On 9/3/2011 8:58 PM, songbird wrote:
j wrote:

I've had my pond running for a month and it is a joy. It's lightly
planted with a water lily, some parrots feather and some other margin
plants. And 5 goldfish.

how many gallons of water?

About 500 gallons.

i love the
sound of a small fountain or water fall.

http://keepsakewatches.com/misc/rainbow_small.jpg

That is a small pump running about 600 gpm and kill-a-watt says 48 W.
The fountain is about 5 1/2 feet tall by ~ 4'. Sounds just like rain.
About 11 AM the sun is at about the right angle for rainbows behind the
fountain.



The nitrogen cycle in the pond converts fish and other waste to
nitrates. This powers the pond plants.

http://keepsakewatches.com/misc/fish_lily_small.jpg

So, with the coming (finally) rains, I'll have excess water. I have
some memory (can't find a reference now though) of using pond water in
the garden. Any suggestions on using this nitrated water?

5 goldfish are probably not really producing much
waste as you'd think. are they large fish? overfeeding
is a potential trouble spot for nutrient build up
in the water.

Small fish. But goldfish are prolific waste producers, they have no
stomach...

Thanks,
Jeff

songbird