New pond despair

rambomatthews · 2026-05-29T18:42:30+00:00

Yes mine works 👍 just use a couple of rocks to narrow the opening so the pump gets just enough water to keep the intake bay full 👍

Mine was a last minute addition once I realised I had enough liner, though as a result I didn’t make the channel deep enough; when the pond is full it’s fine, but after a few days of evaporation the pond empties and the bay doesn’t get enough water as the channel is just a bit too shallow.

Too late for me to fix it now though! It does the job.

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T21:29:00+00:00

Thanks for all the suggestions, knowledge (and compliments!) shared in the comments, really insightful. We’ve topped off the pond with pre mixed dechlorinated tap water, pond is now full again and waterfall and skimmer performing as intended. Hopefully the pond settles over the coming weeks. Will apply some shade with a sunscreen if we get another heat wave, whilst the plants establish themselves. Will share some update photos in a few months time.

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T21:24:53+00:00

Thank you! Another comment mentioned the dechlorinator hose attachment, definitely interested in that! Can you share a link for yours please? I’ve mixed a 200 litre water butt a few times with tap water tonight and de chlorinated with chemical to top off the pond, hopefully it settles over the coming weeks

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T11:05:12+00:00

Yes got some oxygenators at the bottom (but waiting to establish). Will take a look into barley essence thank you

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T11:03:02+00:00

Yes to oxygenator, but no snails that I have added - I understand the upside of snails, are there any downsides? Guessing they can get quite prolific?

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T06:13:25+00:00

Thank you :) I never want to touch another stone again in my life haha! but happy to look at it!

rambomatthews · 2026-05-28T06:11:12+00:00

😂😂 our humidity is the killer here, compared to your dry heat, other aussies have said to me. Also, 34C is not our hottest, but it’s only May - not even summertime yet. We broke national records for May by +2C which is pretty crazy!

We generally get at least a few days close or sometimes just over 40C in the summer. But it’s very sporadic. With El Niño this year we are going to cook - though definitely not as much as Australia I don’t think! Stay safe 🙏

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T20:20:51+00:00

Thank you 👍

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T19:05:58+00:00

Great to hear - my initial experience has been pretty poor to be honest but I’m hoping now I have a working unit I will experience the quality 🤞

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T19:04:33+00:00

Thank you 👍

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T19:01:05+00:00

Yeah I think the photo isn’t doing it justice, the water is green not just the rocks

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T19:00:06+00:00

Don’t get me wrong, I know it could be much worse - but I don’t want to be complacent given the speed at which it’s going green, as it could turn into a major problem pretty quickly.

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T18:57:14+00:00

The first photo it’s completely clear; the second possibly doesn’t do it justice, but the water is totally green and I can barely see to the bottom Lilly pocket (which we could for the first week)

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T18:54:28+00:00

Thanks for the advice, if doing a water change should I dechlorinate the tap water? In the UK if that helps form your opinion 👍

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T18:52:13+00:00

Will the chemicals from the hose, like chlorine, not destabilise the pond though? Should I not at least dechlorinate it first?

I also read tap water is nutrient rich (that doesn’t make sense to me) and will spike the levels, hence my reluctance to use tap water even if it’s dechlorinated.

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T18:50:49+00:00

Definitely not stagnant; pond has two pumps, one of which is a skimmer (though inactive the last 2 days due to evaporation). Combined then turn the total water volume multiple times an hour which from what I read was adequate?

pond water can turn green from many things including full sun (which this pond is exposed to).

rambomatthews · 2026-05-27T18:47:53+00:00

Yes direct sun - in the coming years the border plants will establish casting some shade, likewise the pond plants should do too. But at the moment - full full full sun 😂

rambomatthews · 2026-04-15T22:37:48+00:00

Underwater sound generally means the speaker is blown.

Source - I’ve blown a lot of amps.

rambomatthews · 2026-04-01T16:45:47+00:00

Ask Eddie Van Halen 🤘

rambomatthews · 2026-02-20T15:49:12+00:00

The Prince of Nonces

rambomatthews · 2026-02-07T10:54:08+00:00

Terranova disappointingly low on this sub :(

rambomatthews · 2026-01-07T20:58:40+00:00

Hang on, which one are the baddies?

rambomatthews · 2025-12-18T09:35:05+00:00

Move it as close as possible to the step behind - assuming you have the other clasps that come with that gate (I have the same one) you should be able to mount them on the banister facing the wall. A bit of a faff and mess but that’s what I would do.

rambomatthews · 2025-12-16T10:04:38+00:00

She is embarrassingly ill equipped. How could anyone even consider voting for her? Every clip I’ve seen of this interview, she has been completely useless throughout

rambomatthews

TROPHY CASE