Note the lack of water!
I had not slept all that well the night before, but managed to do my exercise routine and walk the dog.
I went back to feed the goldfish and lo and behold, no water. Well, maybe just a little water, just enough for about a 6 inch depth and the twenty something goldfish that look more like koi (except they have no whiskers).
I didn’t think too much and ran to connect the hoses so I could refill the pond. While doing so, I pondered what might have happened. It was all so confusing. The pump was running but without water and the waterfall was obviously out of commission. I saw a large rock that had somehow fallen into the almost dry pond. I yanked it out and waited for the water level to rise. I was not happy that I was putting chlorinated water in, but better chlorinated than no water at all. My three rain barrels have been decimated by the excessively dry weather we have experienced recently.
Soon, the water levels were better and then I saw that the waterfall had commenced. A loud noise from the pump got my attention as the water submerged it and I chanced to go behind the pond, where the main filter is in the ground. Seeing that, I noticed that the clamp holding the top of the filter in place was open. Clearly, some animal walked by and opened the clamp. Water was pouring out of the filter right in front of my eyes.
I went to work, reclamped it shut and made sure that opening it by accident would be less of an issue as I turned the clamp to be in a spot not accessible to the dogs.
Mission accomplished. The clarity is not as good as it was, but it is on the road. At least I don’t have a leak in the liner. Hopefully, my charges will be okay with a bit of chlorine to spice up their lives.
