pond cleaning

[chasing ducks]

Is there any type of fish I can get to help clean my pond? The ducks have it looking really nasty and I have no electricity down there so I can't run an aerater (Sp?) My husband said use suckers, no idea what kind of fish those are and where would I find them?

 

[mandalitten]

I doubt fish will clean up the pond. I would try using hyacynths (floating plants):
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=767+773+783&pcatid=783
I don't know how big your pond, but you could try adding a UV sterilizer to your pump (assuming you run electricity to your pond).
http://www.pondsolutions.com/pond-supplies/uv-clarifiers.htm

 

[babalubird]

I thought ducks were supposed to help keep a pond clean. Are you sure it's the ducks? Or is it that you don't have enough ducks to keep the pond clean? I don't really know. I am just in the learning stage, going by what I've read.

I'd like to hear people chime in here who have ponds and have ducks.

Connie

 

[emjay]

curious to hear some responses on this too.

as we have a nice size natural pond that we want to put some ducks on. No filter system to it either.

 

[GMT]

Quote:
I'm guessing by "nasty" you mean it's very green and smells pretty awful? If so, fish aren't going to help, as there aren't pond fish that can deal with microscopic algae suspended in the water. How deep is your pond? If it's deep enough, you can use underwater plants to pull out all that excess nitrogen (so the ducks will end up just keeping your plants trimmed, instead of eating them outright.) Surface plants like hyacinths would work too, but the ducks will tend to go through them like a hot chainsaw through butter; so you will be replacing them a lot. If pond plants are consuming all that fertilizer your ducks are depositing in the pond, there will be less for the algae; so you will have clearer water as a result.

Otherwise, you're going to have to somehow get electricity down there and drop in a suitably-sized pump and filter setup to circulate and clear the water.

Quote:
Oh they'll keep it clean, alright. Any plants, insects, and small fish within easy reach will be cleaned up by the ducks and returned to the pond as organic sludge and ammonia. The bacteria in the water will convert the ammonia into nitrates, but then you end up with nasty green water as the pond explodes with algae blooms from all the free fertilizer.

 

[katharinad]

I have a koi pond and I do anything to keep the ducks out. Not only will they eat the water plants in 5 seconds, they will deposit their nutritious poo into it which algae just lives off. They managed to get in twice this year, and I'm not happy about it. Had to buy more water plants, to replace the ones they ate. Each time they were in less then 2 minutes. I use a stock pond for my fish, because raccoons and my dog will shred any liner. My ducks have their large kiddie pool with slide and deck around it, plus a medium kiddie pool. These pools gets cleaned out every second day for sure. That of course depends on how many ducks use your kiddie pond. My 9 ducks are quite messy. Don't let them use your decorative fish pond, because you will regret it. It's ok if you have a large natural pond.

 

[mandalitten]

You could put a net or wire mesh or something like that over the plants to keep the ducks from eating them. Just be careful so the ducks can't get stuck.

 

[emjay]

hmmm, so it seems getting ducks to put on a pond (natural pond) is not a good idea. as it will turn green from algae ???

we are hoping to not have to put a pump in there.

Is there a animal safe product you can add to the water to control the algae from the free fertilizer?

 

[katharinad]

There are chemical algae killers that can be used, but they reduce the oxygen in the water to the point that it will kill fish and plants unless you have an air pump going. You can also add barley extract. Plus cover 80% of the surface with floating water plants to cut down on light. Then there is also the water die, which will also cut out the light the algae need. I tell you I have a work on hand to keep my water clear without the ducks. The fish itself produced enough food for the algae to feast on. I use a filtration system, add oxygen, and have most of my water covered. I had an UV clarifier, but feel it was not doing its job for the money I did pay. My advise, keep the pond for the fish and give the ducks kiddie pools.

 

[neenerbutt92]

Catfish clean ponds pretty good! We just got a bunch in the spring and the pond is slowly cleaning out...we need moreee!!!