Wierd pond pump behavior

[spence]

I've seen skunks, opossum, foxes etc... in the neighborhood but never anything else furry that wasn't a cat or a dog. I know the birds will raid ponds (especially if you're an Iron Maiden fan) but an egret wouldn't have left 1/2 a fish on the rocks.

My 5 year old is going to be bummer. Thank god it didn't kill our one koi (skull) who's a bad ass fish. My wife would be setting up the claymores around the water feature.

-spence

[spence]

Spoke with the guys at Agway. They said it was definately a mink attack (+1 to gone fishin). I guess they rip off the heads, eat the guts and leave the rest...exactly as the crime scene is.

Upon closer inspection my koi looks to have been harrased as well. His scales are really damaged, but it looks like he's ok otherwise.

They also said my pump behavior was completely odd. Might be ordering a new pump.

-spence

[striperman36]

Pump Stimulus.

Thats the one thing with outdoor aquariums, things eat them.

[cheferson]

Spence,

Not sure if youd have any interest, but i found a natural way to get rid of cloudy water and excess alage . In my search for organic straw, i found some organic barley straw at a pond supplier. I guess you soak it in a mesh bag in your pond, and as it breaks down , it releases a chemical. This chemical reduces alage and cloudiness naturally.

[spence]

I like natural solutions to problems like these.

Fortunately my pond has been very healthy, water is crystal clear and algae hasn't really been an issue. I have used an anti-algae product a few times, but only if it looked as though things were getting bad. Otherwise the fish seem to be doing their work.

-spence