The pond dig has begun!

[fishin4cars]

Bigger is better as long as the make up connections will adapt. as for the winter cracking I don't think you will have a problem if you are draining the lines before a freeze. I don't like the corrogated tubing, it costs more and it's a lot harder to get a good seal. I prefer schedule 40 PVC and cut it in to fit my applications if poosible. ti is ridgid and stiff but for me it makes a better seal and I bury anyway. As long as it's black or not able to allow the sun to penatrate any dark inside pipe will not clog as bad as the clear. You could always get a piece, cap one end, fill it with water cap the other end and place it in the freezer and freeze test it. Probably wouldn't cost but a little to make a test piece for peace of mind.

 

[CountryEscape]

Fishin, thanks for the test idea. Never thought of that. My plan is to keep the waterfall, skimmer and fountain running as long as possible, but shutting everything down long before a freeze is a threat. Is that what most people do up this way? I know you probably don't have to worry about freezing in LA. I just know that the couple of ponds I did get a chance to see in person, the lines were not buried and they just took a chance of them freezing, although they probably did blow them out. I intend to keep my submersible pump running, take the line off and point it toward the top, to keep water moving at all times. Put it up on a block or bucket, though, so it doesn't get plugging in the winter when the pond freezes (except for the placer where the floating heater keeps at least a hole open).

 

[fishin4cars]

Bio filter really stops after the water drops below 45 degrees, some say it stops at 50 but just to be sure i go 45. then clean everything and and just let the pumps run until a freeze comes in, I turn off my pumps when the temps here are going to be under 32. I do leave two airstones running for oxygen and to keep a hole in the ice, LOL, I think I have had to do this twice in the last 10 years Air bubbles work great for keeping a hole in the ice, a deicer isn't a bad investment, IT WILL NOT HEAT THE WATER, all it does it keeps a hole in the ice for gas exchange. As long as you keep a hole in the ice, all fish will be fine as ling as you don't ahve a abundance of mulm in the pond, This is why i clean the pond at 45, NOT TOO COLD but cold enough I'm not harming the Bio-filter and not to cold to get everything clean for the dormant period.

 

[addy1]

We are going to do the same fishin run it for as long as possible, then clean and get ready for the cold. The plants will get groomed for winter, way before the bottom of the pond will gets groomed....... Need to get past the leaf fall

 

[koiguy1969]

everything is coming together real nice there C.E.....the deck is a nice place to sit and enjoy your fish.

 

[CountryEscape]

OK, so I need to get a vacuum to clean the bottom before shutting the filter down for winter. And, my filter DIY is in a very heavy duty garbage can, but I'm not confident enough that it will not crack if it freezes, so since it's on wheels, my plan is to empty the water pretty much (drain it from the bottom), then put it in the garage, which does not freeze, put pond water back in it up to the filter media level. Then, drain all the tubing (blow them out I assume) and all will be ready. Addy, how do you get water out of bog tubing? I assume you leave it in, so does the black flexible tubing not crack, or I guess if it does, it really doesn't matter since it has holes in it, come to think of it. But, what about the tubing getting to the bogs? I have mine going outside the pond, running to the bog. I intend to pull the skimmer pump, so it's not in frozen water, too, or is that not necessary? It would be easy to unscrew the clamps and just prop that pipe/tubing up so only water is under the pea gravel. Would that work?
Thanks for all the winterizing suggestions! maybe you experts could do a thread on winterizing for us newbies!

 

[addy1]

OK, so I need to get a vacuum to clean the bottom before shutting the filter down for winter. And, my filter DIY is in a very heavy duty garbage can, but I'm not confident enough that it will not crack if it freezes, so since it's on wheels, my plan is to empty the water pretty much (drain it from the bottom), then put it in the garage, which does not freeze, put pond water back in it up to the filter media level. Then, drain all the tubing (blow them out I assume) and all will be ready. Addy, how do you get water out of bog tubing? I assume you leave it in, so does the black flexible tubing not crack, or I guess if it does, it really doesn't matter since it has holes in it, come to think of it. But, what about the tubing getting to the bogs? I have mine going outside the pond, running to the bog. I intend to pull the skimmer pump, so it's not in frozen water, too, or is that not necessary? It would be easy to unscrew the clamps and just prop that pipe/tubing up so only water is under the pea gravel. Would that work?
Thanks for all the winterizing suggestions! maybe you experts could do a thread on winterizing for us newbies!

You don't really need to put water back into your filter in the garage, the bacteria won't survive the cold.
My pipes under the bog have water in them, they did fine last winter. We will be pulling the pump once it starts freezing up.
The stream lines are mostly under ground, the few above ground, when we pull the pumps will drain dry, our slope does that well.

 

[CountryEscape]

Hmm ... so I will have ugly pipes slanted above ground to drain them, then. LOL Oh well, the things I have to do to keep water out of the lines on my flat land. Thanks, Addy. And, I didn't think of the bacteria not surviving the winter, so I'll clean the filtering stuff real well then? If it's not going to "restart" in the spring, might as well have it cleaned and sprayed out, huh? Or, should I leave it on the media?

 

[addy1]

I would clean and park, just wash good with water. The bacteria dies and needs to restart in the spring. Use an air compressor to blow out your lines, then cap the end to keep any water from going in, therefore they would not need to be slated up

 

[CountryEscape]

Been a busy weekend for me! Moved my skimmer from "inside" the pond on a ledge, to "in" the wall on a curve.

Then I began on the waterfall.

Rebuilt the filter box walls, reinforced them, and was ready to move the filter and test the waterfall.

Had it all ready to go, then had a great idea to add a pool in the middle of the stream, before flowing into the pond. I figure more plant bog area is always a good thing! Here the liner is laid out, ready to test my digging abilities ... you can kind of see the pool in the lower part.

Started laying large flat stones in the stream, and was thrilled that each one has water running over it, as I was so afraid the water may go under.

Then, after all our heat these 2 days, I got the waterfall and most of the rocks in place, and decided to quit for the day! Feel very happy at my first waterfall adventure.

The only thing I will probably change is the back wall seems to be "too much rock", so I will probably lower the dirt in that area and may plant some things above the pool. The only thing I wonder is if I cut the liner, will rain build up under the back of the area, or can I assume it should just soak in and then out of that area, since I have the landscape stones for the back wall, and they are not solid like concrete, so nothing holding the water back. I really want to plant flowers, etc. in that area, but thought I'd better ask the experts and see if that may be a problem before I fold the liner (OK, I've been told not to cut, so I will fold it ...) and tuck it under rocks and leave the back part to be planted.

 

[DrDave]

Nice job so far.

 

[j.w]

Wow Country I really like the way you made the waterfall have that pool just before it drops into the pond. That was a great idea! That would look nice planted around the back like you are talking about and I wouldn't think it would hurt anything but wait to hear more from more experienced in that area. I don't have my liner covering the back of my falls but I have the filter sitting on the liner and the liner lipped up around the bottom of the filter w/ some rocks underneath edge of liner so water back splash from the falls can't leak out the back. Not sure if I making this clear enough. Anyways I don't have a stream either.

 

[CountryEscape]

It's crystal clear, JW, because I did it the same way! Actually, I walked around the filter with wheelbarrow to get more rocks and noticed the water was coming out under the filter. So, I tucked it up to the weir, pushed stones against it to keep it there. Not the prettiest, but hey, it works!
And, since my expanded bog is pretty full of plants, and I had a coupon to use at my local landscape place, and I just so happened to go by there yesterday and saw a gorgeous planter of bog plants .... that's on hold for me to pick up tomorrow! I think with the new pool I will move some plants around and put the large planter in the bog, as it's more visible for me from the deck. The waterfall is as well, just have to turn my head. LOL But, looking across has always been my main direction of view. But, have never had the waterfall flowing before so may rethink that. It's a tall planting, so figure some of my shorter stuff can go in the "pool". Can't wait to pick it up and remodel the bog.

 

[CountryEscape]

Oh, and Thanks, Dr. Dave! I appreciate the compliment. And, I truly understand that ponds sometimes never get "finished", still a "work in progress", as I have so many more things I want to do around the pond, but that will have to wait until next year. But, that gives me something to look forward to next year, more planning and so forth.

 

[j.w]

Yep that is part of the fun of having a pond.........it never ends.........always something more to add or change in the future. And you have a long cold winter to dream and scheme all kinds of ideas.