Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Trouble shooting chlorine

Alright, I found my dream lot, 5 acres with a tank probably 2/3 an acre and close to town to keep the wife happy. However, I found out the pond which always stays full is fed by a monthly discharge from the neiborhoods water tower which has chlorine in it. The tower is probably 100 yards from the pond and the water is pumped through a hose that is roughly 20 feet long and the water travels over the ground like runoff into the tank. Is there any way I could keep fish alive in the tank or am I out of luck. Feel free to be creative, I have thought about connecting pipe that leads into a storage tank that could be treated before going into tank or a pipe that goes through some sort of filter (sand, charcoal, etc.) let me know if there is a way around this potential issue.

First Gfmd33, welcome to the forum. Boerne is a beautiful area, and me and Momma take a road down there every year. Close to San Antonio, but a complete different experience.

The other fish guys would have to chime in on fish survivability, but a water test will be needed to determine how much chlorine you have. You could probably use a pool kit, but TX A&M will test most of the pertinent chemicals, and it's usually pretty quick. The routine analysis covers chlorine.

Texas A&M water testing

So 3 questions, Does the pond have any fish now, is this city water or does your neighbor add the chlorine, and at what concentration?

Good luck and congratulations on the new place. Watch out for the deer.

If I understand you, the neighbor empties his water tower, via hose, onto your land. Is that right?

The pond has no fish right now, its city water and city has the water tower in neiborhood, and the city of boerne average is 1.0 of whatever they measure chlorine by. I am working on getting a water test but have not found a test yet other than for a pool which its low reading is higher than what a fish could survive so I will check out the aggie site. Also dave you are spot on. Thanks for your help

Welcome to the forum!

1) Chlorine or Chloramine? Chlorine will dissipate by itself, Chloramine won't and IIRC needs to be chemically nutralized.

2) My worry is that if the pond is dependant upon that water source, what happens if that source is diverted or cut off for whatever reason? If the water source isn't on your property, then you have no control over it.

Aquarium/Pet shops should have sensitive chlorine tests for tap water. Give that a try.

Dave D.,and ESSHUP ask some very important questions. Based on some of their questions/suggestions, I wonder if you can temper the water before it enters your pond.

As an outsider, who has watched so many very good friends in TX and OK recently suffer without pond water, being at full-pool seems like a really great problem to have.

Secondly, how much does the water inflow affect your overall pond's total water per inflow? 1%, 10%, 50%, etc? Do you have any idea how much chlorine is in that water?

If the water has relatively low concentrations that relaces less than about 10% of your total pond water content, I don't think I'd worry about the effects. I'd take my chances, and I'd try various experiments.

Take a look at how many of us raise fish in cages in ponds -- just ask for more information if you can't find adequate info. If the fish can survive in an approximately 4x4x3 foot cage, they will probably live in your pond. You can start with a few cheap and hardy fish, like a dozen goldfish or a batch of small bluegill, as long as none are big enough to escape the cage.

Chlorine chemical combinations and concentrations can vary considerably, especially during back-flushes. However, evaporation and sunlight can greatly reduce the effects and concentrations.

As mentioned above, inexpensive pool and aquarium kits can tell you a lot about your water, especially your incoming water.

If you find that chlorine inflow is excessively high, think about spreading the inflow over a wide, shallow, and very rough surface. This shouldn't be very expensive.

Except for the possibility of losing your water source, I think you are in an overall win-win situation.

Good Luck,
Ken

Good point Catmandoo about the fish in a cage. He might be able to get away (cheaper for a test)to buy a minnow or crawfish trap. Pinch the entrance shut and put some crappie minnows, goldfish or BG in it and toss it in the pond. If they can survive a day or 2 in the trap, I think fish will live in the pond. No need to feed the fish for that short of a time - they'll do just fine in the trap.

I have lost fish after the county here scaled water lines a 1/4 mile up hill from the 1/2 acre pond located next to the road rightaway. The chlorine itself did not kill the fish. It was the lack of oxygen as a side effect from the chlorine beeing introduced into the ecosystem. I found out after a water sample I had came back with traces of chlorine. We then traced it back to what happened from there.