Inside Plant Pond progress:-)

[capewind]

Hubby officially started building the pond last night, but didnt get too far (VP debate & friends stopped by) but he made some progress today The final measurements ended up as 7' x 12' x 1.5' for the box. Still has a lot of work to do yet but here are some pics so far

The first two pics just show the box, and the foam insulation used to keep the liner off the basement floor, and the 3rd is with the liner in place ...

 

[DrCase]

Hes a fast worker ! nice job

 

[sissy]

Nice job but hoping you are going to net the top as you sure don't want jumpers .

 

[capewind]

Thank you He knew he was under the gun to get it done. Knew it was supposed to be cold tonight, so we got the bulk of the important plants in.. Just finished and put on the weather channel, and we are under a freeze advisory for tonight... Still a few items I want, but think I can nurse those back IF they shock tonight.

Still a lot to do. Tomorrow's project is to get a racetrack up for grow lights, and wire outside (outside pond pump wires are through the window over the plants), get a filter together (skippy via spare parts) and another line for the heater (220v).

Bad pic, but here it is so far...

 

[sissy]

So you are not keeping any fish in it at all .I had to feed my when I kept my plants in the basement

 

[capewind]

Thanks Sissy... havent gotten that far yet. As of right now, the only fish I was thinking of moving were the baby comets just to help feed the plants, but gonna hold off a few days. Totally unplanned, but may have koi coming. Was talking to my insurance agent about 4 pm and he asks what we have planned for the weekend... So tell him about the plant pond, have fish, etc... it turns into his wife's friend has way to many koi, hasnt been able to give them away, and was going to text her our number LOL. If she has anything of interest, it may become another QT LOL.

 

[capewind]

Who knows Sissy... it's main purpose was plants, but wanted to keep options open just in case, NOT thinking someone could ask if we wanted more fish LOL.

 

[sissy]

I know from my koi they jump and seems they start swimming around real fast and bump into each other and alsways scares one and they jump and splash the water .Koi also destroy plants at least mine do.

 

[capewind]

We normally keep the QT pond netted. Until this afternoon, I was only thinking of the comet babies, which would mean netting it. Not worried about Koi with the plants. Nothing unpotted that they can hurt. If anyone wants to prune WH roots, have at it... I couldnt believe how long most of the roots were (2' range).

 

[CountryEscape]

If they are baby koi, they won't be a problem with any of the plants, I would think. But, the babies will jump! I got 4-6" koi last winter, and had one jump twice, another one jump out once, both were saved, even after the one was pretty much dried out! I got the netting put in place pronto then, and removed it after about a week. They seem to only jump when first put in new surroundings, then they are settled in and fine. That was my experience, but safer is better!
The container looks great, Capewind! Will be watching this thread to see how your WH do, since many have tried and failed to keep them alive through the winter. I'm rooting for you, though.

 

[koiguy1969]

i've only had a problem with one fish jumping in my basement pond. a platinum ogon...but... he also jumped outside as well. he ended up a meal for a great blue heron. good luck with the plants. i did keep frogbit in my basement pond one year and it did well untill Febuary then just took a turn for the worse. will you be using high pressure sodium lights?

 

[capewind]

Light wise, I am not 100% sure what hubby has planned. I have 2 48" shoplights that have 4, growlux bulbs in them, that worked great to start my veggies inside that are getting moved first (today), but know we need more. He has to get some wiring done... I'm worried about it, but he says a few days of being "overcast" in the basement isnt going to be a big deal.

Im really not feeling warm and fuzzy about the chances for the water hyacinths. They took a hit Thursday night outside. Got several in Friday night before the freeze advisory and those look better than what I pawed through yesterday grabbing a few more...

Moved the comet babies that were in the QT pond in with the plants last night... moving the water hyacinths yesterday, we found a lot of dragonfly nymphs in the tote. Free food for 3" fish. Besides, it looks like we need the room.

Been trying to break down the kiddie pool in the kitchen. Been keeping the smaller babies there, and as they get 2" or so, been moving them to the basement. Well, it is looking like we are about to start the baby game all over again.

Hubby built a gravel and rock wall to keep the comets and shubunkins in the upper pond. Worked great EXCEPT for he had to bury a perforated pipe in the gravel so to not impede the waterfall into the main pond... yup, those holes are small enough for fish to not get through, but FRY can!!!! So now have the 30 gallon tank going again, with 15 babies so far. These were all under the creeping primrose roots, but if he got 15 so fast, you know there are a FEW out there. Three of them look like they only detached a few days ago at best, they still swim funny ... and bodies are transparent. The big ones, are maybe a third of an inch... Just big enough to tell that some are shubunkins (shorter/rounder face with big black eyes), and some are comets (gold sides), and a couple who I just cant tell yet. So much for him evicting all the comets and shubunkins LOL.

 

[CountryEscape]

Oh, well if he caught 15, my guess is there are another 75 out there. LOL Good luck with that. I am amazed you can see those teeny tiny babies, saying the "big ones" are 1/3"! OMG! I usually don't even see my babies until they are 1/2" and more often until they are well over an inch.
I had dragonfly nymphs that got into my basement pond, too, and all I did was pump water from the koi pond into the basement pond. They all morphed into damsel flies within a month, but with no food, they all died, too. :sad: My baby koi were 4-6" and didn't eat them, or maybe the ones I spotted were in the filter which I had propped on a "shelf" above the pond in the middle. Good luck with the "free food"!

 

[capewind]

Great... I dont want the little nymphs inside. I've seen the bigger fish eat the nymphs, I was assuming, and we all know what can be said for assumptions, that whereas the 3" comets are big enough, they would eat them like the big guys...

I didnt have a ruler handy to actually measure, but I dont think any of the tiny babies are up to a half an inch yet. I am guessing a third of an inch and under.

Here's two pics from last night.

The first 10 of the tiny guys, look in the upper right corner of the pic and you can see the two teensy tiny ones in the upper right hand corner, and then some of the 2-3" babies that were moved. Both groups are in the same container, so you can use the lettering for size reference.

 

[sissy]

Wow are they small ,I never see mine until they are well over an inch long .