I have done this type of change by moving the water into large (like 50
gallon size) trash cans. If I understand you, your pond is about 3+feet by
8+feet. You should try to find out how deep. If you can get two large
trash cans, then you can use these to put your plants, fish in plus enough
water that has the good things (micro-organisms). If you skim the water off
the top, it should not be all that muddy - skim off as much as you can that
is decent. If you don't have sufficient water to fill the cans put the fish
in the container with the old pond water and plants in the one with fresh
water. If you have raccoons don't risk using a kiddie pool but otherwise
you could also use a cheap kiddie pool (do you have raccoons in the UK?).
Your baby is not mobile yet I assume - if not don't do a kiddie pool.

Feed your plant while you have it out (you can buy pellets that go into the
pot or wrap up some plant fertilizer in paper and stick well into the pot -
dig a hole with a knife if need be and fill it back in). It is a good thing
if the water lily covers most of the surface. If it is not doing well
though because it is too large of a plant for a small pond then you might
want to replace it with a smaller variety. Before you replace the liner -
if you can scavenge some carpet or carper pad it would be good to put this
under the new liner. If the local duck pond is not a natural pond and does
not have outlets into natural areas then there is no reason you should not
be able to put your excess fish there. Is there anyone you can check with?
And yes the fish will multiply again. This means that they have a good
environment. Be happy. If you don't feed them they will eat their young
and you will not have over population. How many fish are there do you
think?

This is a completely doable job. If you find you really enjoy the pond you
might want to add a second raised one to act as a veggie filter or you might
want to add a pump with sprinkler.

Here is a nice site with lots of info.

http://www.worldofwater.com/pond_style.htm

Please keep us up to date! Donna


"jenny23" wrote in message
...

the garden, such as it is, is three levels of concrete with a brick
build pond in the middle so nowhere to build a new one. the pond has no
filters or pumps or anything and unless the neighbourhood cats are
drinking all the pond water evaporation alone would not account for the
speed of the level going down.

i've been trying to rehome fish but no takers so far, was considering
taking some down the local duck pond but have a feeling that would not
be a very good idea and probably would get me told off

if then i do manage to thin out the fish a bit will they not just keep
breeding madly and get over crowded again?

i think once i do change the linner i will be able to give them a bit
more space cause the bottom seems to be very full of mud and a big
water lilly takes up a lot of room. i assume the fish do need the shade
plants provide tho so i will put the lilly back after trimming it. or is
there a better plant i can find for a small pond?

if the liner arrives i shall try to start operation pond clean up this
weekend so any other advice would be welcome. like if i treat the
chlorinated tap water with some kind of chemical can the fish go
straight into it? or should i save some of the old muddy water?




--
jenny23