About Robyn Rhudy Expertise I can answer questions regarding goldfish, koi, orfe, minnows, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, aquatic insects, snails, shrimp, other aquatic animals, algae, aquatic plants, winterizing, pond maintenance, pond setup, pond problems, and more. I am not as good on the actual construction of ponds and with pond equipment such as pumps and filters but know the basics.
Experience I have eight ponds and four aquariums. My largest 1800 gallon pond was built in 1997. Since then, I set up a web site on my animals, fish, and ponds. My pond web site (fishpondinfo.com) is huge, award-winning, and has spawned a free pond e-newsletter and a book on ponds. I am well known and respected in the on-line pond community.
Organizations Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
Publications I am quoted in an article in Aquarium Fish (May 2003). I published my own book on ponds in 2001. I wrote an article for the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Organic Gardening on tub ponds.
Education/Credentials Masters degree in analytical chemistry; many people consider me a pond expert
Question Hello,
We have an in-ground cement Koi pond/fountain that was empty when we
recently purchased this property. We sealed it with a water proof deck paint
and installed a new pump. Whenever we use the pump, the water will fill with
suds. We've tried scooping it out and re-filling the water to no avail. We've
also tried the pond starter kit, but nothing seems to change the situation. We
are only looking to grow water plants and not have any fish, but would like to
eliminate the suds. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Mark
Answer What exactly was that paint? If it wasn't made specifically for ponds, it's probably causing the problem. New cement will leach; I don't know how old your pond is. Sealing it or putting in a liner is a good idea to prevent leaching of the cement. You can't use deck paint though. The paint will leach organics into the water that can cause the foaming. It's also toxic to animals and plants. I suggest either resealing the pond with the correct sealant or putting an EPDM liner over it all.
Here's a link to one place sealing the liquid rubber "paint" like you should use: http://www.pondtechnology.com/pages/cim.html
I'm not positive that painting that over the old paint will prevent leaching of the paint but that company would know.
