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[Tick Tock]

I guess in the grand scheme of things, 3 disasters in the home have occurred in the last week. Despite SWMBO and myself, there are people in the wider world suffering with more grave concerns, so we count ourselves lucky despite any frustrations.

Last week noticed stains on the ceiling in the hallway. After ripping out paneling from bathroom it came as no surprise the en-suite toilet waste pipe was leaking. New pipe ordered and fitted, but meant removing toilet. After putting it all back together, mains supply pipe was dripping and cistern tank to pan gushing water over the side of the pan. I always clean up compression fittings with fine wire wool so they seat better when reassembled, so it wasn't lack of attention. All sorted now so we can pee and poo in confidence.

Pond pump filter failure next on list with water quality going downhill rapidly, and unfortunately a couple of fish have perished. A makeshift filter bed was quickly constructed and that's improved the water quality a bit... still a work in progress.

Came downstairs this morning to find the kitchen floor flooded in half inch of clean water.... looks like the dishwasher has packed up and the inlet valve has failed / leaked. All mopped up and dry now and dishwasher isolated.... looks like it's back to the old fashioned washing up routine after meals for a while!

They say bad luck comes in threes (all water related), so hopefully that's our quota for the month. 

[STEMO]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

[Sir Tigger KC]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

Aw go on Uncle STEMO, we could do with a laugh! 

[Tick Tock]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

 
I didn't think whippets could be trimmed.

[Raeturbo]

Well at least it’s not trouble with waterworks of the other kind

[Viral_Jim]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

Aw go on Uncle STEMO, we could do with a laugh! 

Agreed, there's prescious little entertainment in the world these days 

[dave the builder]

Last week noticed stains on the ceiling in the hallway. After ripping out paneling from bathroom it came as no surprise the en-suite toilet waste pipe was leaking. New pipe ordered and fitted, but meant removing toilet. After putting it all back together, mains supply pipe was dripping and cistern tank to pan gushing water over the side of the pan. I always clean up compression fittings with fine wire wool so they seat better when reassembled, so it wasn't lack of attention. All sorted now so we can pee and poo in confidence.

Pond pump filter failure next on list with water quality going downhill rapidly, and unfortunately a couple of fish have perished. A makeshift filter bed was quickly constructed and that's improved the water quality a bit... still a work in progress.

Came downstairs this morning to find the kitchen floor flooded in half inch of clean water.... looks like the dishwasher has packed up and the inlet valve has failed / leaked. All mopped up and dry now and dishwasher isolated.... looks like it's back to the old fashioned washing up routine after meals for a while!

They say bad luck comes in threes (all water related), so hopefully that's our quota for the month. 

apply PTFE tape round the olive if you  ever take apart a compression fitting 

water quality in ponds is something i know about ,I have BIG koi
Regular partial water changes will help with pond water ,and whack the air up (if you have airstones /pump)
what are the parameters ? low PH ,high amonia 
PM or ask me here if you need advice 

As for the dishwasher ,it's common for the O ring to fail on water break tank , or ,if it is solenoid failure, maybe a bit of debris stuck in the valve 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Perhaps he has shaved it completely so it looks 'well hard'

Just to confirm, I'm talking about the whippet and not STMO's private parts.

[biggriffin]

Dishwasher .. check the flood valve.and ensure the waste pipe isn't blocked.

 Attention, calling that Tigger,, white goods partial thread

[Tick Tock]

apply PTFE tape round the olive if you  ever take apart a compression fitting 

water quality in ponds is something i know about ,I have BIG koi
Regular partial water changes will help with pond water ,and whack the air up (if you have airstones /pump)
what are the parameters ? low PH ,high amonia 
PM or ask me here if you need advice 

As for the dishwasher ,it's common for the O ring to fail on water break tank , or ,if it is solenoid failure, maybe a bit of debris stuck in the valve 

That's what I did in the end, just a bit of PTFE tape around the face of the olive - sorted.

Dishwasher tried working yesterday evening without command, just shutting the door and you could hear a whirring noise, but no water coming in. I don't know why it was trying to cycle or do something that hadn't been asked of it, so perhaps there's a problem with the control logic?

That doesn't account for the loss of water, so maybe there's a problem with the solenoid inlet valve not functioning - but that shouldn't have made it leak all night long. So it's possible there's 2 faults? It is about 8 or 9 years old, so that may affect a decision as to whether to just replace it. Beco.

The pond has been in existence for around 15 years now, approx 2000 gallons with 15 fish (fluctuating due to heron or present situation) with new babies spotted each year. Goldfish, Orf and a couple of grass carp are in there. We relined the pond about 3 years ago and the Oasis filter / uv unit is around 6 years old. Water started going murky over the last few months, so guess a replacement filter unit may be required. I also suspect a water transplant could be on the cards as any new filtration system is going to have to work hard to clear the present situation. No point in using Algorem, as we're in a soft water area so that could potentially kill all the fish. Plant levels are still relatively low, so that won't help the eco system.

So.... good advice is key and any suggestions welcomed. It's not going to be a quick fix that's for sure, so at the moment it's damage limitation.

[dave the builder]

ok, not sure how much you know about water quality .some tips.

first off , the UVc lamp needs replacing every year ,the lamp will still light BUT won't give out UVc ,this will cause an algae bloom
all the sun we are having will also boost algae growth
High nitrates also boost algae growth
by "low plant levels" i assume you mean lilies and plants have not  grown much yet ? when they grow,they use up nitrates

you don't say what the pond parameters are  do you know about nitrogen cycle ?
do you have a water test kit ? I check my PH every day 
amonia levels will spike early in the season because filter bacteria is low,you can boost levels with additives
bicarbonate of soda brings up the PH level and helps create the structure for good bacteria ,along with a small quantity of calcium carbonate

probably lots of kit you don't have 
up to 50% water changes can help but try to avoid rapid changes in temperature more than 3 degrees per 24 hours
rather than use "tap safe additive" which is expensive you can buy Sodium Thiosulphate Pentahydrate (penta) which is very cheap in comparison
as i said,if you have air pump it helps

 

[dave the builder]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sodium-Thiosulphate-1kg-99-Pure-Crystals-Aquarium-Dechlorinator-High-Grade-/301176184190?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10


• 1 cup of the crystals  250 grams and will dechlorinate 18,000 gallons of fresh tap water, for the dechlorinator

add 250 g of sodium thiosulphate to 2 litre of boiled  tap water.to make a mix
 Use this mix at a rate of 30 ml per 1000 litres to treat new tap water

so a 1KG bag will treat 250,000 litres of water @ sub £6 inc delivery

about half the cost of BLAGDON WILDLIFE POND TAP SAFE 250ml bottle which treats just 2,273 Litres 

[STEMO]

I always knew there was something fishy about you.

[dave the builder]

I always knew there was something fishy about you.

you don't keep fish , you keep water
good water is complicated
get the water right, the fish live
get it wrong ,you've got fish soup   

[Tick Tock]

.... and he can lay bricks too. Watch out The Chasers, there's plenty of things they don't know.

Appreciate your advice Dave. new bulb obviously required. No ph kits or anything like that here, we're just simple folks living on the right side of the border. No expensive fish, but I do like to see them and try to look after them.

[dave the builder]

.... and he can lay bricks too. Watch out The Chasers, there's plenty of things they don't know.

Appreciate your advice Dave. new bulb obviously required. No ph kits or anything like that here, we're just simple folks living on the right side of the border. No expensive fish, but I do like to see them and try to look after them.

using UK supply 
PH test strips clicky cheap

adding salt can help if your having issues,fish are in poor health
2 KG in your size pond ,sounds a lot but diluted and spread through 9000 litre of water it would be fine

making and using the  Dechlorinator when doing water changes will vastly help fish too
smaller quantity £3.10 delivered clicky

so for less than a tenner you can have 400 PH test strips, enough salt to treat this current issue plus Dechlorinator to treat 62500 litres of tap water and some sodium bicarbomate to stabilize PH 

my water treatment is considerably more 
rotary drum filter, 8 foot long chamber filter of bio media, 100 litre ceramic bead filter, UVc germicidal treatment ,auto fill water through 5 stage water filter
that's before i start adding chemicals 
the food bill is not cheap either ,the koi are hand fed prawns every night ,plus rice,veg,cereals,sweetcorn,mealworms and pond pellets 

best stick to simple fish would be my advice 

[Doctor Gollum]

So far this week, a jasmine bush that was about to flower for the first time ever (apparently this takes a decade  ), a jar or peach compote, a beer, the freezer and a shredder. Oh, and the tip is still closed... 

[dave the builder]

So far this week, a jasmine bush that was about to flower for the first time ever (apparently this takes a decade  ), a jar or peach compote, a beer, the freezer and a shredder. Oh, and the tip is still closed... 

what happened to the beer 
if you spilled it ,that was a disaster 

[Doctor Gollum]

It got knocked out of the fridge by the same person who dropped the compote. And yes, all the beer escaped when the bottle exploded

[redelitev6]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

I hope "dog" isn't a euphemism 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Funny you should post this thread just as I had finished giving the dog a trim. I will not be posting any pictures, but fair to say it belongs in a disaster thread.   

I hope "dog" isn't a euphemism 

Some scouse girls can be a bit rough around the edges.

[Kevin Wood]

apply PTFE tape round the olive if you  ever take apart a compression fitting 

water quality in ponds is something i know about ,I have BIG koi
Regular partial water changes will help with pond water ,and whack the air up (if you have airstones /pump)
what are the parameters ? low PH ,high amonia 
PM or ask me here if you need advice 

As for the dishwasher ,it's common for the O ring to fail on water break tank , or ,if it is solenoid failure, maybe a bit of debris stuck in the valve 

Do you do relationship advice too?

Dear Deirdre Dave,

My wife always got home by 6 but recently she's been "working late" a lot....

 

[dave the builder]

Do you do relationship advice too?

Dear Deirdre Dave,

My wife always got home by 6 but recently she's been "working late" a lot....

 

Dear worried from the south Kevin,

unfortunately with so many of the UK's working population off work,in lock-down, self isolating or sick,
 those that do have to work are doing longer hours to help keep the UK going
My advice would be to......

make the most of it you LUCKY ,LUCKY B*******

some of us have them home early or all ****ing the time

I hope that helps 

* insert your own swearwords

[STEMO]

He olde agony uncle jest:

Dear Neville,
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a mile down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt.
I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in the bedroom with a neighbour making mad passionate love to her. I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he went into the back yard and heard a lady scream, had come to her rescue but found her unconscious. He'd carried the woman back to our house, laid her in bed, and began CPR. When she awoke she immediately began thanking him and kissing him and he was attempting to break free when I came back. But when I asked him why neither of them had any clothes on, he broke down and admitted that he'd been having an affair for the past six months.
I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him any more.
Can you please help?
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sheila Usk
Dear Sheila,
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber.
I hope this helps.
Neville

[Raeturbo]

 

[Tick Tock]

 

[New POD]

Funny you should mention Toilets.

My career has been flushed down the Pan. I blame erm.....myself for not joining the civil service in 1985

[STEMO]

Came back from Asda fully loaded. Dropped some bags on the worktop and asked wifey to start putting it away. Went and got more bags and told wifey I would finish off. Opened fridge door, where wifey had decided to put a 4 pint bottle of milk on the top shelf of the door (not the bottom where it is safely restrained by a bar) right to the outside (not the inside, by the door hinge). Splat! Four pints of milk all over the floor. Well...about two pints actually, but I was so shocked, and with both hands full, I just stood and watched the other two pints decant from the split in the bottle.

Sigh. That'll stink for a while, esp the bit that went under the fridge freezer, which I CBA to move because it's full of the shopping I brought home.

[amba]

Spilt milk starts to smell like baby puke 🤢 in a few days so that will need cleaning up smartish !!

[Tick Tock]

You might not smell the gone off milk due to the fact there was a stray pooch roaming around your house a couple of weeks ago   

[Andy B]

Spilt milk starts to smell like baby puke 🤢 in a few days so that will need cleaning up smartish !!

Nearly 30 years ago, my son who was a bout 3 at the time, decided he'd pour himself some milk. He couldn't reach the kitchen worktop to he put his cup on the couch in the living room. He then poured the best part of a 4 pint 'bottle' of milk over the couch while trying to fill his cup. It was a beautiful sunny May day bank holiday week end and the couch & carpet underneath smelled wonderful! 

[STEMO]

Spilt milk in the back of a car and that's it. It never, ever goes away.

[Raeturbo]

Spilled some on my chest once when I was watching a farm dairy programme, didn’t think anything of it and forgot to wash it off, however the smell started to escalate ending with I had to have skin grafts on my chest to get rid of it. Still get a faint sniff of it now and again though. 

[dave the builder]

Spilled some on my chest once when I was watching a farm dairy programme, didn’t think anything of it and forgot to wash it off, however the smell started to escalate ending with I had to have skin grafts on my chest to get rid of it. Still get a faint sniff of it now and again though. 

you lost me there 
do you mean your allergic to milk ?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

[dave the builder]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

I'm not one to gossip  but I remember the last time he ripped the lino and smashed whatever was on top of the fridge 

[Raeturbo]

Remember that, the poor dog was in plaster for ages

[Raeturbo]

Spilled some on my chest once when I was watching a farm dairy programme, didn’t think anything of it and forgot to wash it off, however the smell started to escalate ending with I had to have skin grafts on my chest to get rid of it. Still get a faint sniff of it now and again though. 

you lost me there 
do you mean your allergic to milk ?

                 Not anymore I had nasal surgery the same time and unfortunately it affected my sense of smell

[STEMO]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

I'm not one to gossip  but I remember the last time he ripped the lino and smashed whatever was on top of the fridge 

Lino? You'll be calling it oilcloth next 

[dave the builder]

Spilled some on my chest once when I was watching a farm dairy programme, didn’t think anything of it and forgot to wash it off, however the smell started to escalate ending with I had to have skin grafts on my chest to get rid of it. Still get a faint sniff of it now and again though. 

you lost me there 
do you mean your allergic to milk ?

                 Not anymore I had nasal surgery the same time and unfortunately it affected my sense of smell

Blimey ,what a nightmare
Do you wear a BIB when you eat your cornflakes ? 

[dave the builder]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

I'm not one to gossip  but I remember the last time he ripped the lino and smashed whatever was on top of the fridge 

Lino? You'll be calling it oilcloth next 

I never said nothing Uncle Stemo   

nowt wrong with lino ,it's very posh and modern 
what's on the kitchen floor then ? animal hides 

[Raeturbo]

I used to Dai, .. but I developed a rare bib phobia after the first week and my neck got swollen too, so I just had to grin and bear it I’m ok now though at last

[dave the builder]

I used to.. but I developed a rare bib phobia after the first week and my neck got swollen too, so I just had to grin and bear it I’m ok now though at last

Stick to bacon butties with HP sauce   

[Raeturbo]

Yep I can’t afford cash

[STEMO]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

I'm not one to gossip  but I remember the last time he ripped the lino and smashed whatever was on top of the fridge 

Lino? You'll be calling it oilcloth next 

I never said nothing Uncle Stemo   

nowt wrong with lino ,it's very posh and modern 
what's on the kitchen floor then ? animal hides 

First there was oilcloth, also called linoleum. Now we have vinyl. Or sawdust in Derbyshire. 

[dave the builder]

Pull the fridge out and deploy the whippet to lick it up! 

I'm not one to gossip  but I remember the last time he ripped the lino and smashed whatever was on top of the fridge 

Lino? You'll be calling it oilcloth next 

I never said nothing Uncle Stemo   

nowt wrong with lino ,it's very posh and modern 
what's on the kitchen floor then ? animal hides 

First there was oilcloth, also called linoleum. Now we have vinyl. Or sawdust in Derbyshire. 

I have an insulated ,heated concrete slab with ceramic tiles 
with sawdust on 

[Doctor Gollum]

Got up, had a shower, then went into the garage to start todays jobs only to see water streaming from the ceiling.

Popped a bucket underneath and went to investigate.

Side of the bath and a floor tile later, it looks like we need five floor boards, a couple of chipboard panels, possibly a joist and the bathroom redoing

Looks like it's a leak from the wall at the head of the bath, that's been running down the wall behind some stud work and then behind the skirting and along under the floor covering before draining down into the garage ceiling. Would say from the state of the boards that it's been a while in the making and it's obviously reached the point of saturation as it wasn't raining in the garage previously...

Annoyingly all the plumbing is all bone dry, as is the area under the bath. A split pipe would have been easy to deal with, but it is what it is. 

[STEMO]

So the source of the leak is?

[dave the builder]

I read it 3 times thinking what's leaking then 

I assume shower or bath water leaking into the wall due to sealant fail

[dave the builder]

consider making a sturdy base frame out of 3x2 that spreads all the weight of the base of the bath and spreads it out evenly.
 (rather than the flimsy metal legs that flex and put all weight on 5 very small contact points )
you may need to taper the wood frame to produce a fall to the waste if the bath is flat .
I've done this many times, particularly if there is an over bath shower fitted .
obviously after it's dried out and floor repaired .
then fill the bath with water to load it with weight, decent injection of silicone all round the edge (not a smear over the gap)
leave to set 24 hours before pulling the plug or thinking about decor/trim/tiles 

unfortunately such work is not done and dusted in a day ,so buy a paddling pool to "soak your plumbs in" in the back garden during the project 

[Doctor Gollum]

I suspect that it's an odd corner where the screen meets a false wall over one end of the bath (houses the shower mixer and head plumbing.

Someone is coming out today to have a look (confirm the above).

Replacing the bath with a walking shower was on the cards, but could do something with marine ply and studwork... Panels would then be sheathed with an epoxy/woven covering and painted. Feker won't ever leak again

See whose paying for it first...

[STEMO]

I suspect that it's an odd corner where the screen meets a false wall over one end of the bath (houses the shower mixer and head plumbing.

Someone is coming out today to have a look (confirm the above).

Replacing the bath with a walking shower was on the cards, but could do something with marine ply and studwork... Panels would then be sheathed with an epoxy/woven covering and painted. Feker won't ever leak again

See whose paying for it first...

If I bought a walking shower could I use it in different rooms?

[Doctor Gollum]

Likewise 

[biggriffin]

I suspect that it's an odd corner where the screen meets a false wall over one end of the bath (houses the shower mixer and head plumbing.

Someone is coming out today to have a look (confirm the above).

Replacing the bath with a walking shower was on the cards, but could do something with marine ply and studwork... Panels would then be sheathed with an epoxy/woven covering and painted. Feker won't ever leak again

See whose paying for it first...

 Had similar few years back, Insurance paid out, for new kitchen celling, redecorating, and bath to be re-sealed.

Accidental cover is what covered it.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I suspect that it's an odd corner where the screen meets a false wall over one end of the bath (houses the shower mixer and head plumbing.

Someone is coming out today to have a look (confirm the above).

Replacing the bath with a walking shower was on the cards, but could do something with marine ply and studwork... Panels would then be sheathed with an epoxy/woven covering and painted. Feker won't ever leak again

See whose paying for it first...

Is that necessary?

How hard can it be to fix.

A hairy-arsed builder will just make it worse....and charge you.

[Doctor Gollum]

I suspect that it's an odd corner where the screen meets a false wall over one end of the bath (houses the shower mixer and head plumbing.

Someone is coming out today to have a look (confirm the above).

Replacing the bath with a walking shower was on the cards, but could do something with marine ply and studwork... Panels would then be sheathed with an epoxy/woven covering and painted. Feker won't ever leak again

See whose paying for it first...

Is that necessary?

How hard can it be to fix.

A hairy-arsed builder will just make it worse....and charge you.

Insurance companies  Household wanted pipe insurance to look first so they could pass the buck.

Plumber comes out, pipes all fine. Which we already knew

Next step, specialists need to come out and remove the asbestos boards from the garage ceiling before they do anything else... 

You'd have thought that they'd be better off leaving them well alone and deal with the bathroom above Especially when they find out that they will need to take down the wall at the end of the garage to remove the boards from 4 feet into the kitchen where the garage wall used to be

Or is it just me?

Garage shrinking and kitchen extension were done about 30 years ago. So not guilty.

[dave the builder]

Coronavirus, asbestos and black mould
Glad i'm not doing the job 

if they rip out the garage ceiling then it will give it chance to dry out and fix any structural....
 Before they rip the bathroom out .so you will still have a working bathroom
plus ,it's more money to earn from the job  ka-ching £££££ 

[Shackeng]

Funny that, my pond pump has also failed, just under a year old Blagdon. Unable to contact store due lockdown and no reply to email. Also shower pump failed but have fitted, now, 3 replacement Stuart Turner Monsoon pumps. First one blew a fuse, 2nd very noisy, 3rd is almost as bad but CBA to change it again. Will find a different make to fit. Very disappointing as the original ST pump was very quiet until it became fully silent.
Finally, Bosch gas hob with glass top, now on the 3rd one, all fitted under warranty. Every one has developed small cracks in the glass. Have complained as not fit for purpose and asked for SS replacement. Suspect this will end in the small claims court. 

[YZ250]

.....
Also shower pump failed but have fitted, now, 3 replacement Stuart Turner Monsoon pumps. First one blew a fuse, 2nd very noisy, 3rd is almost as bad but CBA to change it again. Will find a different make to fit. Very disappointing as the original ST pump was very quiet until it became fully silent.
.....

Annoying that is, as Stuart Turner pumps are normally regarded as the dogs danglers of shower pumps. I fitted a Grundfos Watermill over ten years ago with no issues so far. Hope I haven't just cursed it by saying that.    I would have fitted a Stuart Turner Monsoon but the price difference was quite significant. Stuart Turner pumps aren't cheap are they. My parents have a Salamander, which I also fitted around ten years ago, and touch wood that has served them well. 

[Shackeng]

The new Monsoons are slightly smaller than the old one, and given my experience, I suspect they are not as well engineered. And no, not cheap.   

[Tick Tock]

Thought you would like an update on the pond, especially as Fishy Dave gave out some good advice.    It's been a lot of hassle this year, and keeping the water in good order has been nothing but problem after problem, you get rid of one issue, and another comes along. Seriously thinking about jacking it all in and filling with aggregate and soil to make a feature reed and grass bed. The Indian Rhubarb plant loves those sort of conditions and can get quite big, usually penetrating the liner after 10 years resident!

Getting the water to a decent quality (you could almost drink it with no ill effects) took about 3 or 4 weeks of hard work, pumping 75% of the pond water out (with the fish netted when the level dropped low), removing lillie plants, all into a 1000 gallon swimming pool which cost £45, then a lot of scrubbing all the sludgy shite out, and wheelbarrowing it to the flower borders, brushing the liner, hosing and pumping of the last, cleaning out the pump and filter, new UV light, that was £30, additional water pump with fountain to aerate the pumped back in water.


This shows it the week after putting the water and fish back, and getting better. We've had these pond floats for years and they do a good job of protecting the fish from attack. The Kingfisher dives down between them, so we lose the small ones to him. The Heron is a devious bugger and it takes a lot to stop them once they've had a fishy taste, especially this time of year bring up the chicks. I hate netting and wires strung all around the place looking like the catenary at Crewe station.

Here's a couple of links to Herons trying to get the fish in a pond. They're so gangly, you wonder how they fly!




So now there's only 5 brown fish left, 2 slightly different types of Grass Carp and the largest being 18 inches long. If it was easy enough to find a home for them, I'd gladly fill it in and spend my time doing other more enjoyable things.... You've really got to want a garden pond, because they are hard work keeping on top of it.

Now a invasive stringy fluffy weed has invaded due to the clarity and circulation of water, so god knows where that's come from. 


 

[Tick Tock]

https://youtu.be/gXzE-1-rUPE Heron in action 

[Tick Tock]

https://youtu.be/hsrE2YMroFc and again

[Doctor Gollum]

https://youtu.be/gXzE-1-rUPE Heron in action 

An optimistic bugger thinking foxgloves would support his weight... 

[dave the builder]

"you keep water, not fish"   
and keeping water good enough for fish to live in is either time consuming or very costly (or both if you get it wrong  )

my pond water is pumped to a rotary drum filter takes out most of the solid waste ,then an 8 foot long multi bay bio-filter that is planted with fast growing mint (takes the nitrates out and processes ammonia ) then to a pressurized bead filter    full of ceramic media ,through a UVc lamp and back to the pond ,water gets exchanged / topped up via a 5 stage water filter ,then there is the pond water treatments ,anti parasitics etc etc 
you can spend thousands ££££   
my filtration needs very little maintenance fortunately

glad you are getting on top of it    looks like a lovely mature pond 

you can get a Heron ,cat and pest sniper clicky
personally I use nets and grids ,my stupid koi like jumping out 

if you are getting algae blooms or string algae you may have high nitrate levels ,fast growing plants use it up 
 regular part water changes help to some extent ,also shade from the sun cuts it down .

your water looks very clear  well done ,not easy