Question:
I'm full of questions today...
While dragging string algae out of my pond yesterday, I saw a mosquito on my
arm. This is actually quite rare in my neighborhood at any time of the
year. I'm guessing she was born and raised in my pond.
I have a waterfall with three pools (each about 6" deep) that flow into the
main pond. The pond is about 1200 gallons, with 6, six inch long Koi.
(1) Can mosquito larvae live in the upper pools (where currents are fairly
strong), or will they just get washed down the falls and into the main pond?
(2) Will the Koi eat mosquito larvae, or do I need mosquito eating fish?
(3) If I put mosquito fish (which I've heard are almost as much of a
nuisance as mosquitos) in the upper pools, will they just end up in the main
pond, and not solve my problem?
(5) Should I just get those mosquito control tablet things, and live better
through chemistry?
Answer:
> While dragging string algae out of my pond yesterday, I saw a mosquito on
my
> arm. This is actually quite rare in my neighborhood at any time of the
> year. I'm guessing she was born and raised in my pond.
> I have a waterfall with three pools (each about 6" deep) that flow into
the
> main pond. The pond is about 1200 gallons, with 6, six inch long Koi.
> (1) Can mosquito larvae live in the upper pools (where currents are fairly
> strong), or will they just get washed down the falls and into the main
pond?
Mosquito larva don't like strong currents, so they'll probably avoid the
upper pool.
> (2) Will the Koi eat mosquito larvae, or do I need mosquito eating fish?
Koi will eat mosquito larva with one caveat. It depends on the lay out of
your pond. If you have shallow areas where the koi can not reach, it will
become idea breeding grounds for mosquito larva.
> (3) If I put mosquito fish (which I've heard are almost as much of a
> nuisance as mosquitos) in the upper pools, will they just end up in the
main
> pond, and not solve my problem?
Mosquito fish or Gambusia Affinis breed like rabbits, I had them in my main
filter, they got into the pond, and now they're permanent residents. It's
pretty difficult to contain them, the little guys, especially the young,
they tend to get sucked up by pipes and pumps, and make it everywhere.
> (5) Should I just get those mosquito control tablet things, and live
better
> through chemistry?
Mosquito dunks work very well. They're a biological control, the dunks
contain a bacteria that kills mosquito larva. I've found for my pond I get
the same results if i use a full dunk, or half a dunk.
