if it is within reason and go from there. Obviously there are some that sit by their pond and use massive calculations to determine the evaporation rate based on all known factors and asses whether the rate is in the ‘normal’ range. I prefer to sit by my pond and sip hot coffee and enjoy the scenery myself. which carries over to the water Ph rating. Same thing. I’ve never had to worry about Ph as long as I kept a few simple rules of eco-balancing in mind, ie. fish population etc. This does come into play with certain special breeds of fish or plants that might require specific water conditions to flourish. basically my phylosophy is to work hard to make the pondas maintenance free as possible so that I may enjoy its beauty more often. I leave the science to scientists and let mother nature do most of the work. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi there, >We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with >both running into a large pond. >We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water >evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. >My questions are… >1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – >it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at >a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have >some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? >2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our >outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is >it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect >the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors >in the pond? >3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should >the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and >what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

Hi there, We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with both running into a large pond. We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. My questions are… 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors in the pond? 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. Where in Ontario do you live? Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi there, > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with > both running into a large pond. > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > My questions are… > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors > in the pond? > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

> I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t > lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond > prep stuff after I add more water.

London?  Who built your pond?  DIY or contractor?  I’m talking to people about a waterfall right now… Derek, St. Thomas

Response:

Thanks for the info Lynn. I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond prep stuff after I add more water. Do you monitor the water at all or just go by the plants and fish being healthy?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large > waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several > inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from > the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond > water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, > but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t > see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. > Where in Ontario do you live? > Lynn > Hi there, > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with > both running into a large pond. > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > My questions are… > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors > in the pond? > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

I really don’t monitor my water.  I know that’s a sin, but I depend on the PondPrep.  It claims to make water instantly perfect for plants and fish.  Sometimes I use a PH stick from the spa test equipment.  It always registers pretty neutral.  Fish are HAPPY!  Eating like little pigs and have almost doubled in size since I bought them 6 weeks ago. I also use CSA Bacteria, which is supposed to clear the water and neutralize ammonia.  Since I only have 5 fish in a 300 gallon pond, I doubt if ammonia is much of a problem.  I have many, many oxygenators, a spitting frog and a waterfall.  The waterfall is the reason I lose so much water, I think.  It is a 3-tier limestone waterfall.  When it’s hot and the water rushes over the limestone, it kind of sizzles away.  It also splashes into the surrounding plants. I’m a new ponder, but had aquariums for many years.  I don’t claim to be doing everything correctly and by the book, but so far I have had good results.  No deaths yet this year. Good luck to you, and to everyone. Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks for the info Lynn. > I live in London and its been like an oven the past couple of days. I didn’t > lose quite that much per day but just wanted to check. I’ll try the pond > prep stuff after I add more water. > Do you monitor the water at all or just go by the plants and fish being > healthy? > I live in Michigan, not far from you.  I have a small pond with a large > waterfall.  It’s been oppressively hot here lately.  I’ve lost several > inches of water per day.  It is absolutely necessary to add water from > the hose as well, but I also add something to make the water "pond > water", to remove clorine, ammonia, etc.  I use any product I can find, > but PondPrep seems to do a good job.  Under these circumstances, I don’t > see any alternative.  My fish and plants are flourishing. > Where in Ontario do you live? > Lynn > > Hi there, > > We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) > with > > both running into a large pond. > > We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water > > evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. > > My questions are… > > 1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer > months – > > it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing > water at > > a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did > have > > some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? > > 2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our > > outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, > is > > it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it > affect > > the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other > factors > > in the pond? > > 3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What > should > > the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for > and > > what are the best kits available to do this?

Response:

Well I’m no marine biologist but the chlorine will kill everything living in the pond if too much water is added and the ratio of water to chlorine is decreased. The best way to solve this problem is to draw the tap water and let it sit for a few days to get rid of the chlorine. Not sure how this happens chemically but it does. (Old trick with aquariums) I am working on marketing a water levelling system which is dependant on a chlorine free feed and I am working on ways to overcome this without chemicals. as for normal evaporation rates, it varies according to many factors ie size of pond animals drinking from it, weather, etc. I think it best to watch your water bill to determine if it is within reason and go from there. Obviously there are some that sit by their pond and use massive calculations to determine the evaporation rate based on all known factors and asses whether the rate is in the ‘normal’ range. I prefer to sit by my pond and sip hot coffee and enjoy the scenery myself. which carries over to the water Ph rating. Same thing. I’ve never had to worry about Ph as long as I kept a few simple rules of eco-balancing in mind, ie. fish population etc. This does come into play with certain special breeds of fish or plants that might require specific water conditions to flourish. basically my phylosophy is to work hard to make the pondas maintenance free as possible so that I may enjoy its beauty more often. I leave the science to scientists and let mother nature do most of the work. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi there, >We just installed a large pond with a waterfalls, 2 brooks (cascading) with >both running into a large pond. >We’re kind of new at this and we can ask other professionals as to water >evaporation and water quality but I thought we would start here. >My questions are… >1. How much can one anticipate evaporation amounts during summer months – >it’s been quite hot here in Ontario and the pond seems to be losing water at >a rate of a couple of inches over a couple of days. I believe we did have >some leaks initially but I believe we repaired them? >2. When we fill the top pond where the waterfalls starts it is with our >outside tap water which contains city treated water with clorine in it, is >it wise to put too much of this type of water in a pond and will it affect >the goldfish we have – shupunkin, fantails, and common fish or other factors >in the pond? >3. In reading this newgroup I see some things like Ph level etc. What should >the levels be and what type of measurements should we be measuring for and >what are the best kits available to do this?

Response: