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I have small pond in my garden - about 2m x 0.5m x 0.5m The is fed by a water feature with upper pond and small waterfall.
I had 3 goldfish in the upper pond and 6 in the lower pond all happily swimming away yesterday. Last night I noticed the patio near the pond was wet and the pump was leaking - tuned the pump off and all was well - pump only goes for hour in morning and a few of hours in the evening .
I just went out just now, the water level was 10cm lower than normal (on account of the leak last night) and everything in lower pond is dead - all the goldfish, scores of tadpoles and small water bugs. All dead.
Just checked on the upper pond, the tadpoles alive, the fish are alive and all looks healthy.
So, what could cause such a massacre in such a short time frame? There pond was still >40cm of water depth so they weren't exactly high and dry...
If I fix the leak in the pump, will I likely poison the upper pond too? Is there an easy way to check the toxicity of the lower pond water (other than taking an alive fish and sticking it in ground zero?
Pump sealing has failed and electrocuted everything? (assuming it's a submersible pump in the bottom pond).
to test tthew's theory turn the pump on and put your hand in the water!
(don't).
Not enough oxygen in the pond?
Is the pump in the pond - electrocution?
Is the pond in the sun - did the water get too hot?
Random guesses - I'm not an expert!
The pump system goes pond -> pump -> external filter system -> top of water course. The leak occurred in a split on the last leg of the system. repaired split hose, turned pump back on and pump seems fine - stuck my finger in and no tingley electrocution.
I've scooped out the dead fish and turned the pump on. If the top fish now die, I know it is a poison in the water...
If they remain fine I'll put the genocide down to them clearly being Brexit voters overcome with guilt and taking their own life in a modern day Seppuku...
Unless someone put poison in your pond I wouldn't count out the electrocution suggestion. Very odd that everything should die so quick. Goldfish can live in a muddy puddle. Tadpoles and water insects also being dead suggests something serious.
Is your pump on an rcd? If not, get one. You can get plug in ones - https://www.screwfix.com/p/masterplug-rcd-adaptor/63731?tc=AB6&ds_kid=92700019905977485&ds_rl=1248181&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1249481&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI15jJ3qy72wIVb7vtCh3PNAdsEAQYASABEgK2MfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIiHuPusu9sCFQQh0wodm4kPzw
Be very careful around the water until you figure it out.
Anything else electrical near the water? Air pump etc?
Have you been using weedkiller anywhere near it? Weedkiller is very toxic to fish.
There’s definitely something fishy going on at your plaice.
The electrocution sounds like a red herring to me, but I Wanda if it cod be something as simple as overheating in the sun. I doubt someone woiuld pois(s)on on porpoise.
If you have a filter, the pump should run 24/7 to keep the bacteria alive in the filter, otherwise bad things can happen.
Where you bought the equipment should have toad you this.
I like Matt’s liner thinking.