Any fish people here ?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Any fish people here ?

Mark

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#141203 4-Mar-2014 16:32

I've a largish pond on my property that basically looks naff! So I need to get it in a healthy state.

Anyone here know some good shops that do solar powered aerators and fountains ? Getting mains power to it would be doable but awkward and involve a long run, and I'd prefer the "free" power option too :-)

I also need to know what sort of fishes to put in it (NZ native only no horrible koi carps) and where to get them ? As well as plants.

The pond is roughly a circle 20m in diameter, has no over hanging trees and I think is maybe 3 to 4 feet deep ... water level stays quite constant, but it's not got any movement to it, currently a lovely brown colour.

Thanks!

JayADee

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#999046 4-Mar-2014 20:10

No idea, sorry but the title of your thread made me grin.

Coil

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#999057 4-Mar-2014 20:21

Eels.
They move in automatically too!

Geektastic

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#999173 4-Mar-2014 22:48

Are they related to the Lizard People Of The Beehive?

richms

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#999195 4-Mar-2014 23:43

Seen some solar fountains on deal extreme. Not got around to ordering one yet but have seen similar looking ones sold on trademe for dollar reserve often.

Richard rich.ms

kiwitrc

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#999207 5-Mar-2014 06:26

These guys make solar water pumps, you could no doubt make a decent fountain with one of their units

joff_nz

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#999208 5-Mar-2014 06:31

I recommend checking out fnzas.org.nz. Not for gear, just general fishy things.

To keep natives you will need to go catch them yourself which is fun. Go out at night to a local stream with a torch, net and bucket

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Asmodeus

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#999484 5-Mar-2014 14:27

+1 for FNZAS.org.nz. Ask there and you shall learn.

That is a big pond :) Sounds like a drain and a good clean could be in order first. You'll need big pumps and filters and solar wont cut it. I have a tiny solar fountain and it only works with direct sun on the panel (as in cloud covers sun, pump goes off).

Def hit up the fish geeks first though, there are some projects on there of similar size to yours

Mark

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#999597 5-Mar-2014 16:36

Thanks .. I'll go and register with that Fishy Folk Forum and see what ideas they have ... in the mean time I got a solar pump+battery and see about getting some oxygen in to the water (every little helps I guess)

I do have geese here as well, but they just sold via Trademe so they'll not be messing things up anymore :-)

MaxLV

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#999801 5-Mar-2014 20:57

joff_nz: I recommend checking out fnzas.org.nz. Not for gear, just general fishy things.

To keep natives you will need to go catch them yourself which is fun. Go out at night to a local stream with a torch, net and bucket

Dont you have to have a DOC permit to own/keep native NZ fish species? (what with most of of them being protected and/or endangered)

And what about resource consents? Are they required? Then there's the local IWI. You'll definitely need to contact them for their permission, and accept that they'll exercise their customary rights to come and take the fish any time they want...

From the OP's description of the pond though, Eels sound like the fish that would survive in the pond, what with it not having an inlet of fresh water or an outlet. (where is the water coming from?)