Flag fish breeding 90 gallon round "pond"

Flag fish breeding 90 gallon round "pond" - drained half of it as water was turning green thought fish would photograph better half empty (noticed they didnt show up at all).
Water is clear now as added clear water and ran UV . Will post again if I can catch fish in the pic. Dwarf cattails and dwarf papyrus are the plants plus water lilies and floating azzola.

Edited by drewish, 27 April 2008 - 10:51 AM.

Take out your flagfish and add some water from a nearby pond or stream, or get a starter daphnia culture. You water will clear up with daphnia, plus they'll provide a nice treat for the flagfish and their fry.

That's a nice mini-pond.

Edited by fishlvr, 27 April 2008 - 07:02 AM.

Take out your flagfish and add some water from a nearby pond or stream, or get a starter daphnia culture. You water will clear up with daphnia, plus they'll provide a nice treat for the flagfish and their fry.

That's a nice mini-pond.

I have uv that I used to transport from one pond to another and clears up the this little "pond" in a day or 2 max but since have floating azzola and water lilies they clog up sponge filter and it just became a pain and left it lol.

I do 50% water change ever 2 weeks by end of second week its green . So for now just rely on large water change . Come rainy season I will do them every couple days .

Daphnia did clear a green water tank I had in patio and went long way in the little pond but the fish wind up eating them.
I had a large supply in my bigger pond that made BIG mistake of adding mosquito fish (had mosquito larvae maybe had no choice) and they ate every one thus added uv which I only need to run 2 days every couple weeks.

Thanks

Sal,
Are you using tap water? Does your municipality add phosphorus to it (it is in a corrosion-control agent)? If so, it will likely be an ongoing battle. Using rainwater might help, if you can collect it off the roof.

Sal,
Are you using tap water? Does your municipality add phosphorus to it (it is in a corrosion-control agent)? If so, it will likely be an ongoing battle. Using rainwater might help, if you can collect it off the roof.

I used rainwater during rainy season and due to the volume of water changes (siphon out few inches of water from every pond every 2/3 days as rain fills them right up they stay fairly clear) but other than that I refill pond with hose water and do get green water.

As its dry season now and hose water is all I use . I do think your right as rain water the ponds stay "clear" while last few months of hose water they have gone green.

I have a small UV which I transport from pond to pond the little ponds like this it clears in 1/2 days the bigger platy pond takes over a week.
I added a few native plants I got at lake yesterday in middle of pond before refilling it in hopes that more plants help with the green water but think they have only attracted the LOUD cuban treefrogs lol however the fish do seem to like more plants . Good thing bedroom isnt near yard lol

Edited by Sal, 28 April 2008 - 09:06 PM.

Sounds like your municipality uses phosphorus, then. It seems to be getting more and more common.

I once purchased a DI filter made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Not the fanciest, nor does it produce enormous volumes, but it is pretty inexpensive. It definitely helped. Otherwise, there is phosphorus-removing filter media, but I'm not sure it works on the P in the corrosion control. Been meaning to check on this.

Sounds like your municipality uses phosphorus, then. It seems to be getting more and more common.

I once purchased a DI filter made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Not the fanciest, nor does it produce enormous volumes, but it is pretty inexpensive. It definitely helped. Otherwise, there is phosphorus-removing filter media, but I'm not sure it works on the P in the corrosion control. Been meaning to check on this.

Those media AP filters are great. I had one in NY with my tanks there as we lived in old town with old pipes the town had to "coat" the pipes to prevent lead from leaching into the water. It worked 100%

I had the old type with the rubber faucet connection which I prefer by far over their new connection. Yes thats the problem its great for tanks but not for ponds as water it "cleans" takes to long.

I used to drip mine at 10 gallons over 24 hours and 70 gallons a week was plenty for my water changes it worked great huge difference in water quality . I found that dripped at less than amount that company suggested at ONLY cold water made huge difference made it compatible with the way more expensive DI systems.

Its just not possible here ESP since would be buying few replacemt cartridges a week due to water volume changes. Its going to rain today which is nice. The green water is great for vegeatable garden and trees so drain it with long hose into that but yes rather not have it.

The phosphate media I just avoid as its going to cost way to much for several ponds and they have to be used 24/7 while UV I just transport from 1 pond to another for couple days granted its a pain and have tendency just to leave it in bigger pond thankfully rainsy season is on its way.
The Cuban treefrogs at night began calling couple days ago from the ponds so in theory rains should be coming

Thanks

I have uv that I used to transport from one pond to another and clears up the this little "pond" in a day or 2 max but since have floating azzola and water lilies they clog up sponge filter and it just became a pain and left it lol.

I do 50% water change ever 2 weeks by end of second week its green . So for now just rely on large water change . Come rainy season I will do them every couple days .

Daphnia did clear a green water tank I had in patio and went long way in the little pond but the fish wind up eating them.
I had a large supply in my bigger pond that made BIG mistake of adding mosquito fish (had mosquito larvae maybe had no choice) and they ate every one thus added uv which I only need to run 2 days every couple weeks.

Thanks

You don't need to add "mosquito fish" (gambusia, I am assuming) to take care of the mosquito larvae. Just about any native fish you put in that pond will eat mosquito larvae. For example: Blue Spotted Sunfish, Sailfin Mollies, Golden Topminnow, as well as Flagfish just to name a few.

Rick

You don't need to add "mosquito fish" (gambusia, I am assuming) to take care of the mosquito larvae. Just about any native fish you put in that pond will eat mosquito larvae. For example: Blue Spotted Sunfish, Sailfin Mollies, Golden Topminnow, as well as Flagfish just to name a few.

Rick

Your right the flags eat mosquitos though I find them 1/4 if that as good as a single way smaller mosquito fish . the flags seem to enjoy algae more than mosquitos while the mosquito fish are unreal feeders non stop.

blue Spotted suns I hope to catch soon in Ocochobee (however its spelled) imagine its more of a pond type fish than canals,lakes .

The Flags I have were given to me by a neighbor who caught them in shallow canal in area . I didnt catch them myself . Only fish I have caught for ponds were mosquito fish and green mollies and yellow platys caught those by canal .
Golden topminnows I would think are jumpers and would wind up on the lawn . There are minnows in the canals what type I am not sure .

Your right the flags eat mosquitos though I find them 1/4 if that as good as a single way smaller mosquito fish . the flags seem to enjoy algae more than mosquitos while the mosquito fish are unreal feeders non stop.

blue Spotted suns I hope to catch soon in Ocochobee (however its spelled) imagine its more of a pond type fish than canals,lakes .

The Flags I have were given to me by a neighbor who caught them in shallow canal in area . I didnt catch them myself . Only fish I have caught for ponds were mosquito fish and green mollies and yellow platys caught those by canal .
Golden topminnows I would think are jumpers and would wind up on the lawn . There are minnows in the canals what type I am not sure .

Yea, those Flagfish are great algae eaters. I put a few in a planted tank that I let the algae get out of control in once and they cleared it up quickly. The topminnows are jumpers, but I have read articles about keeping them outdoors during the summer in tubs. Don't remember how they controlled jumping, maybe put nets over them. The platies should do a good job of mosquito eating. I put a couple of pairs outdoors one summer in an old cooler chocked full of hornwort. When I brought them inside in the fall I had well over a hundred fish!

Rick

Yea, those Flagfish are great algae eaters. I put a few in a planted tank that I let the algae get out of control in once and they cleared it up quickly. The topminnows are jumpers, but I have read articles about keeping them outdoors during the summer in tubs. Don't remember how they controlled jumping, maybe put nets over them. The platies should do a good job of mosquito eating. I put a couple of pairs outdoors one summer in an old cooler chocked full of hornwort. When I brought them inside in the fall I had well over a hundred fish!

Rick

I have been looking for flagfish for awhile my neighbor gave me males that he caught in a net used for minnows 20 minutes from here but I have yet to find a single one. I want females as would love fry.
They are outside . I thought I had a pair but it was older male and younger male .

Yes thats the problem with the topminnows they jump . Your right screen,netting is what is used as there was a fish import/holding farm about hour from here . I never saw it but those that have gone told me they used nets over the cement vats .

I know the general area the flagfish are in and hope to have a few females soon.

Edited by Sal, 04 May 2008 - 03:28 PM.