Peter Gowman

Mum and Dad have moved to Benidorm. Dad tells me that there are some good carp fishing lakes up the road from him. Before I decide to drag all of my fishing gear to Spain with me, does anybody out there have any experience or advice?

I had trouble with a heron, until one day the wife was sat by the pond and she heard a great flapping of wings. The heron was coming in to land, wife saw heron, heron saw wife, scared each other sh***less, haven't seen the heron since. I could lend you the wife I suppose.

First class answer Kimmy. Spot on. A good filtration system, a good ultra violet, a good balance of plants and fish and they should all live happily ever after. It's the chemical companies that would like us to change water regularly. Watching the fish is the only true maintenance. You soon know when they are not happy.

Peter My pond is about three feet deep at the ddepest point and there will be temperature differences at that depth. During cold weather there will be definite differences in temperature in ponds of eighteen inches or more. If you are not sure about your pond then watch where the fish congregate in cold weather or simply use a thermometer.

Leave the pump running all winter. Although you should keep the intake in as shallow a depth as possible and also locate the pump as near as possible to the fiter/waterfall outlet. This prevents excessive cooling of the pond. It is better to leave the pump running as it keeps the water well oxygenated, assists in keeping the pond ice free during cold snaps. Additionally, if you have a good filtration system, it allows the biology of the system to adjust with temperature changes naturally and then it is not necessary to 'prime' the filter when restarting. I have always left my system running all winter, I have friends who don't, and my fish and pond are in better condition. Make sure that you feed your fish correctly in colder weather.

Er...what's the link between 1&2 and 3&4. Did you know how the group 10c.c. got their name?