Koi pond overflow

[Grandma]

Son and d.o.l. just moved into new-to-them house with decent-sized, (but neglected  ::)) garden. Their next-door neighbours have a big, raised koi pond - (I'd guess around 30' x 20' - but I'm rubbish at estimating sizes so could be miles out either way  ???) - and there's an overflow pipe sticking into son's garden. (Apparently this was put in with the blessing of the previous owner of son's house.) Where it discharges is directly onto a little fruit bed - (gooseberries, tayberries, blackberries, etc.) All the fruit looks very healthy at the mo and there shouldn't be a waterlogging prob as the garden has a gentle slope and, being on the chalky South Downs, should be free-draining. Does anyone foresee any problems or is it just a free source of high-nitrogen liquid feed?  ;D

[Grandma]

[louise stella]

All I know is that when I clean out my goldfish tank I empty it on the garden - i'm sure it helps!

But I would think it would be a problem in the garden only if the pond discharges lots of water and the ground is waterlogged! 

lLouise

[Sparkly]

We have a large koi pond. Whilst building the current pond the fish went into a temporary home which was a converted raised flower bed. The fish actually ended up staying in their for over a year. The contents of the filters/pond in this temporary home all went back into the flower bed when the fish were moved to the new pond. Flowers and Veg have grown very well in this bed!

[OllieC]

I keep tropical fish & regularly measure the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels. The pH is normally about 7 - occasionally I check this too.

I've never mentioned levels of P or K or any Trace elements but there must be other stuff as there's lots of funny things in their food.

A well functioning tank or pond should have very low levels of Ammonia & Nitrite, but plenty of Nitrates. I'm not sure how much the plants care, but in a tank, you only get rid of Nitrates by plant growth or water changes.

I pour my water from changes onto whichever bit of my garden wants Nitrates - things that are growing leaves but you know that already... In winter, I pour the water into the "French Drain" - (our favourite joke being that it's called this because it's smelly & doesn't work but it is in fact a soakaway).

The most likely time for a pond to overflow is autumn or winter, which is when it's least useful to have Nitrates added to your fruit bushes, although with good drainage it shouldn't do any harm.

Just my thoughts.

Ollie

[Grandma]

Thanks very much for all the advice  :). I told my son - (a gardening virgin) - that there would always be nice people on A4A ready and willing to share their knowledge and expertise. (He's very relieved to know he wont end up with fishy-flavoured fruit! :P) Bet there will be lots more more questions coming too.......  ;D