Water condition help - thoughts on what is happening?

[Eugeneg]

My thoughts when first seeing the water (and Ian's when he saw the pictures) were that the fish are dead. Have you ever seen a fish that has died and sat in a bag of water (or bowl) for some time? The water turns this red-brown colour and a fine sediment (body fluids?) covers the bottom surface once decomposition begins to take place . The only thing that wasn't present was the smell - that awful smell of dead decay, not even a whiff in the air... but then it's cold, not sure that makes a difference..? Today the air temp was +13C here. I truly hope my first impression is not the case and the koi are alive and well.

Terri
Because of the cover which is a tarp which lets little light through as well as the snow the alge at the side of the pond died . I recommend lots of water changes . There is a shelf in pond so any dead fish would float up and be underneath that huge slab of rock . I would try and pump some water under just to make sure . The fish were under fed and filtration was not good enough so I declined to sell her more fish hopefully when water clears it is not dead fish .
She brought a sample of water instead of the dead algae I asked her to bring . At current water temperatures there would be little or no smell from a dead fish .
Regards Eugene
Ps on May 25th water garden society is a t my place would you and Ian give talk on water quality ?

[Brady Brandwood]

Yep, just a case where the opportunists have taken over, like a pond that has been dosed with salt, or some other catalist causing the balance of power within the pond to change (algae species). Or, the pond may be too low in calcium. I would do a 40% water change, then add some calcium - a small amount of calcium carbonate, or lime, and within a few weeks the pond will likely return to a greener more familiar look.

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[tranquility]

Brady do the chickens keep the herons away ...what a cute picture....
Lawanna

[Ian_&_Terri]

Algae, crazy stuff Thanks everyone for your thoughts, ideas, and opinions, much appreciated.

Eugene, when did she bring you the sample? I myself suggested she begin water changes right away - haven't had the chance to talk to her again this week yet. If the weather keeps warming I hope we can get her pond set up much better. She doesn't need any more fish, she's over stocked as it is

Thank you Brady Love the photo!

Kind Regards,
Terri

[farne230]

If you can vacum and remove this substence from pond. Add water as needed and dechlorinate and oberve (test water and assure PH is stable and ammonia non-existant and flow rate up and running.
Bob

[Graham]

Terri My 1st thought was some type of cyanobacteria...comes in lots of colours and slimes over everything. I get some each spring until the system is back up and running. I net and water change it out

G

[dick benbow]

sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. My first impression was iron. Which would have been removed by the charcoal in Mike's story. I'm thinking that if the koi are still alive and with us, the beni will have noticeable impairment.

here where I live the city pulls from a reservoir of damed river water but in summer time they also pull from a well and that's when I notice more water difficulties which eventually forced me to go to chacoal/R.O. water to protect my interest.

I would really like to see them add a chacoal filter and run their bio all winter long

[Ian_&_Terri]

Thanks Graham Dealt with cyno (bga) in our aquariums - this algae is not the same in texture - more like single cell green algae. It's been a few years since we wintered koi outdoors so trying to remember little details about such things, but I've never seen this in ours or any other pond locally.

Thus far one water change has been done to my knowledge, sometime after the pond owner visited with Eugene, I was hoping more would have been done. She still has not seen the fish. Crappy weather today, sleet and snow so mr. winter is still hanging on here in Ontario.
Eugene, your advice to her was the same as mine - lets hope that reinforces the situation

Mr. Benbow, thank you for your thoughts. Plans are in the works to get the pond owner better filtration and discussion is taking place on how best to winter the pond so the system will be run 12 months a year.. with in her budget mind you.

Kind Regards,
Terri

[kntry]

Terri, let us know what you find out. My first thought was dying algae, too. I hope the fish are alive. If they are, they’re probably going to need a lot of TLC.

If you happen to go back out to the pond, would you take a better pic of the pergola? It looks awesome!

[OSkoi]

I sure hope the fish are OK.