Help me save our fish?

[worpdrive]

Until Tuesday 17th we were living in a rented house in Billingshurst, West Sussex, which unfortunately caught fire early that morning and is now uninhabitable.
On the terrace there is a fishpond- some 250-300 gallons (est) in which there are quite a few fish- goldfish and other varieties ranging in size from 2cm to 20cm-ish. We have fed and maintained them during our tenancy and they have been a source of great enjoyment to my family and friends.
Today I visited the property to feed them and was dismayed to find only a third of the water usually in the pond. I suspect that a tile from the roof (poked down by the fire brigade when venting the upper floor) must have punctured the liner.
As the RSPCA are completely uninterested and local firms only suggest contacting aquatic societies, etc, I wonder if anyone on this forum with experience in this area would like to take the fish and either keep them or introduce them to someone who can? It would be dreadful if they were to die, but with the hosepipe ban I've only been able to refill the pond because a neighbour has a spring- fed well and this is a temporary solution at best.
Any practical solutions/suggestions/ offers of help welcome......Thank You

[therealpigdog]

Afraid I can't offer any practical help, but if you have room you could just transfer them into one of these as a temporary measure and then get the pond liner fixed.

Should be able to claim the cost of the pool back off the house insurance too!

[AMLK]

I am afraid I can't help much, but is there not an exception to the hose pipe ban allowing you to fill up a pond that contains fish? I thought that is what my mother-in-law told me as they have a fish pond.

I hope you manage to get a proper solution, as just continually re filling it is not going to help long term.

[boobles]

If using tap water to refil the pond, you must leave the water in a seperate container for atleast 2 days before introducing it to the pond.
Fish can also live in a blow up paddling pool for a while if this is an option?

Do you have any pumps running in the pond?

[Comacchio]

boobles said:

If using tap water to refil the pond, you must leave the water in a seperate container for atleast 2 days before introducing it to the pond.
Fish can also live in a blow up paddling pool for a while if this is an option?

Do you have any pumps running in the pond?

Not true. Any tap water conditioner (can get stuff for ponds too) can be added alongside the water to allow it to be used immediately.

[boobles]

Comacchio said:

boobles said:

If using tap water to refil the pond, you must leave the water in a seperate container for atleast 2 days before introducing it to the pond.
Fish can also live in a blow up paddling pool for a while if this is an option?

Do you have any pumps running in the pond?

Not true. Any tap water conditioner (can get stuff for ponds too) can be added alongside the water to allow it to be used immediately.

The fish will NOT appreciate it, trust me. Directly from the tap is a

Edited by boobles on Thursday 26th April 19:12

[worpdrive]

Thanks chaps- I am assuming well water from a spring doesn't have chlorine present- plus I have introduced a 'chlorine negating agent' whilst filling up. We found some 'fish rescue 'people on the internet, one of whom may be able to help.
Apparently there are lots of people getting rid of pond fish at the moment and they are being abandoned on doorsteps in a particularly Dickensian fashion........victims of the 'cuts', so sink or swim I guess.

[boobles]

worpdrive said:

Thanks chaps- I am assuming well water from a spring doesn't have chlorine present- plus I have introduced a 'chlorine negating agent' whilst filling up. We found some 'fish rescue 'people on the internet, one of whom may be able to help.
Apparently there are lots of people getting rid of pond fish at the moment and they are being abandoned on doorsteps in a particularly Dickensian fashion........victims of the 'cuts', so sink or swim I guess.

Spring water is fine as it doesn't contain harmfull chlorine that can kill the fish.

[otolith]

Dechlorinator added to the pond with the tap water has always been fine in my experience. With any significant sized pond, it's the only way. When I do water changes on my aquaria, I pre-mix the dechlorinator with the water for the change - because I can - but in the opinion of my LFS guy that's unnecessary and adding it to the aquarium before adding neat tapwater is perfectly safe.

[boobles]

otolith said:

Dechlorinator added to the pond with the tap water has always been fine in my experience. With any significant sized pond, it's the only way. When I do water changes on my aquaria, I pre-mix the dechlorinator with the water for the change - because I can - but in the opinion of my LFS guy that's unnecessary and adding it to the aquarium before adding neat tapwater is perfectly safe.

adding dechlorinator is fine but I think the guy was insinuating that it's fine just to add tap water without anything else.

Either that or we have our wires crossed.

Edited by boobles on Friday 27th April 07:16

[Comacchio]

boobles said:

adding dechlorinator is fine but I think the guy was insinuating that it's fine just to add tap water without anything else.

Either that or we have our wires crossed.

Edited by boobles on Friday 27th April 07:16

I assume you did not read the part about tap water conditioner? No?

[boobles]

Comacchio said:

I assume you did not read the part about tap water conditioner? No?

It sunk in after a while. In my defence, I did say water straight from the tap is a + it's been a stressful few days for me.

[Comacchio]

boobles said:

It sunk in after a while. In my defence, I did say water straight from the tap is a + it's been a stressful few days for me.

Quite alright. Seachem Prime is my weapon of choice.

[otolith]

I reckon most dechlorinators are nothing more than a solution of sodium thiosulphate (photographer's hypo) with some blue dye and a massive markup - but for the amounts I use, I can't be bothered procuring and weighing out my own. I do buy the product intended for ponds rather than that intended for aquaria, because I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same with a slightly less massive markup.

[KingOfTheMoon]

Fairly sure you can use the hosepipe to fill up your pond. We have been told that it is fine to use it to fill up ours. Check with the water company.

With regards to the fish a temporary measure would be to find something big enough to hold them in. I have used large plastic storage boxes in the past which are fairly cheap and work pretty well. You might need a few though to cover the amount of fish you have.

[worpdrive]

Many thanks to all contributors- We googled 'fish rescue' and amazingly came up with some very helpful people, one of whom was going to come and perhaps rehome them- I then spoke to my brother-in-law who has a small lake- he was prepared to take them but it appears that there might be a problem as he has 'protected' newts in the lake and must check with the newt police -yes, they really do come and count 'em...........
Anyhow, we'll get it sorted out shortly. Thanks again...