Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Pond Water Gardening > golden orfs

golden orfs

25 9:55:22

Question
I have pond of gold fish [large 2100 gallons]  I get lots of algae in the summer months and much settles on the bottom of the pond.   Would golden orfs help clear the algae from the bottom of the pond?  also do they get along with other fish?  temperature hardy?  I live up north.

Answer
Orfes are carnivorous fish for the most part.  They rarely eat plants or algae.  They would not help with the algae.  The algae that settles on the bottom may be dead algae anyway.  Golden orfes may eat fish under 1" long but otherwise get along with goldfish and koi (I have all three together).  They can also take as cold as those fish, down to freezing.  

As for the algae problems, see my web site at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algae2.htm for a list of things to try.  

Good luck!