#183041 - 02/17/08 12:40 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: faerywatcher]
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angelblossom
A Gnome's Best Friend
Garden Helper
Registered: 10/02/05
Posts: 15912
Loc: Grandprairie,Texas
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#183073 - 02/17/08 02:30 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: glenda]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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Hi Everyone!! My first post this year!! Woo hooo!
And I am right there with you guys.. sooo ready for spring.. unfortunately I will have to wait a bit longer.. being a bit farther north.. bleh. lol Oh well, it shall be here!! Spring that is.. hehe
I don't know what to do to open my pond back up.. this is the first spring I have had it... since we just put it in last year. Is there something special I need to do.. I am curious to see if my fishies wintered over.. I haven't seen them, but they might be hiding in the bottom.. I hope so.
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#183078 - 02/17/08 03:04 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: angelblossom]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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hehe Hiii!! *feels all warm and fuzzy inside that you remembered me* I have been pretty good.. just holed up waiting for the sun!! Like everyone else probably. How have YOU been? I am trying to find my way around here again.. lol It has been a while. :P I need to get some info on starting some seeds this year.. I want to do some perennials! Save myself a bunch of money hopefully!
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#183189 - 02/18/08 06:49 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Pinkhorseofcourse]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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My pond is still covered in a layer of ice right this second, so it'll be a good while before it's woken up here. 
But I did want to say that you should buy special fish food for spring/fall feeding.  I got some last fall for my fishies.  I was glad to see it because I didn't know that there was special food. Also I have a floating thermometer for my pond so I know when to start feeding them again. If the water is too cold they can't digest the food and it can kill them.
I think this spring I will use the pond pump to spray out of the pond so I can drain it some....that way I can clean it out a little....
My mosquito fish and snails in my fish tank will be returned to the pond!
I'll move my bench back out there....I MISS sitting by my pond! 
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#183301 - 02/18/08 02:36 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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Oh geez.. I didn't feed my fishies anything special in the fall.. I hope they are ok when things thaw out.
What temp should the water be before you start feeding them again? And what is this special food?
Thank you!
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#183345 - 02/18/08 04:11 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Pinkhorseofcourse]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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They should be just fine.....the special food just helps them get ready for the cold weather and makes them better suited to survive the winter....here is what it says about it on the pack I have(you can google spring and autumn fish food to find it):
Specially formulated for feeding koi and goldfish in spring and autumn water conditions. Contains a stabilized vitamin C and a complement of important vitamins and minerals to help maintain the immune system of pond fish.
Other ingredients include: bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and carrots.
Protein requirements for koi and goldfish kept in ponds and water gardens is primarily determined by water temperature. In cool water, 42° to 70°F (6° to 21°C) fish will feed but do not require a high protein food. Feeding excess protein does not benefit the fish and will convert to poisonous ammonia. This is especially dangerous in cooler water because the bacteria that comprise the biological filter are inhibited by cooler temperatures.
Ohhhh, and I quit feeding and start feeding again when it hits 42 solidly. Their digestive systems can't handle the food if it's too cold.
Having a pond thermometer is great! It has writing on there to tell me when to feed regular food, when to feed spring/fall food, and when to quit feeding.
I guess I need a water tester kit this spring to check the water levels. Gonna have to invest in one.
BTW, the actual food name is PondCare Spring and Autumn premium pellets.
Edited by loz (02/18/08 04:13 PM)
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#183423 - 02/18/08 06:04 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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Hmm.. thanks so much for that info!! My poor fishies.. will be malnourished. I will have to get a thermometer for the pond.. so I know when to start feeding them again.
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#183446 - 02/18/08 06:28 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: reopenguin]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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I should've said earlier, I start feeding at 42--but a solid 42, and even then I only feed a two times a week. When it's about 50-55 degrees I feed 3-4 times a week, then as it hits a solid 60'ish I start feeding normal pellet food.
Don't overfeed them in the spring though....I'd rather underfeed them at first....and scoop out excess food if it's left floating.
Spring is hard on the fish and they are more likely to get bacterial or parasitic infections at this time.
Everyone with a pond should really have a thermometer for it....that's really important!
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#183448 - 02/18/08 06:40 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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Thanks for the info. I will get me a thermometer.. and some spring food for them.
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#183647 - 02/19/08 08:46 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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Gardencrazy
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/07/03
Posts: 2363
Loc: Virginia USA
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Great info Loz!
I should've said earlier, I start feeding at 42--but a solid 42, and even then I only feed a two times a week. When it's about 50-55 degrees I feed 3-4 times a week, then as it hits a solid 60'ish I start feeding normal pellet food. Don't overfeed them in the spring though....I'd rather underfeed them at first....and scoop out excess food if it's left floating. Spring is hard on the fish and they are more likely to get bacterial or parasitic infections at this time. Everyone with a pond should really have a thermometer for it....that's really important!
and I want to stress That means the pond water doesn't drop below this temp at all.
I am so excited about spring this year and can't really do much about it. I can't bend over. I already have a sitter lined up to help after the baby is born so I can work in the yard. 
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#183677 - 02/19/08 10:30 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Gardencrazy]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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Hey Donna you are like the pond queen so what you say I take to heart! You're very right with the water temp not dropping below 42....it's important. Some people get a few warm days and get spring-itis and start feeding too early and then it gets cold again....that is not good. Have to wait until it's permanently warmed up...not just a warm day here and there.
I'm so excited for you with the baby coming! I know you'll be a super mom! You've had a lot of practice mothering all your pets(children). I'm glad you have help lined up and that you'll still be able to get out in the yard and do what you enjoy best. 
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#183682 - 02/19/08 10:49 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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faerywatcher
 Twinkle
Dream Gardener
Registered: 09/20/06
Posts: 3087
Loc: jackson county,tn.
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#183686 - 02/19/08 10:52 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: faerywatcher]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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When I did my first small pond years ago I read every ponding book I could get my hands on!
I bought one of them, I should get it out and read it over as a refresher.
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#183688 - 02/19/08 10:59 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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faerywatcher
Twinkle
Dream Gardener
Registered: 09/20/06
Posts: 3087
Loc: jackson county,tn.
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#183771 - 02/19/08 04:37 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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Bestofour
Patriot
Gardening Pro
Registered: 08/10/03
Posts: 7307
Loc: Monroe, NC
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I need pictures please. I'm a visual person and need to see what I'm supposed to be doing.
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#183795 - 02/19/08 05:23 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Bestofour]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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Pictures? What is it you need pics of hon??
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#183960 - 02/20/08 07:47 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Pinkhorseofcourse]
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loz
Big Trouble
Garden Helper
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 40459
Loc: Beautiful Western Maryland...z...
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My pond won't be waking up anytime soon....it's frozen and covered in snow....
One of the stray cats earlier was out on top of it....It usually drinks out of it and I don't think it could figure out why it couldn't drink out of it this morning.
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#183970 - 02/20/08 08:30 AM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: Bestofour]
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Pinkhorseofcourse
Wild Willow
Great Gardener
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 692
Loc: Rolling Hills of SE Ohio
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#184072 - 02/20/08 04:13 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Gardening Pro
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 9390
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#184136 - 02/20/08 06:24 PM
Re: Pond season is upon us..................
[Re: loz]
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faerywatcher
Twinkle
Dream Gardener
Registered: 09/20/06
Posts: 3087
Loc: jackson county,tn.
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Moderator: Jiffymouse, catlover, weezie13, afgreyparrot, loz
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Wendy's photos
for Cindy to get better!!!!!
You have a point there...........
