@fcmf I thought you might be interested to see this thread after discussions elsewhere so thought I would post this here…
A quick update copied from the other thread…I now only have 3 Comet Goldfish after one passed over winter (without much else to explain its loss other than it was cold)
I’ve added a (very poor quality) photo of my remaining inhabitants - a very pleasing mix of different colours. What I understand to be a canary yellow, standard goldfish, and a Shubunkin (a male with beautiful king fins). I might get a Waikin (which are double tailed) just to to continue the theme and add to the group.
I’ve had a problem with my filter recently - the flow rate had dropped over time (last 12+months) and suddenly it stopped alltogether just recently. Knowing that this isn’t a panic mode thing in winter for a pond I chose to trust the establish nature of the pond and calmly order a replacement impeller to see if that would fix the issue. It was a few days before it arrived, broken and a new one had to be sent. I’ve just fitted that replacement today and things are back up and running. I made sure to flush out any water in the filter which I had opened to let some oxygen in to keep the bacteria alive… regardless it didn’t smell great. I’ve added some bottled bacteria, some water conditioner, done a bit of a water change and given the filter a clean and everything seems to be just fine.
I still need to fix my leaky cascade / waterfall and am feeling particularly motivated to do this at the moment so hopefully I can claim some time (between looking after 2 kids) this summer to do this then is can be turned on more regularly.
I’m also planning to try a dwarf Lilly again (first one I got died after first year… I think I put it too deep in the pond) and a few more pond plants. My big marginal plant (sorry not sure on species) really suffered int he cold this year and I don’t know if it is going to grow back… time will tell.