My first pond (pics)

[Rogger Castells]

I have been wanting to do a pond in my house since I can remember but never had the time and the courage, I finally got the project going and the other day and today it is almost complete with the exeption of the filtration and lighting that I will be working on tomorrow.
The pond meaasures 8'L x 4'W x 2'D it is approx 380 gallons and oval in shape, I still need to decide what am I going to put in the pond as far as fish, I would like to hear your opinions on what you think should go in the pond.

This is soon after diging the whole and placing the underliner and the liner, got some water in to the whole to fix the seams.

Stone around the edge

cut the excess liner and underliner

started the landscaping around the rock and pumping the water back out to replace it with good water.

 

[macawmagic]

pretty cool. reminds me of my old pond a little! I would deff say to get some koi! I remember we went to like petsmart and other stores like that and bought the smallest butterfly's and within 2 years they were over 12" long. and that was with winter when they went dormant because it was chicago so they could easily grow faster than that down here! But I would deffinately say to get a couple butterfly koi!

 

[ReefWreak]

Re: My first pond (pics)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9857654#post9857654 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rogger Castells
I still need to decide what am I going to put in the pond as far as fish, I would like to hear your opinions on what you think should go in the pond.

Some salt water and a couple of tangs

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Wow, nice, I bet that was some exercise.....Makes me want to fix the one I have in my back yard.

It appears as if it is a little elevated, or is that an optical illusion?

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9857698#post9857698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macawmagic
pretty cool. reminds me of my old pond a little! I would deff say to get some koi! I remember we went to like petsmart and other stores like that and bought the smallest butterfly's and within 2 years they were over 12" long. and that was with winter when they went dormant because it was chicago so they could easily grow faster than that down here! But I would deffinately say to get a couple butterfly koi!

I like the Koi idea cause they are such beautiful looking fish and seem to have a lot of personality, but I keep reading that they need 1000gal+ pond for them to do good. Thank you

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9857697#post9857697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefWreak
Some salt water and a couple of tangs

I guess I forgot to mention that the idea is that it is a almost a maintenance free pond, salt water pond sounds like I will need to move out thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9857700#post9857700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Speckled Grouper
Wow, nice, I bet that was some exercise.....Makes me want to fix the one I have in my back yard.

It appears as if it is a little elevated, or is that an optical illusion?

There is no elevation but I can see what you are saying, it is probably my photograph inability

 

[macawmagic]

koi do need a lot bigger of a bond once they're bigger but were talkin like a 12" plus. I'm sure theres places around that would trade you a big one for a little one once they get too big. If I can find some pictures of my pond from chicago I'll bring em over tomorrow. P.S. could you pm me ur #? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[macawmagic]

bond = pond those letters arent even close...LOL

 

[Abengochea]

I had put together a little pond like this and just grabbed some feeder goldfish at petco and threw them in. I figured they looked nice and were cheap so if anything dies it wouldnt be a big deal. Im guessing they are all doing fine since none died in the year I was living at that place

 

[Bullredchaser]

Looks great Rogger,my vote is for Kois.I not only like the different color options of kois but also the different scale combinations .

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9858431#post9858431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bullredchaser
Looks great Rogger,my vote is for Kois.I not only like the different color options of kois but also the different scale combinations .

Thanks Robert, when you say different scale you mean that you can put different size koi or different breeds of kois?

 

[REDDAWG43]

WOW.....Awesome Rogger.
With a little perimeter fence, something thin....you could keep the turt and probably two Koi's. Yes as long as the kois are bigger than the turt at first (eventually they grow) and you feed the turt small feeder fish, the turt will leave the Koi's alone.

Mel

 

[gasman059]

Re: My first pond (pics)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9857654#post9857654 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rogger Castells
I have been wanting to do a pond in my house since I can remember but never had the time and the courage, I finally got the project going and the other day and today it is almost complete with the exeption of the filtration and lighting that I will be working on tomorrow.
The pond meaasures 8'L x 4'W x 2'D it is approx 380 gallons and oval in shape, I still need to decide what am I going to put in the pond as far as fish, I would like to hear your opinions on what you think should go in the pond.

This is soon after diging the whole and placing the underliner and the liner, got some water in to the whole to fix the seams.

Stone around the edge

cut the excess liner and underliner

started the landscaping around the rock and pumping the water back out to replace it with good water.

FOR REAL U CALL THAT A POND!!!! LMAO
Anyways Roger mine as u know its only ABOUT 100 gallons- So the misconception about kois and pond size is not true in my experience. As far as fish- a pleco its a great additon casue as part of cleaning detritus. Since we barely talked bout ponds when u were over taking a look at mine here's my insight on the subject.
U NEED A UV STERILIZER PERIOD-LIFEGUARD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME. UV sterilization will not adversely affect your pond's inhabitants, requires little maintenance. In 3 years I've changed my bulb once LOL -I know lazy but a pond that's well established with good filtration is a wonderful ecosystem.
As far as filtration as u know:
1-mechanical(barrier) too much work-requires chnaging pads.
2-chemical( nope IMHO) too much maintenance,
3-IMO the best is biological (BIO BALLS)
Biological filter needs to run constantly Properly designed biological filters rarely require more than a quick rinse in the pond. As u noticed I have both the biological and the pads.
I dont dose vitamins or any other chemicals period- mainly b/c I wanted my pond to be free of maintenance and as u know it is.
I have about 7 koi's of all classes as well as some other fish and a slider turrtle that needs to go in the lake cause its too big.
HEY BUDDY THAT'S NOT A POND- LOOKS LIKE THE MIAMI RIVER LMAO!
Great job man specially the digging part I know u broke a sweat !! lol beer in hand and all.



:eek1:

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9858508#post9858508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rogger Castells
Thanks Robert, when you say different scale you mean that you can put different size koi or different breeds of kois?

U will find there's tons of types and Quality Koi. Domestic koi are your best bet- they do well in smaller ponds such as ours. They are usually white, yellow, orange. Then u get into dif classes with coloration patterns and specific breeding and so forth. Its quite interesting in terms of research and $$$
High quality kois range from $300 to $500 for about 6 of them. The funny part about this is that them frikin white birds really dont care if they are high quality or not - if u know what i mean. Not fun coming home from work and seeing one of them fly away in a birds beak LOL
So stick with domestic ones and butterfly kois they grow fast and really look good.

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[z00crazy]

very nice :thumbs up:

 

[nyvp]

great job .....you should have called I would have come over to help you.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Re: Re: My first pond (pics)

Re: Re: My first pond (pics)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9858931#post9858931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gasman059
FOR REAL U CALL THAT A POND!!!! LMAO
Anyways Roger mine as u know its only ABOUT 100 gallons- So the misconception about kois and pond size is not true in my experience. As far as fish- a pleco its a great additon casue as part of cleaning detritus. Since we barely talked bout ponds when u were over taking a look at mine here's my insight on the subject.
U NEED A UV STERILIZER PERIOD-LIFEGUARD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME. UV sterilization will not adversely affect your pond's inhabitants, requires little maintenance. In 3 years I've changed my bulb once LOL -I know lazy but a pond that's well established with good filtration is a wonderful ecosystem.
As far as filtration as u know:
1-mechanical(barrier) too much work-requires chnaging pads.
2-chemical( nope IMHO) too much maintenance,
3-IMO the best is biological (BIO BALLS)
Biological filter needs to run constantly Properly designed biological filters rarely require more than a quick rinse in the pond. As u noticed I have both the biological and the pads.
I dont dose vitamins or any other chemicals period- mainly b/c I wanted my pond to be free of maintenance and as u know it is.
I have about 7 koi's of all classes as well as some other fish and a slider turrtle that needs to go in the lake cause its too big.
HEY BUDDY THAT'S NOT A POND- LOOKS LIKE THE MIAMI RIVER LMAO!
Great job man specially the digging part I know u broke a sweat !! lol beer in hand and all.



:eek1:

Manny, Thanks for the advice, I do have a UV and a Wet dry in the plan, I will probably put them in today, I might also have some kind of surface skimmer filter (optional)
As far as the Kois I am still going to wait to make that decision, I read this fishes live up to 60 years! and grow!
I think for now I will put my dauthers turtle and a few goldfishes and see how it goes

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9858890#post9858890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REDDAWG43
WOW.....Awesome Rogger.
With a little perimeter fence, something thin....you could keep the turt and probably two Koi's. Yes as long as the kois are bigger than the turt at first (eventually they grow) and you feed the turt small feeder fish, the turt will leave the Koi's alone.

Mel

Thanks Mel, What do you mean a fence? do you think the turttle will take off or an animal will eat it?

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9858990#post9858990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by z00crazy
very nice :thumbs up:

Thank you Zoo!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9859105#post9859105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
great job .....you should have called I would have come over to help you.

Thanks Joe, There's still plenty to do, you are more than welcome to come by, bring your swiming shorts, the water is very cold!
I am waiting for all the lights and filters that will be coming today (fedex), I will install that today and then I need to go choose plants from the nursery and plant those.
I also need to find something for the fish to hide, I am thinking Black pvc pipe in the bottom with heavy rocks on top?
let me know if you want to come.

 

[Osteomata]

A bit on the turtles:
- Guard against escape, make sure it cannot reach the lip of that pond. A turtle can climb far better than most people suspect, and an edge should be one full turtle length above any object at the edge of the pond upon which they can stand. If you have more than one turtle, even higher due to the turtles' "stack to freedom" escape method.
- Turtles will be fine with fish that are bigger than themselves.

Fish: also consider whitecloud minnows. They breed like crazy, look different than standard pond minnows, and are cheap. You can always put in some koi, and then you have instant population control.

 

[gasman059]

I think for now I will put my dauthers turtle and a few goldfishes and see how it goes

NO GOLDFISH!!!!- they grow to be ugly ducklins and u just dont want them in there. Turtle is fine- Just get a couple of butterflies(koi) cheap and pretty. They will do good. They will grow according to their environment.