This starts off sounding like a post that should be in the tropical section - just bear with me....

I just recently got my new tank set up and am using a Fluval 1+ internal filter that's been running for months in another tank so that I wouldn't have to wait before getting fish in there, my baby keyhole cichlids were long overdue to be taken out of their parent's tank. Eventually when the UGF matures the Fluval will come out again.

I don't have a lot of faith in the internal, so as a precaution tonight I did a quick ammonia test, and EEK I got a reading of about 0.25!!
I immediately started doing a water change by circulating pond water through the tank (my normal water changing process), over 2-3 hours I guess about 30% was changed, tested again and found the ammonia had increased!

Next off, test the pond water. 1.0ppm. Oh dear. I've been quite happily using this to change water in all my tanks, and I've used loads of it over the past week or so. The quality of the pond water has never been a problem before, even nitrate usually tests at virtually zero so it's very rarely I ever test it.

A quick check on all the other tanks showed barely any colouration of the test solution (API kit) which is either a good testimony to the effectiveness of the UGFs in these tanks or an indication that the appearance of ammonia in the pond is very very recent.

Anyway pondies, take this as a warning not to get complacent about water quality at this time of year.

And as for me, I'm looking forward to the pleasant task of dredging for dead toads or badgers or whatever in the morning. Wish me luck.

........it was a bloody rabbit


and the stench is unbelievable

Poor bunbun my a**e, moronically stupid damn bunbun more like it.

At least that's one less to gobble the petunias and risk getting shot come summer, but it's caused a lot of bother in the meantime!

I'm happy to report that there appears to be an abundance of frogs and toads hibernating at the bottom, all a bit indignant at being disturbed but all very much alive and not rotting away!

Anyway it's really got me goin' on clearing out the pond now and getting rid of dead leaves and other foreign objects. The root systems of the water lillies are very widespread and I've taken them out to trim them as the roots were floating up last year. Good time to get the marginals tidied up too, cut away last year's dead growth and take the baskets out to clear debris away from around them etc.
 Also get all the excess watercress out of the waterfall and other areas the fish can't reach.

Just wish it wasn't such miserable weather for doing it..

eeoow!!........... I bet that smelt choice Ferox

What a shocker. Luckily you found out and got it sorted - very lucky you tested for the amonia.
Good luck with the clean out. I do not envy you that one. Could you not wait till spring?
We 'fished' out a dead mouse from a swimming pool last summer that was bad enough...........................

Hi is that in the tank or pond? or both?? But good news its sorted. well good luck with the clear out.

Hi yep spoke to soon on that one! No snow here but well chilly! Yep as long as the fish are happy we are happy.

Oh dear. .

i would take sean up on that offer, ive seen him modeling the said equipment and its very fetching indeed, di

i think this post is crying out for a "best rubber poser" poll.

I dont doubt it for one min gordon, have to have some proof though, jan really like rubber by the way  di