Goldfish poorly after pond clean up

[Gromit33]

Morning everyone,
Last week we cleaned out our pond as it was pretty filthy. We have re-filled with tap water, but now 2 fish are ill- they are both lying on their sides on the bottom. Is it the tap water? or maybe they ingested some of the gunk when it all got churned up. I guess there is no cure for them?
Thx.

[B00]

Yep, it will be the tap water.

You're supposed to save some of the old water to put back in with them after cleaning. If they aren't dead already, you'll probably be better of euthanising them.

[tamborine]

put them into a fish tank with air filter soonest to recover.

What you call 'gunk' was their feed & airiation. Ideally they should have been removed with some of their water from pond.

Cleaning ponds should be done in spring when fish have better recovery weather outdoors.

[hammerman]

By stripping the pond down, you have removed all the bacteria which is responsible for breaking down ammonia from the fish waste. Therefore, the fish are swimming around in their own toilet. The chlorine in the tap water has also done its job by killing any bacteria.

As Boo said, next time....although ponds should't ever have a total cleanout, save at least 10%...preferably 25% of the old water and put it back with the tap water.

Good luck

[ainitatyb]

Aren't you supposed to leave tap water to stand to allow the chlorine to come out of the water before you add it to a tank or pond? I am not a fish expert but as children we were always advised never to replace more than a third of the water at once, but I know that these days there are supplements to add to the water to make it safer sooner. Check it out with a local pond fish supplier

[Gromit33]

Thx to everyone for their advice. Will know better next time. One fish seems to have recovered and have put the other in a tank of rainwater and it seems a lot happier now, so thankfully none have died.