Fish pond
Yesterday afternoon, Marge and I returned from a lovely but exhausting day out in the Peak District.
I realised that the pond water had receded over the past week or two in this hot weather and decided to top it up, so turned on the hose. This was at about half past five.
I then forgot about it and dropped off to sleep.
About five hours later I just happened to be looking out of the back windows and saw water leaking all over the patio. The pond had risen well above the level of the rubber liner and had been overflowing for God knows how long.
Panic!
I'm well aware of the dangers of tap water (with chlorine, or even chloramine) to goldfish. We have a dozen (raised from three - the randy buggers!). Obviously, I dashed outside and turned off the tap, then spent all last night worrying about whether the fish would all be dead. I hate the idea of harming animals, even poor little insects and spiders which I rescue whenever I can.
This morning I went outside to look and was so relieved to see (having cleared away some of the bloody duckweed) that they were still swimming about.
I think I was lucky this time. I'd at least left the hosepipe running with a fine spray, which helps to aerate the water, and there is a pond fountain (and filter) running constantly which may have helped.
I have read that chlorine in the pond water burns the fish both outside and internally through their gills. What a horrible death.
I shall never do that again. If I top up the water again, I'm going to sit there and wait until it's done.