Water Exchange Question

The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the season I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would be
a good thing.

--
~~~Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be
changed regularly and for the same reason.~~~

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 03:56:35 GMT, "Loretta,Victoria, B.C."
wrote:

The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the season I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would be
a good thing.

If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Otherwise, i dont have an answer.

In my 300 galloon aquarium a rule of thumb is 20% of the volume weekly. Most
of our ponds are not natural they have more fish then a lake would and they
also have a rubber bottom. Some peoples ponds are also smaller than my
aquarium. I do a 20% change in my ponds and the fish are doing fine, I have
never killed any by doing a water change.

"Loretta,Victoria, B.C." wrote in message
...
The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and
then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some
fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing
the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the season
I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would
be
a good thing.

--
~~~Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be
changed regularly and for the same reason.~~~

Total water changes even split up day after are very risky at best, you are
introducing new trace minerals in the water which may and probably will
affect you total system or balance. I have to agree with Jammer on this,
unless you trying to solve a problem, let sleeping dogs lye.

"Loretta,Victoria, B.C." wrote in message
...
The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and
then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some
fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing
the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the season
I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would
be
a good thing.

--
~~~Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be
changed regularly and for the same reason.~~~

A "pond" is essentially a large outdoor aquarium.
It will benefit from 10% water changes weekly, to lower DOC, nitrates, etc,
that otherwise accumulate.
Plants help with some nitrate, etc removal, but water changes will remove
many other substances.
Water changes also replace water soluble minerals that fish need.
They are beneficial, as most running fresh/salt water systems will tell you.
Happy ponding,
Greg

--


"claude rogers" wrote in message
...
Total water changes even split up day after are very risky at best, you
are
introducing new trace minerals in the water which may and probably will
affect you total system or balance. I have to agree with Jammer on this,
unless you trying to solve a problem, let sleeping dogs lye.

"Loretta,Victoria, B.C." wrote in message
...
The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and
then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some
fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing
the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how
many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to
keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the
season
I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting
normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would
be
a good thing.

--
~~~Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both
be
changed regularly and for the same reason.~~~

I tend to agree with the "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" posting....
Having said so I will now say that when I add water to my pond I use a spray
attachment on the hose that puts as fine of spray up as high in the air as
possible. This has worked for me on even large water additions (when I had
a leak I could not find) but I don't know how my water compares to yours. I
do know that before I knew better I almost killed off my fish adding too
much water too quickly. It was here that I got the suggestion of adding
water very slowly and with a lot of airing (either drip method or spray).
DKat

"Loretta,Victoria, B.C." wrote in message
...
The other day I pumped out about 4 - 6 inches of water from my pond and
then
refilled it. I did the same thing the next day. I wanted to get some
fresh
water in my pond and figured that was a better way than just overflowing
the
pond, which is what I did in the past. What I want to know is: how many
days can I keep doing this without harming my fish? I would like to keep
doing it until all the water has been exchanged without having to remove
fish from the pond and removing water all at once. Earlier in the season
I
did some vacuuming in the pond and the bottom is fairly clean. But the
water has been in the pond for 4 years with only fresh water being added
when I overflowed the pond. Fish are fine and healthy and acting normal.
The fish load is such that I think a total change of all the water would
be
a good thing.

--
~~~Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be
changed regularly and for the same reason.~~~