a challenge for the rec.ponds experts

"volts500" wrote in message
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"how" wrote in message
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"volts500" wrote in message
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Forget the plecostomus (me superstitious? no) they will not keep the
sides clean.

Depends upon the size of the "pond" and the number of plecos.
snip
Middle "pond" has another Pleco and a red ear slider
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If I want to "polish" the water, I put Poly Squares
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You and I are just not going to get along ;-) turtles in a water garden- not
me.
Personally have never seen plecostomus keep pond sides clean and in most
cases this would not be wanted if they did. I guess with a "proper"
pleco/gallon ratio and the addition of no food it is possible. The last time
I had any in a pond that I maintained, they (Hypostomus plecostomus) would
surface on their backs and suck the food intended for the goldfish.
The polyfiber thing is great. I use it in a portable ex-sand filter along
with flocculants to "clear the green pond because we are having a party this
weekend" syndrome.

They will die when the water is 55/50 degrees F and are very hard to
catch to bring in for
the winter.

There is no doubt that they will die at lower temps and are difficult to
catch. Here in central FL they do very well in the wild and in small
"ponds", such as mine.. I haven't recorded the water temps. when the air
temps. get down into the 30's here, but the Plecos do hang in there.


South Florida here and they have floated from cold. They do supposedly
inhabit canals in this area and I'm assuming they 'mud it' when it gets
cold. Are you one of them new Northern fellers who don't think Fl has
winters and have not seen ice on their pond yet ;-) ? Me too, well actually
it has been 30+ years here and I've had ice.

Personally have never seen one sucking on another fish but others
have observed this. IMO they are useless in a pond, not the least bit
cute
and hard to handle. LFS that sell them as 'a must' for ponds are to be
avoided.

I wouldn't say that they are a must either, however, with a white liner,
every little bit helps. Again, from my experience, a _lot_ of scrubbing
(a
white liner) could be avoided if the right number of Plecos are put in the
right size pond.
The LFS's in my area that I go to actually told me _not_ to put them in my
pond, but then I have been known to raise/breed Discus outside year round
here too.
snip

Well you could teach me something about fish husbandry I'm sure. I don't
know anything about Discus did you need heat to do winters with them? You
should listen to your LFS ;-)

Any citations on gradual introduction of carbon filtration?

Some carbon manufacturers will state same right on the box or jar.
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Most ponders don't use white liners either :-) If you know a better, less
expensive way to remove the amber tint (tannins), I'm all ears.


I'm still puzzled on this one, teach me. What does AC remove that is
required for fish? I know it can remove chlorine/chloramines, medications,
pesticides, color ---- OK, I forgot that one and carbon will remove the tint
and we were talking white liner. The cost of 1to 3 lbs per 1000 gallons per
1 to 2 months will, IMO, increase the acceptance of a slight yellow tint to
most ponders.
Did I at least 'un-superstious' you? I.E. ple*cos - plecos ;-)
L8R -_- how
no NEWS is good