schmudge

Problem we have, fish dying: goldfish kept in L-shaped feature pond and lined with 3 - 4 inch granite stones.
5 champagne fountains only aeration method for 3,600 Litre fresh water which is cycled thru a swimming pool filter (only Papyrus roots in contact with water)
Fish fed with commercial feed.
Owner ONLY wants to see live fish and the stones on bottom.
Is this Possible?
Owner believes that the nutrients have been taken out by the new filter which was upgraded because the fountain was blocking up.

eiginh

So the old filter was replaced with a new one and didn't let the new filter establish for a couple of weeks?

gremlin

It is possible, but it sounds like the cycle died when the filter was changed out. How often is the pond vacuumed out (so the rocks can be seen)? Are any chemicals used to clean the pond? What sort of algae control is used? If the owner only wants to see fish and rocks, they must be using something to control algae. This could also affect the health of the fish. If possible, test the pond for ammonia and try to find out what type of chemicals may be being used in the pond.

TedsTank

Welcome Schmudge!!!

wow thats a tough one!! We built our pond and gathered lots of "river rocks" for the bottom. Algae grew on the rocks and finally we could hardly see them. If they are large rocks, they also collect lots of crud between them that never gets filtered out!!! We finally pulled all of them out and have a smooth bottomed and and no problems.
Early in setting it all up...the first year....I did lose fish to amonia poisoning. It is awful..they took a month or more to finish dying off depending on the amount of poisoning.
So...if you pond is deep....don't bother with rocks all over the bottom. If your filter is keeping the water crystal clear then on occasion the rocks could be srubbed a bit to help them show. If your pond is shallow the rocks etc can be nice.

Amonia seems to be your problem with a fish die off.
Any nutrients taken out by the filter will not harm the fish.

Plants are not necessary since you have a filter. They are nice and provide for some hiding spots for the fish, and the fish will be calmer if they have some sort of sanctuary.
What the owner wants is do-able. filtering is critical!! but a stark bare pool is not the best enviroment for the fish.