The pond dig has begun!

[sissy]

they have a store there and display ponds

 

[sissy]

Richmond it says has directions and times for there store

 

[sissy]

maped it but you will have to check it out says it is about an hour from effingham to richmond

 

[sissy]

prices start at 11 dollars each 4 to 6 inch they have a lot of stuff on clearance

 

[sissy]

here are more town name is Homer Chis'Water Gardens 217-896-2225 /Union is the town Frontier Ponds 815-923-2480 /Cook is the town Waters Edge Garden Center 708-895-2554

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks for all the info, Sissy. I saw the prices for the koi at Richmond, and it would be a fun place to travel to and see the fish, but I just wish they had pics on the net to look at. I think if I email them, they will send me pics, so will try that. Boyfriend and I are always looking for places to ride to on his Harley. Never did find Richmond on my Atlas, so will have to mapquest it to figure out where it is. Thanks again!

 

[CountryEscape]

Oops, just looked at the map, and it's on the IL/WI border, north of Chicago, so that's more like a 5 hour drive from Effingham. Probably farther than I would want to drive to see and buy koi, wouldn't that be hard to get them home alive for that long of a drive? Just wondering, what do you do you keep them alive that long, or do places have the pure oxygen to send them home in the bags, like pet stores/aquarium places? I guess that place would be large enough to have the pure oxygen, but would that be stressful to drive them home that far (not on the Harley, obviously)? It will be a while before I can add fish, although yes I am getting VERY anxious! Think I'm going to order a waterfall weir from here, instead of waiting for boyfriend to make one, as he didn't come through with one this weekend like he promised. LOL I want the waterfall going so the filter is running, but also need to finish the outside edge so can completely fill the pond, now that company will be leaving tomorrow a.m.

 

[fishin4cars]

Shipping fish five hours is possible, You would certainly want to know ahead of time if they do use oxygen. They have to be kept cool. But be sure and hold off buying Koi until your pond has been up and running for 4-6 weeks or longer, It needs to cycle stabilize and settle down before adding koi. I've bought off of ebay from next day koi and they let you know when they leave there facility and they arrive in about 24 hrs. So five hours can be done just come straight home once you buy them, the longer the haul the more stressed the fish but sometimes that the best way to by them is from someone that has a large selection.

 

[CountryEscape]

Agree, Fishin, with everything you said. Anxious to get koi, but more anxious to have them live, so no worries, will wait until the time is right, and 4 weeks is minimum from now, and water has been in since last weekend, although filter not running, fountain is now. Hoping to get edge done tomorrow, rest of water filled. Located flagstone at reasonable price, so on the way to building the waterfall and/or stepping stones around the edge. Priority first is to finish perimeter and filling water, so water can cycle properly. I guess plants are in the order ASAP as well, right?

 

[fishin4cars]

Getting the filters up and running is your first priority. Don't rush yourself, take your time and get everything done you want done, Start your start up time when the filter is up and running, Not when you added water. 4-6 weeks after the filter is running you can start expecting the pond to cycle, sooner with bacteria additives longer if you do it natural and allow the fish to cycle the pond.
Plants, Start with marginal plants, These are the hardiest and will do the best in a new pond, floating plants next, Lilies last. Young lilies can survive but they can also shock like fish can, great thing about plants is that even if they get shock they will usually pull through and come on out once the pond settles,
Fish are by far the most easy living things to kill during start up, But they are needed for cycling the pond. If at all possible don't start by adding feeder fish, Start by adding a few inexpensive medium size fish. Far less chance you'll introduce a disease and somewhat larger fish are usually more hardy than those cheap little feeder fish. You have done such a good job of asking questions and getting good input before doing things to your pond, Keep it up! Getting good info before you do something out of line is going to make starting up the pond so much better. You have a good support group here following your build,
We will help you when that time comes too. May seem like it is taking a long time to get it all done and up and running like you want, but your going to have many years of enjoyment with your pond, taking your time and doing things right now will pay off many times over as the pond Matures.. Your doing good!

 

[CountryEscape]

Tonight I got back on working on the pond, after having out of state company for the weekend. Got the back wall leveled, then started going around the edge with the landscaping stones, leveling as I went. Got half of them done, so tomorrow night I should get the landscape stones completed. Next is the waterfall! Looking at flagstone tomorrow night, and going to purchase a skid of it. Have some smaller flagstone which should work well for the face edge to help hide the top edge of liner. Have the fountain running but still not the filter. BUT, I do have algae growing on the bottom, and assume that is a good sign, or at least I hope it is! Soon as outside edge is completed, I can finish filling the pond and get the filter going. I can just lean the Skippy for now, and pull the liner up on the edges to keep water going into the pond. GOT to get the filter running! Thanks again, Fishin, for all your good info! Read your last post again, and sure do appreciate all of your help, and everyone else's for that matter!

 

[CometKeith]

Hi Countryescape. You may want to think twice about flagstone. Flagstone is basically limestone and has naturally a high lime content. Any water runoff you get that goes over the flagstone may make your water more alkaline and raise your PH. If you are thinking of keeping koi they generally don't like higher PH's(above 8). Goldfish don't seem to mind so much. Slate is considered by many to be a better choice for decorative stone. I have flagstone around my pond and I finally got the PH down after two years!

 

[addy1]

country, missed you ? about the bog wall, dirt and stone lol. But I would have said the same, the water pressure should keep it stable. We built a wood wall between the pond and bog, but it is 28 feet long.

Glad it is going so good for you, now we need more pictures.

 

[CountryEscape]

I will post more pics tonight, Addy! Too dark for good pics when I got done last night, and need to get my butt to work now. LOL Took pics this morning,though, and of the bog with the line going into the bottom. Will use some of the rock under the line, so the clamps are not on the liner, then most of the pea gravel on top of it. Getting soooo excited to finish the outer edge so can finish filling the pond! And, now that the outside edge is on the side where the shelf and steps are, dogs can't reach in to drink water ... at least not until the water level is raised.
Going to order a skid (at least) of flagstone tonight after work. Also have 2 tiny skids (3 sq FT each) of smaller flagstone pieces which will work perfectly (I think) for covering the top edge of the liner on the inside. Then head home to hopefully get the outer edge finished. Still not planning to cut the liner until all water is in and the liner has had a chance to shift if it does that at all. Looks kinda ugly, but better ugly than too short!!!
Off to work! Have a great day!

 

[addy1]

No kidding, give it some time. Short liners are a pita