small (less than 800 gallons) outside pond WITH FISH. Large pump that supplies the waterfall and river (20 foot long) failed and released some kind of oil that is now completely covering the surfae....worried about the fish. How can I clean this up quickly and effectively/
2006-10-22 08:19:00 · 8 answers · asked by talon_0930 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Very good question.
This unfortunately can happen and does happen. The best thing is to just do a water change a couple of times ( a few days apart). The oil shouldn't hurt the fish just make a real mess. I have had this issue happen before myself and it just takes time, water changes and it should be fine. And you might be able to contact the manufacturer of the pump and ask them as well.
2006-10-22 10:39:43 · answer #1 · answered by DJ n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Skim off the surface. You can put together a makeshift skimmer with a bucket and a submersible pump. Put the pump in the bucket and the bucket in the pond. Position it so that the water falls into the bucket, but not fast enough to fill it with the pump on. Fill the pond at the same time with a hose flowing at the same rate. Add some dechlor from time to time. When the oil slick is gone, you're done. Hope that helps.
2006-10-22 10:42:27 · answer #2 · answered by Wingaddict 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pond pump should be using a natural, non-toxic oil. Most pond pumps use safe oils as leaks do happen.
We had someone pour motor oil into our pond to prevent mosquitoes (there were none coming from our pond, our fish eat the larvae way to quickly). Our pond is smaller than yours but we just ran the hose for a while and let the pond over flow.
The safe, natural, non-toxic oil would only be in a submersible pump i think. Call the manufacturer. hope this helps.
2006-10-23 06:45:26 · answer #3 · answered by fish lips 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Run, very quifckly to your local pond supply store and get a skimmer, you may need several. Also, try throwing some foam pads (Pillow size) onto the oil to stop it from floating into the river, it should soak up some and you can then squeeze the oil into a tank but that is alot of oil.
2006-10-22 16:54:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
definite, your instincts are accurate on - this is going to ruin the rubber/plastic elements on your pump - we realized this the demanding way ;-( perfect thanks to regulate algae is a lot of plant life in baskets with gravel you've great wiped clean (can't wash it too a lot) to carry their roots - this turns right into a organic filter out. you do not ought to purchase severe priced plant life, you are able to ask round for plant life that would want to adapt to water (I somewhat have a huge peace lily a million/2 submerged it truly is gorgeous). Then at the same time as each and every of the bleach is out of the water and the plant life have wide-spread, upload some fish - we've some attractive 10" lengthy fan tail gold fish that were the ten cent feeder fish many years decrease back - in basic terms %. out those with exceptionally tails and get a affected man or woman man or woman to attend on you to capture the right ones! a number of our fish have lived 14 years. I somewhat have extra constructive success scrubbing the perimeters of the pond now and again than using algaecide- if/once you get a bloom, scoop it out, and then scrub aspects on a daily basis until eventually this is below administration. providing some colour helps cut back the algae bloom also, it flourishes in finished sunlight. For the scrubber i take advantage of a prefilter made pretty for ponds, as many kitchen sponges have chemical compounds in them. After our pond advanced some healthful "airborne dirt and mud" the small water lily began blooming each and every summer season - and we've not in any respect had an algae bloom back. What we assume of of as airborne dirt and mud is fertilizer to the plant life :-) desire this replaced into effective - we've had our small pond for roughly 18 years now and function truly loved it for the perfect 15 when we stopped attempting to shop it as sparkling as a swimming pool and enable the plant life and fishes thrive. solid success!
2016-12-05 02:50:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had to do this once when my pump leaked
spread sheets of newspaper on the surface of the pond
then lift out, it should pick up the oil, keep doing it until most of the oil is gone, then do a good water change and everything should be okay
2006-10-22 23:27:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do it like how they do it in an oil spill. oil always float. They encircle the spill to contain it.. Then suck it up.
You can get a water vacuum or get mops and mop the spill up.
2006-10-22 10:42:37 · answer #7 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try to google your question may help
2006-10-22 10:32:38 · answer #8 · answered by C live 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋