i know the feeling jenny! this month i finally had to give up my 3 year old stream because i just can't keep the raccoons from breaking down the sides. i have made the sides stronger 2 times already- once a year in spring it seems to get destroyed, and its a big job to crawl around and rebuild it. like you, i'm getting too old for this! keeping leaves cleared out was also a constant chore and every once in a while the pump would get clogged up too. so its gone now and the former stream is a nice little garden path. oh well, it was lovely while it existed.

why don't you first try discontinuing all the pumping in your pond and see if it will be ok without it? i have never in about 10 years had all that filtering in my big pond and it seems to do just fine with only a small pump in it to bubble and move the water around a little. my plants and three remaining goldfish (raccoons again!) are thriving and the water is clear. maybe you can enjoy your pond for more years without all the hassle. min

Jenny,

I would be discouraged too. I don't have an answer for you because I have just a small in pond pump that pumps water to a skippy filter so I don't have experience with all the plumbing you have.

I hope you are able to find someone to help you get it straightened out.

Anne

I understand where you are coming from. I filled in my pond and had a small, 125 gal, stock tank pond for the last 3 years. I haven't been able to give up ponding but have shifted to something smaller and more manageable. This year I dug out the old pond site and am in the process of putting in a 300 gal. stock tank with skippy filter waterfall. I think it is hopeless to totally give up the fish for me. Maybe you could go simpler. Good luck.

Since you know what needs to be done and how to do it, why not hire a "handyman" to do the work under your supervision and guidance? Around here, there are lots of strong young men willing to do almost anything to earn a few bucks.

I hear the frustration. I'm afraid I didn't really understand the plumbing in your system. It sounds a little complicated. But obviously you understand where everything is. Since you can detach certain connections may I suggest that you attempt to isolate the problem by scrounging up some extra pipes and connectors and divert the plumbing near the pump (or near any other point really)and flow it back or into the pond. With no problems, continue adding segments until the problem appears (or goes away depending on your segments). Isolation means only having to look in one section to solve the problem.

This time of the year with the cold water tempertures you should have chest waders. It's the only way to go. Have you tried using a plumber snake to remove the blockage?

I was about to suggest the same thing - some very high boots for stepping into that water. Maybe call a plumber to help out once in a while. Or call your son to come back and visit and see if he can fix it. Or just take a couple days off and try again. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Just scale back. Getting old doesn't mean giving up entirely!

I hardly know what to say. I know your pond has been a great pleasure to you and can only think you would grieve for it. I hope the previous suggestions help and that you are able to solve the problem.

Peace.

if you do decide to pack it in...i also live in NE ohio, i would be interested in any pond supplies or fish you need to get rid of.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. Thursday night when I got home from work I once again opened and closed the gate valve for over an hour, flushing the pipe. When I checked the settlement pond on Friday the water had dropped 3 inches, not a total empty. I was still frustrated at this point and decided to just ignore the situation for a while. Saturday when I went out to check the settlement pond was the same level as the large pond. I think whatever was blocking the bottom drain has passed through the plumbing. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I don't have the waterfall running full tilt. I want to wait a while to give it time to really flush itself out. My frogs were very happy to have their home again. They were actually singing on Saturday evening.

suschmoo

Send me an e-mail at jaysgee@earthlink.net or jaysgee@roadrunner.com. I have plenty of koi you are welcome to have if you want to come and get them.