spring/summer project
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Hey all, I'm working on putting a water garden in an effort to help preserve my sanity - both in doing the labor (stress reliever) and to have a 'quiet' place to relax. Its nothing grand: 100 gallon pond w/ a four tier waterfall. I'm getting close to completion, the pond and waterfalls are in place and working, even put in some cattails and iris yesterday - fish in a week or so. Basically just finishing on some the surrounding structual aspects - edging, pavers for a sitting area, planter boxes, etc. Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone has experience to share as to what sort of problems I might expect and how to prevent/solve them? I'll see about posting a picture of it when the flowers bloom (if they bloom that is). Haven't been here much in past year or so and I've missed the incredible intellectual food cp has to offer... Regards to all, -mel --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
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Hey all, I'm working on putting a water garden in an effort to help preserve my sanity - both in doing the labor (stress reliever) and to have a 'quiet' place to relax. Its nothing grand: 100 gallon pond w/ a four tier waterfall. I'm getting close to completion, the pond and waterfalls are in place and working, even put in some cattails and iris yesterday - fish in a week or so. Basically just finishing on some the surrounding structual aspects - edging, pavers for a sitting area, planter boxes, etc. Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone has experience to share as to what sort of problems I might expect and how to prevent/solve them? I'll see about posting a picture of it when the flowers bloom (if they bloom that is). Haven't been here much in past year or so and I've missed the incredible intellectual food cp has to offer... Regards to all, -mel --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
Mel Feik wrote: I'm just wondering if anyone has experience to share as to what sort of problems I might expect and how to prevent/solve them? Well its been while since I had a pond (bigger but without the waterfalls) but here goes: 1) Sounds like you have done this, give the water a few weeks to settle/mature before stocking.:-D 2) If it turns green don't panic, don't change the water and don't dose it with anything. Its algal bloom and is a natural part of the process. If you have the balance right it will clear as fast as it came in a few days, if it stays for a long time or goes brown then start worrying about the cause.:omg: 3) Don't go any buy all your fish in one go, a few at a time is the best rule. Give them a few days to make sure they look healthy/happy and then get a few more. Also if you buy your fish locally then look at the tank before you buy and make sure they are all swimming and not dead at the bottom or looking sick, if they don't look healthy then don't buy X| 4) Don't overstock. X| 5) Don't overfeed. X| 6) Sit back on a summer evening with a drink in hand and admire your handywork:cool: :beer: John Hudson Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted. :omg: http://www.rainbow-innov.co.uk[^]
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Mel Feik wrote: I'm just wondering if anyone has experience to share as to what sort of problems I might expect and how to prevent/solve them? Well its been while since I had a pond (bigger but without the waterfalls) but here goes: 1) Sounds like you have done this, give the water a few weeks to settle/mature before stocking.:-D 2) If it turns green don't panic, don't change the water and don't dose it with anything. Its algal bloom and is a natural part of the process. If you have the balance right it will clear as fast as it came in a few days, if it stays for a long time or goes brown then start worrying about the cause.:omg: 3) Don't go any buy all your fish in one go, a few at a time is the best rule. Give them a few days to make sure they look healthy/happy and then get a few more. Also if you buy your fish locally then look at the tank before you buy and make sure they are all swimming and not dead at the bottom or looking sick, if they don't look healthy then don't buy X| 4) Don't overstock. X| 5) Don't overfeed. X| 6) Sit back on a summer evening with a drink in hand and admire your handywork:cool: :beer: John Hudson Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted. :omg: http://www.rainbow-innov.co.uk[^]
JohnJ wrote: 1) Sounds like you have done this, give the water a few weeks to settle/mature before stocking. I filled the pond with well water (untreated) three days ago and tested it this morning. I used a 5-in-1 test strip and none of the results where out the acceptable range (didn't test ammonia though (don't know how). Anyways, I just wanted to ask if I should expect these levels to change over the next week or two if there is nothing added to the pond (chemical, plant or animal)? I guess this is a long winded way to ask what do you mean by 'settle/mature'? oh, and thanks for the input so far --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
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JohnJ wrote: 1) Sounds like you have done this, give the water a few weeks to settle/mature before stocking. I filled the pond with well water (untreated) three days ago and tested it this morning. I used a 5-in-1 test strip and none of the results where out the acceptable range (didn't test ammonia though (don't know how). Anyways, I just wanted to ask if I should expect these levels to change over the next week or two if there is nothing added to the pond (chemical, plant or animal)? I guess this is a long winded way to ask what do you mean by 'settle/mature'? oh, and thanks for the input so far --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
Mel Feik wrote: Anyways, I just wanted to ask if I should expect these levels to change over the next week or two if there is nothing added to the pond (chemical, plant or animal)? I guess this is a long winded way to ask what do you mean by 'settle/mature'? Back in the 70's there wasn't much testing:omg: However you should leave it for at least a week to settle. It gives time for any particles in the water to fall out and the oxygen levels to adjust. Over that time the nitrate/nitrite level may well change, even if you have no plants in the water. What often happens is that any algue spoors in the water will multiply rapidly and may initially effect the water quality and oxygen level, causing a greenish colour/bloom. Its normal and should usually clear itself, if you change the water during this then you just keep it going:eek: After a week or so the water balance has settled and its much safer to introduce fish, slowly, so you don't upset things too much (oxygen, nitrates, nitrites). Its not rocket science but its worked before test kits, on anything from a small fishtank to a lake:-D Enjoy:) John Hudson Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted. :omg: http://www.rainbow-innov.co.uk[^]
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Mel Feik wrote: Anyways, I just wanted to ask if I should expect these levels to change over the next week or two if there is nothing added to the pond (chemical, plant or animal)? I guess this is a long winded way to ask what do you mean by 'settle/mature'? Back in the 70's there wasn't much testing:omg: However you should leave it for at least a week to settle. It gives time for any particles in the water to fall out and the oxygen levels to adjust. Over that time the nitrate/nitrite level may well change, even if you have no plants in the water. What often happens is that any algue spoors in the water will multiply rapidly and may initially effect the water quality and oxygen level, causing a greenish colour/bloom. Its normal and should usually clear itself, if you change the water during this then you just keep it going:eek: After a week or so the water balance has settled and its much safer to introduce fish, slowly, so you don't upset things too much (oxygen, nitrates, nitrites). Its not rocket science but its worked before test kits, on anything from a small fishtank to a lake:-D Enjoy:) John Hudson Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted. :omg: http://www.rainbow-innov.co.uk[^]
thanks again... all that test really did was raise more questions anyways. And the pump kit I bought came with a water treatment kit.. but no instructions so I guess I'm just better off excersing a little patience. -m --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
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thanks again... all that test really did was raise more questions anyways. And the pump kit I bought came with a water treatment kit.. but no instructions so I guess I'm just better off excersing a little patience. -m --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
Mel Feik wrote: I guess I'm just better off excersing a little patience. Patience is good:-D Test some water straight out of your tap/source and make a note of what you have got, how acidic is it, etc. If something goes wrong its nice to know what went in. You can't rush things too much, and while you can add chemicals to adjust levels its better for you and the fish for it to happen naturally unless its vital. So adding a few fish effects the nitrate level (from what comes out of them):~ Eventually sufficient bacteria get going in the filter/pond to take out the nitrates and the levels balance out. Add a lot of fish at once and you upset things, until the bacteria/plants can take up the excess. Also don't change a large percentage of the water for fresh within a week...more that 25% is not good unless its a dire emergency. Sounds like you have the right idea by calling it a Spring/Summer project, those who follow the "Fishtank/Pond in 3 days" instructions usually get into trouble:sigh: John Hudson Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted. :omg: http://www.rainbow-innov.co.uk[^]
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Hey all, I'm working on putting a water garden in an effort to help preserve my sanity - both in doing the labor (stress reliever) and to have a 'quiet' place to relax. Its nothing grand: 100 gallon pond w/ a four tier waterfall. I'm getting close to completion, the pond and waterfalls are in place and working, even put in some cattails and iris yesterday - fish in a week or so. Basically just finishing on some the surrounding structual aspects - edging, pavers for a sitting area, planter boxes, etc. Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone has experience to share as to what sort of problems I might expect and how to prevent/solve them? I'll see about posting a picture of it when the flowers bloom (if they bloom that is). Haven't been here much in past year or so and I've missed the incredible intellectual food cp has to offer... Regards to all, -mel --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler
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Well, take into acount any cats/critters/children that might pose a threat to the fish, and design your pond so the fish won't be somebody's free lunch. :) Sometimes I feel like I'm a USB printer in a parallel universe.
Now there is something I hadn't thought about - things that might try to eat things in my pond. I suppose a laser guided/motion sensing pellet gun (could be non-fatal) to ward off critters and pepper-gas emitter on a trip wire to fend of errant children would be a bit much. Good point about the kids though... last thing I need is a law-suit for some kid falling in an drowning in my pond - not to mention that might upset the apparently delicate balance of the water. I'm actually going to have to do something about that...perhaps a perimeter fence might be in order. Will take away from the "natural" aspect though. --------------------------------------------- It's amazine how simeple life can be when one get's his head out of his ass...embly If they don't get the basic research and learning skills down then they'll end up having a very hard life (Either that or they'll become managers) - Micheal P Butler