what I learned from pond tour
Kym
weekend. I think it'll help us newbies more, those of us who stress
over reaching pond perfection.
New definition of "clear" water.
Like most newbies, I heard about clear water being the goal and for a
while, I had it with no work. Then the earth moved into summer and I
had full, total sun and my water went green. Clear water, clear
water, like a mantra...
but apparently, clear water doesn't mean the clear water I had the day
I filled my pond from the hose.
In all the ponds I saw, no one had truly "clear" water. The pond
water all seemed to have a slight color, enough to make it a struggle
to actually see the bottom. The water wasn't green and murky,
just...not crystal clear either. I can't say that it was the depth
either because there were deep ponds and shallow ponds plus, I've been
diving in the Keys. In 30 feet of water I could see all the way to
the bottom perfectly from the boat.
But for all of us newbies killing ourselves trying to make that water
crystal clear like the first day, it ain't gonna be like that again.
Relax.
Filtration ideas.
Here's the struggle I've been having. If I decide to use some sort of
outside filtration (55-gallon drum) then I absolutely don't want to
see it. It's an eyesore. It detracts from my yard and I don't have a
huge yard where I can hide it.
One guy solved it. He buried his. That was something I was wondering
about too, but no one had done it on any of the pond sites on the web.
He has 2 55-gallon drums buried in the ground under his deck. The
pressure of the pond itself fills them and he has a pump in the second
that pumps it to a small waterfall where the water is filtered again
through lava rocks. His large waterfall has a seperate filter behind
his fence.
After all that, is his water crystal? Nope. And he's in the shade
too.
One women had a huge sand filter...and another filter container added
to it AND a 4 foot UV light. I learned that she doesn't use sand, she
uses shredded pvc pipe. Like peeling an apple, somehow she has long
plastic ribbons stuffed down into the filters.
And a big UV light.
Is her water crystal?
Heck no, I didn't even see the black plecos on the bottom until they
were on top of the white oatmeal she fed them.
And I learned that a UV light lasts for years. In all the books, they
claim that a UV only lasts 1 year and then must be replaced.
Water colors.
You ever wonder what it looks like to color your water with the non
toxic whatever it is? You know, the stuff they recommend to help
against algae because with colored water, the sunlight can't get
through to the algae?
It looks like crap, that's what it looks like.
One guy had all 3 of his ponds a phony aqua blue. Nasty. You
couldn't, of course, even see the fish, or anything else in the water.
It's just like have a huge algae bloom except it looks so completely
fake. I honestly think that the algae bloom looks better.
And, finally, if you live in the area, Ace Hardware in Merritt Island
is THE pond store. You name it and they have it. Water lilies (all
colors and kinds) lotus', sensitiva plants, parrots feather, slate
rocks for the pond edges, plastic tubs with a lip for an instant
waterfall, they even had fish last time.
And then we came home and added a pond to the front yard.
LLG RN1987
few weeks old. I had my first algae bloom and couldn't see past 6 inches. Then
it cleared. The pond is not crystal like day one but I can see the bottom clear
enough to distinguish what type of leaf is down there and I can count the
grains of sand. The sides are full of that good algae and so is directly under
the waterfall. I can see my turtles doing the wild thing clear enough too but
the water still has a green tint. I was wondering if that was normal but in
every pond pic I have see, they all have a green tint. I just have nothing to
compare it to. Thank you again for giving it to us straight.
Lori
Derek Broughton
news:19990716145312...@ng-cg1.aol.com...
> THANK YOU!!!!!! I was going to ask what clear water ment. My
pond is only a
> few weeks old. I had my first algae bloom and couldn't see past
6 inches. Then
> it cleared. The pond is not crystal like day one but I can see
the bottom clear
> enough to distinguish what type of leaf is down there and I can
count the
> grains of sand.
I think if you can distinguish individual grains of sand - that's
clear! Now, what's clear for you may not be clear enough for
someone with a deeper pond, but I figure mine is clear enough
when I can see 2' down. Right now, it's only about 18", which
isn't quite clear enough for my taste.
--
Derek (www.netcom.ca/~dbrought/pond)
rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html
I didn't write that! It sounds more like Shakespeare. - Bacon
jan jordan
>But for all of us newbies killing ourselves trying to make that water
>crystal clear like the first day, it ain't gonna be like that again.
>Relax.
Well, ah, er.... after my steer manure episode, mine is as clear as the day
I filled (to the best of my recollection). But I do agree to a degree with
relax.... even though I didn't do it when it came to the manure.
>Filtration ideas.
>Here's the struggle I've been having. If I decide to use some sort of
>outside filtration (55-gallon drum) then I absolutely don't want to
>see it. It's an eyesore. It detracts from my yard and I don't have a
>huge yard where I can hide it.
>One guy solved it. He buried his. That was something I was wondering
>about too, but no one had done it on any of the pond sites on the web.
Hmmmm, then you must not have been to my website? <gasp> ;o)
>He has 2 55-gallon drums buried in the ground under his deck. The
>pressure of the pond itself fills them and he has a pump in the second
>that pumps it to a small waterfall where the water is filtered again
>through lava rocks. His large waterfall has a seperate filter behind
>his fence.
I have four 55-gallon drums in the ground, only 2" of the lip shows. In
fact, someone on here once looked and thought they had to be only 5 gallons
each. Pictures can be deceptive, I guess.
>And then we came home and added a pond to the front yard.
Well, at least you weren't turned off, but please visit my website.
http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html
Choose the fast load and scroll down a bit. Click on the thumbnail of the
filter for a close up. Page 2 has a thumbnail of the filter in relation to
the pond. Is the clarity of my water better or the same as those on the
tour? Green fuzz algae on the sides will give a green case even to clear
water. ~ jan
~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
Remove Z to E-mail
Arian...@aol.com
When I added a filter to my otherwise natural pond, I went out to see the
results the next morning and didn't like it. I could see clear to the
bottom. The liner looked awful. Thank goodness the water has clouded just
enough for me to see, but not see, if you know what I mean.
Are we ever satisfied??????????
-**** Posted from RemarQ, http://www.remarq.com/?b ****-
Real Discussions for Real People
Randy in Aloha
pond has some filter work to do (again) but I expect it to be the same.
Clear (to me ) means CLEAR. Maybe I am overdoing it but that is the way I
like to see it. Also, when clear, and the light on the bottom of the pond
is on, you can see fish shadows swimming in the trees above on a dark
night. Is neat.
--
Randy in Aloha
http://homestead.dejanews.com/user.randyinaloha/index.html
LLG RN1987 <llgr...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19990716145312...@ng-cg1.aol.com>...
bre...@ix.netcom.com
All the holding tanks in my shed have CLEAR water. Guests and customers to my farm are amazed
and almost always ask about my filtration system. It is a 27 acre reservoir with a healthy
growth of potemageton and sourthern naiads. I fill the reservoir with creek water (and used
pond water) then pump it through my shed.
In reality, it is a "one time through" system. No filter, just always a lot of new water
running through (exchange rates of about 2 to 4 times per hour). I suppose that would be called
"cheating".
Brett
P.S. I am thinking of setting up a filtered 5000 gallon system by the shed so's I can have
green water just like everybody else.
AganadAndy
six ponds spread out all over Silicon Valley.
In the spirit of your post, here is what I learned and I'm not a real newbie,
having had a pond for one year.
I went to three of the six ponds. They were all beautiful, professionally
done but none of them had any plants in the pond for various reasons and still
their water is as you say not perfectly clear. One pond was on its best
showing shape I'm sure, because it had big trees around it. can you imagine
how it is in the fall? Every pond has some algae, too. Heard one guy say that
this year is really bad for algae. Not exactly sure what he meant by that.
I also learned that i am lucky not to have had any problem with raccoons or
birds so far. The ponds I visited had had lots of problems with animals.
I also learned that if I am going to keep my koi for many years, i better
start saving for that BIGGER pond!! 750 gallons is not going to be big enough
after i guess two more years. i have 8 regular koi, one butterfly and one
shubunkin.
Finally, saw my first Tancho Sanke koi. It was magnificent (nice big red
spot) and big, about 24 inches!!
Two of the three ponds used triple Vortex systems, using Spring flow as the
bio strata. Two of the three used UV filters.
Wish I'd had more time to see the other three I missed.
Andy
jan jordan
>Thank you is RIGHT!!!
>When I added a filter to my otherwise natural pond, I went out to see the
>results the next morning and didn't like it. I could see clear to the
>bottom. The liner looked awful. Thank goodness the water has clouded just
>enough for me to see, but not see, if you know what I mean.
>Are we ever satisfied??????????
>
With clear water though the fuzz algae can now get established on the sides
and bottom. My ponds have a green sweater look as one lady mentioned. ~ jan
Kym
jordan) wrote:
>Hmmmm, then you must not have been to my website? <gasp> ;o)
I've been to your site, I just never knew what I was seeing. I looked
at the pics and thought you had 5 gallon buckets half buried.
>I have four 55-gallon drums in the ground, only 2" of the lip shows. In
>fact, someone on here once looked and thought they had to be only 5 gallons
>each. Pictures can be deceptive, I guess.
I think it's because they're white. I've never seen a white 55 gallon
drum. Heck, I don't know where to find a big blue 55 gallon drum
either. Do you have your article from Pond & Garden available online?
I'd love to know how your filtration works.
> Is the clarity of my water better or the same as those on the
>tour?
Better. One guy had an orange tint to his water, or maybe it was a
bit brownish. Clear but somehow tinted. The others seemed to have
water like I just got. I'm all cleared up and can see the bottom but
it's not water I would consider drinking. Also, if you put some in a
white cup it looks really filthy...but it's clear to the bottom.
jan jordan
>>Hmmmm, then you must not have been to my website? <gasp> ;o)
>I've been to your site, I just never knew what I was seeing. I looked
>at the pics and thought you had 5 gallon buckets half buried.
:o) Hindsight, we should have spray painted the upper few inches black. I
guess we still could, sometime when it's empty perhaps.
>>I have four 55-gallon drums in the ground, only 2" of the lip shows. In
>>fact, someone on here once looked and thought they had to be only 5 gallons
>>each. Pictures can be deceptive, I guess.
>I think it's because they're white. I've never seen a white 55 gallon
>drum. Heck, I don't know where to find a big blue 55 gallon drum
>either. Do you have your article from Pond & Garden available online?
>I'd love to know how your filtration works.
I'll E the technical stuff to you. ~ jan
Kym
jordan) wrote:
>I'll E the technical stuff to you. ~ jan
Not on the fake spam catcher I use for an address on newsgroups! I'll
email you real quick so you know who I am!
I can't wait to find out if you have a settling area, how many pumps,
how you clean the whole thing out (sump pump?)...