New pond owner help - 06/01/23 02:41 PM
Hi there! Been reading plenty of threads and articles on this site and I have learned quite a bit, so thanks for everything!
But I still have a few questions.
So last fall I had a new 1/4 pond dug. 9’ max, majority is 5’. I have it aerated, dyed, and beneficial bacteria have been added prior to stocking 125 gills(2-3”), 50 perch(3-4”) and 25lb of fhm. The day of stocking, I noticed one fhm swimming with a white blob on his eyeball, figured he was a goner but not a parasite or anything bad for the pond. 2 weeks later, I went for a swim to re organize some of my fish trees and the aerators. While moving stuff around I somehow didn’t notice the maybe 300ish fhm and maybe a couple perch dead!! All in different stages of decay but the body surrounded in green algae for the most part. Noticed another were swimming around just like the first one I saw the first day with a growth on its body.
I have a texas hunter feeder feeding optimal starter feed twice a day for 1 second.(not actually sure how much that is in grams or lbs) Water looks clean with no plant growth so far.
Am I being too worried over a couple hundred fhm and a growth that is probably nothing?
I called the company that stocked it and they said I should be fine but just wanted y’all opinion. Also am I feeding too much for the amount of fish for the moment being? I’m sure they’re not eating all of it but 1 second is as low as it goes unless I hand feed.
I also haven’t seen a gill since they’ve been added. I do now have 10k+ plus happy tadpoles swimming on the bank right now
But I still have a few questions.
So last fall I had a new 1/4 pond dug. 9’ max, majority is 5’. I have it aerated, dyed, and beneficial bacteria have been added prior to stocking 125 gills(2-3”), 50 perch(3-4”) and 25lb of fhm. The day of stocking, I noticed one fhm swimming with a white blob on his eyeball, figured he was a goner but not a parasite or anything bad for the pond. 2 weeks later, I went for a swim to re organize some of my fish trees and the aerators. While moving stuff around I somehow didn’t notice the maybe 300ish fhm and maybe a couple perch dead!! All in different stages of decay but the body surrounded in green algae for the most part. Noticed another were swimming around just like the first one I saw the first day with a growth on its body.
I have a texas hunter feeder feeding optimal starter feed twice a day for 1 second.(not actually sure how much that is in grams or lbs) Water looks clean with no plant growth so far.
Am I being too worried over a couple hundred fhm and a growth that is probably nothing?
I called the company that stocked it and they said I should be fine but just wanted y’all opinion. Also am I feeding too much for the amount of fish for the moment being? I’m sure they’re not eating all of it but 1 second is as low as it goes unless I hand feed.
I also haven’t seen a gill since they’ve been added. I do now have 10k+ plus happy tadpoles swimming on the bank right now