Help! Pond collapsed...will fish survive in tap water overnight?

[gruffalosmile]

Hi, the sides of my pond have collapsed taking mud and stones into the pond, I think it's leaking - will the fish survive overnight in tap water until I can get a proper solution??

Sorry I have no idea, but could you phone a local aquarium or aquatic centre? They may have someone who can advise.

I'm no expert but I would suggest saving a good amount of the pond water for them as possible whilst you await better advice.

i would find the biggest container possible and fill it with pond water and put them in it

yy to saving pondwater, if you can. Do any of your neighbours have a water butt. Water from there would be fine - no added fluoride, which is what they don't like.

I don't think they'd survive in tap water. As others have said above, save as much pond water as possible in a large container, and add some of the plants from the pond if you have them.

Tap water is OK if dechlorinated- the problem is that with no filtration, the ammonia level will build up quickly, and this will happen with whatever kind of water you use. Overnight though, it shouldn't be a problem. How soon can you get them back in the pond?

Hi, thanks all, what an afternoon we'e had! We only had one big goldfish in there, he is out and in a big tank of water (borrowed the tank, filled with tapwater but I did go out and buy aquasafe this afternoon and quickly set it up, he looks happy, not gasping or anything). A friend has a spare aquarium filter she can lend me if I need it. Trouble is the pond has completely collapsed. It needs to be totally rebuilt. The existing liner is one of those semi-rigid preformed ones and the soil around is was too soft. To be honest it was a complete nightmare to put the bloody thing in, it was too flexible, and the sides kept distorting. So now I am trying to decide whether to go for a flexible liner, but am worried the same thing will happen again if it rains so heavily (we must have a high water table), or go for a rigid liner and maybe have a retaining wall built so the pond stands proud above the ground. I can't really afford a proper pond designer type person, they have quoted me 1,000's. A local builder/landscaper is coming to have a look but I don't know if he is an expert on ponds. So anyway it looks like being a while before I can get him back in his pond. Need to rehome him I think! Shame as he is very pretty multicoloured fish and quite big now.

If he's indoors now then I'd either keep him inside over the winter or find him a new home quick- once the weather starts slipping down into single figures then it'll be too cold to move him. How big is he?

Hi thanks his tank is outside, it's a 200 litre one so can't bring it inside, house too small! He's about as long as my hand. I'm going to ask around for a home for him.

Fish now rehomed! Colleague of a friend has him, she keeps fish. Still need to get the gaping hole in my garden sorted out but at least I don't have to worry about the fish dying although I did feel a bit sad leaving him behind! Thanks for your advice.

Brilliant news :)