My goldfish pond

[cas]

I can't tell any difference.

 

[addy1]

I can't tell any difference.

Both of his last pictures are after, need to go up to see a before, sort of

 

[brokensword]

I always think they're so striking. My pond wouldn't be conducive to their growth with it's straight dropped sides. I'm still working on all my little floating planters.....kind of takes away the natural look of the pond.....but hey, I'm trying to have plants and Koi - LOL !

@Tula ; What I did, to disguise the rings (typically either foam noodles or poly pipe) was to create faux branches. If you search on Youtube for 'fake trees/branches' using either spray foam (I've used this and the next idea) or plastic-wrapping using heat-shrink plastic, you'll be able to create a more natural look. Also, try not to make your floating nets round; make them odd shaped as if you create the faux branch effect over top, branches are more typically straight. And overlap the corners. I used the shrink plastic effect over light weight pvc tubes to create fake fallen logs that I used to cover my pump piping beneath the water. Turned out pretty good. You can also add some fake foam lily pads to the sides of your rings to also take the 'basket' look away. Adding fake plants or even incorporating plant pockets attached to the sides of your baskets, can help disguise the ring idea.

 

[CometKeith]

Like the strong suggestion!

Haha. Thanks. They still look so big in this picture even after I cut almost half out. Do you think I should remove them totally and replace them with something smaller?

I always think they're so striking. My pond wouldn't be conducive to their growth with it's straight dropped sides. I'm still working on all my little floating planters.....kind of takes away the natural look of the pond.....but hey, I'm trying to have plants and Koi - LOL !

Hmmm thanks Tula. My wife things they are too big. Do you like them? Yes Koi like to eat plants so it’s kinda hard. My bog is coming out nice. I added a few more plants and some impatients.Also we mulched today around the pond. Need to take another picture!

 

[CometKeith]

Oh.... a before pic. The pond got twice as large after I cut them back!!

 

[cas]

I used the shrink plastic effect over light weight pvc tubes to create fake fallen logs that I used to cover my pump piping beneath the water.

I would love to see pictures if you have any.

 

[cas]

Do you think I should remove them totally and replace them with something smaller?

I like the look the larger plants give the pond. How hard was it to remove part of it? Is it potted or bareroot?

 

[CometKeith]

I like the look the larger plants give the pond. How hard was it to remove part of it? Is it potted or bareroot?

It was pretty easy to cut them, but I had to get in the water to do it. So they are sitting bare root on a planting shelf with a few medium size rocks in the middle holding them down. I actually had a larger bunch that was in the front of the pond I removed last year. For some reason they really like my pond! Here are a couple views from our back
porch.

 

[addy1]

Haha. Thanks. They still look so big in this picture even after I cut almost half out. Do you think I should remove them totally and replace them with something smaller?

nah with your fish load the filtering they are doing is probably a good thing. eating up those nutrients.

 

[j.w]

I think they are nice and add height to your pond and super good cleaners! Pond looks perfect!

 

[brokensword]

I would love to see pictures if you have any.

@cas ; okies, here's some from this year and last. This one shows the underwater logs.

This one shows the shallow, narrow, screen net I'm going to use for hyacinths this year. It's two foam + shrink plastic-ed branches with the netting sewn around.

This one shows the hyacinth plant basket I used last year for the water lilies. I'm 'mrsclem-ing' them this year in hopes it'll look more natural.

this one shows the net basket I made for the water lettuce. I'm winging it this year and hoping I have so much the fish can't get it all; last year, I composted a LOT of water lettuce!

this one shows two of the 3 large baskets all in one shot (there's actually a smaller, 4th one too), early in the season last year, before the plants had taken off. It got a bit congested on the far side of the pond last year, hence why I'm trying something different this year with only the narrow hyacinth basket.

The 'heart-shaped' water lily basket above actually was round when I started but I miscalculated and it was too large when I put it and the other 3 in the pond. So, I cut and pulled one side in to make it all fit! Didn't seem THAT large in the basement when I was building it!

Anyway, it's both fun and functional as I didn't want to see the poly pipe/foam noodles but needed some height so the fish couldn't get over and caught. Funny thing, after I cut and reshaped, somehow, fish found their way in anyhow! Spend a few annoying moments catching them and putting them back in the pond proper! After the water lilies got mature, I didn't bother until fall trim-down as the lily stems made catching any derelict fish almost impossible. Not that I didn't try!

The shrink plastic is easy to work with; all you need is a roll of the stuff and a heat gun. If you watch the one guy making Halloween lawn deco branch/trees, he's the one that gave me this idea.

 

[cas]

Oh my gosh @brokensword I would have never guessed that they weren't real. I need to make some! Thanks for posting pics.

 

[Tula]

Om my gosh....are you saying those "logs" are artificial ? They look fantastic....so. much better then my floating planters with black pool noodles !

 

[brokensword]

Om my gosh....are you saying those "logs" are artificial ? They look fantastic....so. much better then my floating planters with black pool noodles !

yep; did the logs this winter. I did the planter ring branches last year. The more you do, the better you get, I find. I've used the spray foam, pool noodles, pipe foam, rigid pvc pipe, poly pipe, and combinations of them all. The logs I made as realistic as I could but I'm counting on the algae growing over them and providing the finishing touch. Detail isn't going to matter then but I was already in the 'realisitc' mode! This all came about after I tried using the real thing; it worked but was really heavy and over time, they started to sink, so I needed something that would stay floating but looked real.

My current project is to mimic what GB has; a hollow log with water pouring out. I was going to try and get a real one but I doubt I'm going to find the exact size I need (pond is screened and I only have so much room on the 'bank') that was actually hollow. Not to mention, I figure if I ever found the real thing, it wouldn't last long with water always pouring through. So, the synthetic hollow log is just an extention of the underwater ones, but this one will look worn and open ended so it's a 'display' piece. Still have to waterproof the foam interior better for longevity and do the painting then I'll set it up as my third waterfall. I'll post when I get 'er done!

 

[addy1]

@brokensword may have to hire you to make me a few logs!