The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

I used to have a light that came on on the outside of the well housing. When my son rebuilt the new well housing, he said he would hook up the light again, but he forgot or didn't have time that last day he was here. I hate to nag him about it. The wires are there, but they need to be wired to the socket and attached to the outside, and he will probably run a longer wire, so it can be tacked up properly, and I'm not good enough to do any of that. That light reminded me it was on, but mainly at night. During the day it was not so obvious. Anyhow, I mentioned it to him, and he felt bad he had forgotten to come and put it on, so says he will do that next time he's over my way ... we shall see. Carrying a timer might work, if I remembered to set it! LOL

 

[j.w]

In olden days they used to just tie a string on the finger. Now maybe you could just put one of those stretchy hair rubber bands around your wrist. See it and remember

 

[CountryEscape]

I'll have to think on that. Not sure that would be a reminder to me. I was just glad I was typing about the pond, and thought of the water and BOOM, thought of the hydrant! Yeah, I need something, but I'm one that forgets 3 seconds later what I thought of ... really bad. Someone posted I think on FB, but maybe on here, that it's a door frame that makes you lose your memory, when you walk through it. LOL I loved that concept!

 

[addy1]

I have timers on anything that runs outside, hose timers, battery or electric. If I turn water on it only runs for the amount of time I have it set for. Sure don't want to fry our well pump.

 

[CountryEscape]

Not sure how to put a timer on a hydrant, though. I wouldn't think I would want to put a timer on the pump in the well housing, as if the pump shuts off, and the hydrant is open, I think that's how it froze deep in the ground last time. It was left open, ran well dry, and air got down the shaft, and froze the line down in the ground. If anyone has a way to figure it out, please chime in!

 

[j.w]

I have timers everywhere...............on stove, on computer, on greenhouse water, on pond water in Summer,had one on radio to scare heron away but that's over with,now using net. I have a simple little timer on my computer that I love. Had it on my old xp and now transferred it to my new win 7 one : http://www.2000shareware.com/info/cook-timer-portable/228473/

 

[CountryEscape]

My problem is if I knew when I went outside I was going to turn on the water, I could set inside timer. However, I usually decide when I see the water depth. :-( I'll have to think about setting inside timer anyhow, just in case, and then maybe that will remind me. Good idea.

 

[CountryEscape]

Did it again last night. I think I'm just plain senile.
On a high note, was finally able to get the koi pond waterfall up and running again last night. We have had some days (1 or 2 here and there) in the 60's and 70's lately, but still took until yesterday to thaw out the ground going up the side of the waterfall to thaw out the water line enough to let it run. Looks sooooo nice, no green algae on any of the rocks ... yet! Well, crap, GPF doesn't want to allow me to post any pics. Boohoo! Will try again this evening. You will just have to imagine it for now ....

And before I got the water running, noticed a frog on the drain pipe of the Skippy filter, which feeds the waterfall. Not sure where he came from, but looks like he's been hunkered down lately under the mulch and debris in the flower bed.

 

[j.w]

Shame on you CE...............why are you not using your timer?
Good tho you are thawing and getting in some nice temps now and then and that you are happy w/ your clear water w/o algae.
Frogs were singing across the road at my neighbors koi pond but none here yet at least that I can see or hear

 

[CountryEscape]

I didn't know I was going to turn the water on when I went outside, JW, and don't have any type of timer I can carry with me. I need to buy one that is small, fit in pocket, leave it outside and when I turn on the water, put it in my pocket. Maybe that would help ... maybe ...
Koi pond is still very murky, cannot see the fish. Lots of algae in the pond, but none on the waterfall or in the bog, since it has been not running last 2 months. Goldfish pond, which has been up and running all winter with bog, stream, skimmer, crystal clear. I'm just firmly convinced that the bog has been the saving grace in that pond. Going to find out for sure when I add larger bog ... MUCH larger bog ... to the koi pond this summer. I think whatever was in the water line from skimmer to the small bog in the koi pond must have cleared out in the winter, as that line was VERY sluggish before winter even got here, and now it's running great guns.

 

[j.w]

You're forgiven

Can't wait to see if your new bog does the trick for your koi pond clearing up next year when you turn it on for the first time after winter or I guess you will be able to tell whenever you get it done this Summer cuz didn't it turn cloudy off and on all last Summer except when you used that pond clear up stuff?

 

[CountryEscape]

Actually, my koi pond has been cloudy/murky each and every spring, this being the 3rd spring since my build in May, 2011. The goldfish pond has never been anything but crystal clear. I had huge problem with string algae 2 years ago, used vinegar, then learned that probably did a number on my pond plants, since I used it full strength, trickling it on the edge where the string algae was. The issue with that hurting the plants was what I figured caused the pond to go brown murky that spring. Now this year it's just greenish murky, can't see to the bottom. I've had the aerator going all winter. When I rebuild the bog, I hope to leave it up and running all winter, like I did the goldfish pond, so that I have water circulation going year round. And, going to try to make the waterfall different, so not as likely to freeze up the waterline to that, too. Lots of figuring to go on before I attempt to make these changes. The bog will be an easy fix, as long as I can be sure the liner will work properly, and not wick the water in between them. Probably going to use the liner that is the existing bog and extend the pond on that side, although would have to probably lower the pond level about 24" to do that, so not certain I want to take that chance. Guess I could set up lots of containers for the water, drain down, dig out the edge, and put it all back into the pond. May have to make a "pond" in my truck bed to hold all that water, though ....

 

[j.w]

Sounds like you will have a lot to do this summer CE w/your bog build. Hoping you figure out which way will work the best for you. We will of course want to be able to watch you do it all. We are very good at watching

 

[addy1]

Mine has been shut off for around 5 months, it cleared up beautifully and quickly once I turned the pump back on.

 

[MitchM]

I don't know how your well plumbing and pressure tank is set up CE, but on ours, there is a pressure switch that shuts off power to the pump if it the pressure gets too low. It's happened a couple of times but sure beats the risk of burning out a pump.
Timers and me don't get along so well. A timer alarm could be going off and I'll be thinking, "now what was that for...?"...lol