self sustaining duck pond with ghost shrimp?

[Cjsquiggle]

ok so now that i have four new ducklings and one grown pekin i need to rethink my duck pond situation. the baby pool won't cut it now. i can't really run electricity for a filter down to where i would need my pond. thats not an option for us so steering clear from those type of ideas. our thought is to make a cute pond area with easy drainage system for the pond. I read somewhere that someone suggested ghost shrimp?? they said the ducks won't eat them bc they can't really see them and that they do wonders for keeping the water clear? has anyone done that? I'm to sure about how practical that is.

 

[MerryMeridional]

How big is your pond?

I'm no expert but I have been reading a lot about ponds and maintaining them with ducks. Ducks will muck it up fast. The smaller the pond, the more you'll need a pump and filter.

 

[Tannerpauldean]

I have a small 75-gallon garden pond (one of those bean-shaped hard-shelled things) that is filthy within 5 minutes of cleaning it out. I have 6 adult ducks that bathe in it. My routine is to completely drain it by siphon each week and give it a good scrub. There is usually a good inch of poop/mud mixture at the bottom. I can't imagine not completely draining it each week. Not to mention their oils would start building up on the top of the water.

Oh, and I occasionally give my ducks ghost shrimp as treats - they love them! One of their favorites, second only to guppies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ghost shrimp they they float around going whoooo?

 

[Tannerpauldean]

Ghost shrimp they they float around going whoooo?

 

[Loopeend]

I do not know what environment you are living in. But thick more swampy-plants (cat-tail sorta/reeds/grass species) can help with keep the water clean; and are often sturdy enough to stay alive with ducks in it.

But it all depends on how big your pond is. and if you don't already have those. And if you like them

If a smaller pond; I think I saw someone over here that made a bio-filter in a loose bin, with a system that you had to pump it a bit daily by hand (just a bit of the water, not all ot it). But that was not a natural pond and had a faucet in the pond to clean it; since the ducks tend to bring a lot of dirt in to their ponds.

If you have a deep natural pond; there are bottom-eaters that do not show much/and or can't be eaten. But that also depends on where you live. We had luck with a big species of algae-eating shrimp (too big to eat).

But what mainly worked; plant plants plants. All over the sides in less-deep parts since the ducks tend to go to the open deep part. You can also make a ridge so they don't go in those shallow parts as fast. And their active washing/swimming sorta revolves the water around.

We don't let them swim now in the natural pond; because now is the time to plant plants and throw in some water-fleas to clean it. We do the same in September (both with a plant-residue and bottom cleaning before it). And they just have to do, unfortunately for them, with a kiddie pool for three weeks But hey, noone can have anything all of the time; and it gives in the end a better pond for them

 

[Fishkeeper]

No, ghost shrimp won't help keep the pond clean. They're algae-eaters and scavengers.

 

[MerryMeridional]

I do not know what environment you are living in. But thick more swampy-plants (cat-tail sorta/reeds/grass species) can help with keep the water clean; and are often sturdy enough to stay alive with ducks in it.

But it all depends on how big your pond is. and if you don't already have those. And if you like them

If a smaller pond; I think I saw someone over here that made a bio-filter in a loose bin, with a system that you had to pump it a bit daily by hand (just a bit of the water, not all ot it). But that was not a natural pond and had a faucet in the pond to clean it; since the ducks tend to bring a lot of dirt in to their ponds.

If you have a deep natural pond; there are bottom-eaters that do not show much/and or can't be eaten. But that also depends on where you live. We had luck with a big species of algae-eating shrimp (too big to eat).

But what mainly worked; plant plants plants. All over the sides in less-deep parts since the ducks tend to go to the open deep part. You can also make a ridge so they don't go in those shallow parts as fast. And their active washing/swimming sorta revolves the water around.

We don't let them swim now in the natural pond; because now is the time to plant plants and throw in some water-fleas to clean it. We do the same in September (both with a plant-residue and bottom cleaning before it). And they just have to do, unfortunately for them, with a kiddie pool for three weeks But hey, noone can have anything all of the time; and it gives in the end a better pond for them

Yep, water plants are the way to go. But you need a significant, large body of water to deal with the duck muck the "natural" way. Like an actual in the ground pond, not a container. The duck muck will actually create a seal on the bottom if you let it build up a little, which I thought was fascinating. People using kiddie pools and even large stock waterer tanks are cleaning them (empty and scrubbing) daily to weekly. I was reading a post from a guy who made a beautiful pond for his sick wife battling cancer. I think they just had a couple swans in there. The pond was still decent sized, maybe a couple hundred gallons? And he had some sure-nuff filtration and pumping going on to maintain it.

I've seen some amazing DIY multi-chamber biofilters made with inexpensive materials including batting material, bio balls, charcoal, and mesh. That is the direction I will go if I am able to start a small pond. Until then, I will be draining the water regularly onto my garden, which is adjacent to the ducks. Duck poo isn't as hot as chicken poo and you can use the water directly on plants without burning them.

I think the consensus is that the ghost shrimp would not suffice. And your ducks will probably eat them.

 

[Beepersmom]

How big is your pond?

I'm no expert but I have been reading a lot about ponds and maintaining them with ducks. Ducks will muck it up fast. The smaller the pond, the more you'll need a pump and filter.

ducks can see and love glass shrimp. They would completely devoid your duck pond of them in a hurry. I have a Pekin who loves glass shrimp.