A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Water Gardens Continuing my pond experience!

I'm sorry about your cold.

What is he using to vac it out with?

lynne, i was thinking, could don make a box out of hardware cloth to cover the drain? the squares in it should be about the right size and it is sturdy enough to hold it's shape.

Interesting idea, Jiffy but it won't work, because whatever we use would have to be held down with a rock on top. You see... it would have to have a circumference larger than the drain so that the water could still flow through, without taking the fish along with it, and some way to hold it down.

Dare I say that one of the fish has been swimming near the surface all morning? I'm almost afraid to mention it, because the last time I saw one hanging around for a couple of days, he was the one sucked into the drain... I still do not see the other one, so I don't know if this one is lonely? I don't feel well enough to get to the pet store today, but hopefully will tomorrow.

lynne, the hardware cloth i am talking about will hold its shape. it is a wire mesh on the weight order of chicken wire, but is more uniform and sturdier with much smaller holes. i think the holes are around 1/4-1/2 inch and are square. you can bend it to fit any particular shape, or you can nail it into a wooden frame. it is what lots of people use to make their compost sifters.

it isn't cloth at all, but that is what it is called. does that make sense? and, you might not even need the rock to hold it down as it won't float.

I do understand what you are talking about, but it needs to be weighed down so the fish don't move it around the drain - there needs to be space between whatever we use and the edge of the drain. And the "lip" of the item cannot be too thick, because the space where the water flows through is close to the ground - did I explain that a little better?

Wood floats, yes? Can't nail anything into the liner... so whatever it will be, needs to be held down somehow. That's why I liked the plastic basket I found so much, but it just wasn't the right size.

The good and the bad once again...

The good...
I found the other goldfish - alive!

The bad...
He was stuck in the regular filter again!
I saw the one fish hanging around outside the entrance to the skimmer and was afraid he might go in. I chased him away, and then looked in the filter, and sure enough, there was the other one.

Thank goodness he swam off when I put him back in the pond.
I still can see the first one out and about - he's mostly white with orange on his head and neck. Today is so raw and windy out, with rain on and off - wonder why he chose today to come out and show his face?

Awww man, I hope you can figure out a way to keep them safe in the pond Lynne. I'm glad you found him though. Or maybe it's a her.

Well, last evening the white/orange one was just hanging around on the top of the pond, breathing, but not looking so good. He didn't swim away when all of us were around the pond, and this morning I don't see him. Haven't gone outside yet to look - it's too early, and raw out once again. Don't see the other one from up in the house either, but then again, I never did see that one swimming around the pond.

I read about putting chicken wire in front of the skimmer door, but that kinda defeats the purpose of the skimmer, you know? It would only allow the smallest of debris to get in, and then would get clogged up by the larger leaves, etc.

What to do... what to do...?


Edit: It is only 35 degrees out there today!!!
If I were a fishie in that cold water I wouldn't be showing my face either!
What is WRONG with this weather already???

I keep reading this topic and wishing for a pond as well but our cold weather wouldn't work out.

At least I get to enjoy yours.

At least YOU are enjoying it, Tamara! I'm frustrated with it for the time being!!! Once everything is working properly - soon I have to hope, then I'll be able to enjoy it more - right now it's one thing after another...

Spoke with a friend yesterday who lives about 45 minutes north of us - she's had a pond for about 5 years now - she has problem with Herons getting her fish. I feel badly for her, and hope that when we finally DO get some fish established here, that the Herons don't find their way also!

Well I just HAD to get this cute flag for the pond hill when I saw it at Christmas Tree Shops -
too perfect for my pond don't you think???

I had the holder and was waiting to find just the right flag!
And this one has so many nice shades of blue in it!
The holder has a hummingbird on it and says "welcome", in case you can't make it out clearly.


Now... if I can only get some fish to be that colorful and friendly IN the pond!
I went back to PetSmart this morning in search of more baby koi - the guy told me that they changed the delivery day to Thursdays, instead of Mondays and to come back tomorrow. Not sure if I want to use the gas to do that, but he is also going to hold a solid yellow koi for me if one comes in - I've been wanting one ever since the hole was dug!

I like it Lynne, but you know me---I like all kinds of outdoor decorations. I have 3 mini flags in my yard. I really do like the colors in that one though. Nice and bright.

I hope that you get your yellow koi you've been waiting for. How far are you from Pet Smart?

OH!! I love it, Lynne---pretty soon there will be no reason to ever go inside, ya know???

beautiful lynne

Don was kind enough to dig out the grass on the other side of the pond today. Now I need him to turn over the dirt in both gardens and take out all the large rocks, before we mix in the compost and THEN I get to plant! Yippee!!!

It was hard to get a picture of the entire area, so this is the best I could do through the upstairs bathroom window!


I've been trying to get a good picture of the solar ball that Diane sent me, but this is the best I can do. Here it is, nesting among the rocks at the edge of the pond, and then glowing it's very pretty blue color!!!

Nice Lynne! Will you be putting that into the pond so it can float around?

I bet you'll be so glad when it's all done huh? It's been such a long project for you guys.

They say 60 percent of the pond should be covered by plants---will you be getting some hyacinths or something?

Wow, you guys have done beautifully with this project! Can't wait to see it all planted as you envision it!


Merme

The BLue light is even a brighter blue than what I've got,, I wish I could have sent you more of them but that's all I had left,, they would look awesome around the pond at night! ,,
Like Loz said,, it has been a long project,, but the rewards will be there at the end,, and you and Don will happy

Yep---there's nothing better than relaxing by the pond with a cold drink! You'll be lounging a lot when it's done!

My red light that you sent me Di is so bright! I mean the charge lasts much longer than any of my other solar lights.

Thank you all for all your kind words and inspiration -
it really helps keep us going when we have set backs and frustrations.

Today... Don TRULY was DON OF THE POND!!!
He was vacuuming out the dirt on the bottom, and did manage to get a lot of it, but it's still so murky dark - he increased the flow of the 2 filters, so I really don't know if the 1 remaining fish will survive after today - time will tell...
Like his new waders that he bought just for working in the pond???





I potted up some of my elephant ears in a large plastic black pot and am trying them out in the pond - it's on a shelf and not all the way submerged as you can see. They are not supposed to like full day sun, but I'm hoping that the water will keep them cool enough that they will continue to grow. I potted them up indoors the third week of March, and it's taken this long for them to get to this size - sheeeeeeeesh!


And Don dug out the first hole in the garden for me so I could move a rather large sedum Autumn Joy over there before it gets too big and heavy to move this summer - it should have been moved weeks ago before it got to this size even! Here's the hole - I'll be planting it later when the sun goes down so it doesn't wilt too badly after the move.



oh - Loz - I cannot put any floaters in the pond, unfortunately, because the main skimmer is so strong that anything that floats goes either directly into it, or stays right in front of it - bummer!!!

My pond is the same color as yours Lynne.

BTW, I really might try that blue pond tint.....blue is better than brown anyday. Especially if it cuts back on algae.

Don on the Pond.

lynne, could you float a hula hoop with the floaters in it so they wouldn't get sucked into the skimmer?

Yes he is!!!! Look out for the Fish Don!!

Loz - it will be interesting to see what happens if you do get that blue dye.

Jiffy - I had completely forgotten about the hula-hoop trick - thanks so much for reminding me! I am going to make that my next purchase and then the plants!

Diane - there "might" be 1 fish left in the pond, so I think it was ok - he didn't see it, and I haven't for a few days now either.

I think the blue dye will at least look more appealing than brownish/greenish water ya know? And for $3.99 it's not too expensive to try.

I think Don secretly loves that pond huh?

Ya know... I missed that fish that Diane put in there!!!
I was so exhausted earlier that I didn't look at the picture for very long -
very cute and well done, Diane!!!

I hate that about your fish, hopefully, it will be worked out! And don't worry, 2 out of 3 of my ponds are the same color as your! I keep using my algae fix every 3 days, maybe after spring is over it will clear up!

Usually the summer heat and sun make it worse!

I too missed that fish--very cute of Diane!

OK - I am going to the pond store in a little bit - I am going to ask all about the skimmers sucking the fish in, and the water clarity.

Don floated a hula-hoop in the pond and it went right to in front of the skimmer!!! He had the idea of tying it to a rock on edge of the pond with fish line - hopefully that will work and I can grow some floating plants in that!

What did the Pond store say any good advice??


I'll look here and see if our stores still have those floaters for plants in ponds I've seen them I just can't remember where,, it anchors down some how,,, I just briefly looked at it , seeings how I don't have a need for one,, but I had thought that was a pretty ingenious thing to come up with,, Danggggggg Now where did I see those at,, I'll get back with you on that.

I did too so when I read this that Lynne wrote I went back and looked.

great Job Diane---that is so cute.

Thanks Diane and Carol!!!

Well... the pond store owner was very sympathetic to my problems and suggested that I use plastic coated hardware cloth to wrap AROUND the drain. Here, we had been thinking that we needed to put something dome-like OVER the drain, but his idea was so much simpler!!! He also agreed that I could put a flat piece in front of the skimmer, so that's what Don did for me. Forgot to take a picture of that though - will on Wednesday after tomorrow's rain stops.

We made lots of progress today!!!
I got some floating plants and even found a few toys in the garage that would work as float-holders tied down to rocks on the edge with fishline!

Here is a water hyacinth in one - the plastic is much more neon green than here.


And a water lettuce that was stuck in the corner, but is now floating happily in front of the waterfall and looks so cool! See the ornamental grass that we transplanted from another garden also today? Last year it grew to about 7 feet tall, so I think it will look great there - can't wait!


And the adirondack chair and table in their permanent spots, and temporarily decorated...


Last but not least... Don finally relaxing after all the hard work he put in the past 3 days out there!


OHHHHHHHHH - I got another baby koi today - he's orange and white and I have named him Creamsicle!!!
Hope that doesn't put a curse on him since I've heard that if one names their fish it's certain death, but the name came as soon as I saw him. I put him and another baby I got the other day - Rudolph - because he has a very red nose - in the pond after Don put the hardware cloth in. Please keep your fingers crossed for them ok? The last goldfish was found dead in the waterfall skimmer this morning before I left for the store.

great pictures, Lynne.----and Don looks so relaxed.----and he is smiling---because all the work is done right???--it IS done right???

so are you going to get another "Honey Do" list ready for him???/


and Oh--I love your blue pot!!!! very nice--did you buy it special for the chair???

Carol - the work is not nearly finished!!! He still has to dig out much of the gardens on both sides - it's really hard to dig out this hard clay soil and rocks! TONS of rocks!!!

Thanks about the blue pot - I've had it for a year now - I seem to collect blue pots - have for a few years now - it's just that that particular one didn't have a plant in it right now and I thought it was fitting for that spot. It's another Christmas Tree Shops purchase - gotta love that store!!!

I have that same grass. It's great and does get huge. LOVE IT. Would mind buying a few more of them actually.

Ah.........Don looks comfy there.

I'm glad your problems are resolved with the pond now. Your new koi should do great now I bet.

Great pics Lynne.

Now where is the pic of you enjoying the pond?

Thanks Loz, Cindy and Tamara!

Loz - I actually have 2 more small grasses of the same kind and am going to move 1 over to the other side of the pond when it's ready. I didn't realize how much room the seating was going to take on each size, so I am much more limited in how many plants I can move over there now. Oh, well...

Cindy - were your ears burning yesterday? I was talking about you to Don, after I bought some parrot's feathers for the pond. I was remembering with affection, the time you sent me some from your pond, for the bathtub pond we had! I might have to change the name of that plant to "Cindy's plant"!

At this point I can't imagine having 97 fish in there, but I suppose it's possible! I do remember your crazy fish "going at it" all the time!!!

No pics of me, Tamara, until I lose some of this awful weight! Though I did lose 2 lbs. over the weekend just from working out there and not being near food as much. I hope I can continue - would like to lose at least a few more before a BBQ we have to go to in 3 weeks!

Welllll... I'm not so sure how long this furniture set is going to last!
After being in its first rain last night, it's apparent that there is a rectangular patch in the wood on the top of the left arm , and it's already starting to peal away just from the first rains. I am so annoyed about that - this set came in a box and Don spent a long time putting it all together. I bought it last year, and he threw away the box, so there's no taking it back. I guess you certainly get what you pay for!

Anyway... I did some potting up of a few plants in more blue pots,
and thought I'd share a small part of the rim of the pond here.

lynne, i really enjoyed looking at your pond pictures today while i was at lunch, stuck inside working, and it was so pretty outside. you did good oh, wait a minute, i guess don did help you but it is awesome what the vision the two of you have done!