clay / ceramic pots in pond

[manzara]

hello,

I have an indoor pond approximetly 5 months old...water chemistry is
perfect. Recently my shubunkins and koi starting acting strange (crowding
together, skiddish). A pond expert reccomended a medication for parasites
and water changes. Both the medicine and water changes worked
wonders...however it is now going on a week and I am beginning to think it
is more the water changes that are helping and not so much the medicine.
Long story short...are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
changes help so much?

Thanks,
Leslie

[BenignVanilla]

"manzara" > wrote in message
...
> hello,
>
> I have an indoor pond approximetly 5 months old...water chemistry is
> perfect. Recently my shubunkins and koi starting acting strange (crowding
> together, skiddish). A pond expert reccomended a medication for parasites
> and water changes. Both the medicine and water changes worked
> wonders...however it is now going on a week and I am beginning to think it
> is more the water changes that are helping and not so much the medicine.
> Long story short...are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
> leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
> changes help so much?

If the pots are truely clay and are not fired/sealed in anyway, they will
break down over time release particulates into the water. Are they are
harmful? Who knows. They will certainly affect PH and other parameters.

IMHO, I'd do a full set of tests on all water parameters, and I also would
NOT medicate unless I knew specifically that I had a reason to medicate.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[KenCo]

manzara wrote:
> hello,
>
..are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
> leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
> changes help so much?
>
> Thanks,
> Leslie


std. (fired/glazed) garden/house pots are fine,
they dont affect anything.

water changes can always help.


--
--
http://www.kencofish.com Ken Arnold,
401-781-9642 cell 401-225-0556
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[Tom La Bron]

Leslie,

One thing that must be considered with your terra cotta pots is country of
origin. If your terra cotta pots are low fired pots from Mexico or Central
or South America, they can have heavy metals in them that could affect your
fish. Lower fired terra cotta has more of a matt finish to it and has a
dull ring when hit with the finger. A high fired terra cotta like you get
from the US or Europe, primarily Italy will have a finish smooth appearance
and when hit with finger will have a slight ring that is almost like doing
the same on a fine piece of lead crystal. Oh, by the way, while you are
hitting your prospect pots with your finger, remember, if you don't get some
kind of ring the pot has a flaw in it and will probably break or crack
prematurely.

By-the-by, you should also be wary of glazed products from these countries
because of a lot of times the glazes have a lot of lead in them.

HTH

Tom L.L.
-----------------------------
"manzara" > wrote in message
...
> hello,
>
> I have an indoor pond approximetly 5 months old...water chemistry is
> perfect. Recently my shubunkins and koi starting acting strange (crowding
> together, skiddish). A pond expert reccomended a medication for parasites
> and water changes. Both the medicine and water changes worked
> wonders...however it is now going on a week and I am beginning to think it
> is more the water changes that are helping and not so much the medicine.
> Long story short...are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
> leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
> changes help so much?
>
> Thanks,
> Leslie

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

Leslie,

What water tests were taken? ~ jan

http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

>hello,
>
>I have an indoor pond approximetly 5 months old...water chemistry is
>perfect. Recently my shubunkins and koi starting acting strange (crowding
>together, skiddish). A pond expert reccomended a medication for parasites
>and water changes. Both the medicine and water changes worked
>wonders...however it is now going on a week and I am beginning to think it
>is more the water changes that are helping and not so much the medicine.
>Long story short...are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
>leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
>changes help so much?
>
>Thanks,
>Leslie

[manzara]

Hi jan,

test kit is by Red Sea called "fresh Lab" includes tests for
Nitrite,Ammonia, and PH (one for <7.4 and one of >7.4)

Thanks



On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 00:03:22 -0800, ~ jan JJsPond. us wrote:

> Leslie,
>
> What water tests were taken? ~ jan
>
> http://users.owt.com/jjspond/
>
> ~Keep 'em Wet!~
> Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
> To e-mail see website
>
>>hello,
>>
>>I have an indoor pond approximetly 5 months old...water chemistry is
>>perfect. Recently my shubunkins and koi starting acting strange (crowding
>>together, skiddish). A pond expert reccomended a medication for parasites
>>and water changes. Both the medicine and water changes worked
>>wonders...however it is now going on a week and I am beginning to think it
>>is more the water changes that are helping and not so much the medicine.
>>Long story short...are clay pots toxic in ponds i.e. could they be
>>leaching something bad into the water? Perhaps this is why the water
>>changes help so much?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Leslie

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>test kit is by Red Sea called "fresh Lab" includes tests for
>Nitrite,Ammonia, and PH (one for <7.4 and one of >7.4)

I'd check the Kh, as it plays a very important part in keeping your pH
stable. If you don't have a Kh tester. Do a pH test in the AM and PM. If
there is a wild swing of more than 0.4, one could have a problem with low
Kh. ~ jan
~ jan