The pond dig has begun!

[addy1]

That looks great country, I don't see why you couldn't plant that area, with the liner folded under if it does not work out well you can just put the liner back in place. Just make sure you leave a berm to direct rain water away from the stream

 

[CountryEscape]

Today I got back to the waterfall, and made changes ... of course. I decided I didn't care for the flat flagstone on the edges of the stream so removed all of them and replaced them with "Utah rocks" that my daughter had gathered and brought home with her when she came with my horse trailer this summer. I like the look much better, much softer and more natural looking.

Then I pushed the liner and underliner back, tucked it under and planted some of the back side of the waterfall area. I really liked how the day lily on one side and irises on the other side of the piece of driftwood turned out! It's about middle of the stream on the far side.
It was a pretty nice day, not so hot, somewhat cloudy, so continued working and decided the liner, underliner, etc. needed to finally get tucked under all the way around, so worked on getting that done, FINALLY! Wow, it looks soooo much cleaner now, and more "finished".

Already I'm thinking of adding another area to my pond, since there is another "corner" of liner that either needs to be cut off (for shame, if I do that!) or used! I could actually extend the far curve or add a bog area, but not sure how I would get water to it. A "T" from the skimmer to feed it and then the big bog would likely not work very well, would it? I guess if I had a bigger pump and valves, I could regular how much goes into each side. Not sure it would be worth the effort, but hate to cut the liner, too. So, I'm contemplating ....
As a bonus today, I noticed that I finally got a dark pink lily to bloom! This was one that I got from Menards for $5. I'm pretty sure the dark red one is the one plant that did not grow at all. Still hoping it might put out some shoots, but not much chance I know.

Jr. Bullfrog is smaller than full sized bullfrog, but the lily pad still thinks he's too big to hold up!

Alas, when I came into the house during the afternoon, here's what I found on my couch. One of my Bostons, Olive Oyl, and Smokey, the beagle.

I guess they were working too hard today. LOL The beagle is one that someone dumped here last year, and I had neutered. Best dog, have no idea why someone would have dumped him. (Trust me, I asked and called for days after he showed up). Only bad habit is he will chase the newspaper lady's car ... but the stupid lady throws out dog biscuits, so what would you expect!

 

[addy1]

roflmao at the post lady, she loves him!

Very very nice country, yep don't cut the liner yet, just hide it for now and think of all the endless possibilities!

Even with the additional fish, and feeding them lots, my water tests are perfect! just love love love my bog. (finally tested it yesterday lol)

I do not have a ton of flow into my bog if you go by size and gph, and it works great. Ours pump is 4200 gph the bog is around 2400 gallons (pea gravel and water gallons lol) the pond around 9-10 k gallons, add the stream maybe 11k gallons. So we are really only turning over the pond every two hours or so.

The water has been algae free, tests perfect all summer, so I am very happy!

 

[koiguy1969]

VERY NICELY DONE THERE, CountryEscape....you cant hear it but I'm applauding your work!

 

[CountryEscape]

Addy, now I'm wondering what I need to do to get rid of the algae. I know patience is a virtue, but every evening (in this heat, maybe it will be better when the temps lower, like this morning) all the lilies have algae on them, stems and leaves, and so does the primrose. My plants do not look as healthy as other ponds, like yours. I still cannot grow hyacinths, put the rest of them in the bog, hoping to revive them some as maybe the koi are eating them (I don't have that many, maybe a sickly 20 or so). The koi were definitely pulling the lizards tail out of the pot, so I finally moved it to the bog.
My water tests were very good when I checked them 2 days ago. Everything was zero (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) and PH was 8.2, GH 14 and KH 9. I'm pretty sure those are all in the good zones. The only thing I was doing (and have not done for 2 weeks now) is adding a product called "Pond Perfect". It states it's "safe and beneficial for all fish, wildlife, desirable aquatic plants and turf." So, could this be why the algae is still growing so strongly, or should I not worry about algae on everything? I don't seem to have the string algae ... yet! It sounds awful when you get it, though.
Oh, glad you liked that silly dog picture. What a hoot they are!!!
Oh, and my pump on the skimmer going to the bog is I think 1200 gph. I also have a 4200 gph pump that feeds my small fountain and the filter/waterfall. I may be able to fit a larger pump into the skimmer, but I know we got the 1200 because it would fit the space provided for the pump. I have an extra 4200 for "emergency", although it's the better pump! My initial pump seized up on my 2 weeks after starting it, cleaned it and panicked so bought another pump, now it has worked perfectly ever since! Don't even have to clean off the grill of it either. Have checked it several times, never anything on it to plug it up. Maybe initially there was stuff on it that caused it to quit, though.

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks, KoiGuy! It's my little piece of paradise. I have soooo many ideas for the area around the pond now. LOL That will be next year's project, though, unless I find some plants really cheap soon, which is likely. Since I have lots of flat flagstones left, I am planning to make a walkway around the pond with them, or use them through the plantings I want to make around the pond. All in time, and heaven forbid I get it "done" this year! That just will not do. I am enjoying it way too much to stop now. New is always fun!
Oh, and another one of my favorite goldfish, a Comet that has a white very long tail, white belly, and white lips, was spawning this morning. Poor girl, thought she was dead, she came to the shelf on my side, laid on her side, and the "boys" just kept picking at her! Finally she got back up to swim. I think she laid eggs on the underside of the lily pads, although I could not see them. Will leave them alone, just in case a few of them make it past the hungry mouths!

 

[addy1]

Addy, now I'm wondering what I need to do to get rid of the algae. I know patience is a virtue, but every evening (in this heat, maybe it will be better when the temps lower, like this morning) all the lilies have algae on them, stems and leaves, and so does the primrose. My plants do not look as healthy as other ponds, like yours. I still cannot grow hyacinths, put the rest of them in the bog, hoping to revive them some as maybe the koi are eating them (I don't have that many, maybe a sickly 20 or so). The koi were definitely pulling the lizards tail out of the pot, so I finally moved it to the bog.
My water tests were very good when I checked them 2 days ago. Everything was zero (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) and PH was 8.2, GH 14 and KH 9. I'm pretty sure those are all in the good zones. The only thing I was doing (and have not done for 2 weeks now) is adding a product called "Pond Perfect". It states it's "safe and beneficial for all fish, wildlife, desirable aquatic plants and turf." So, could this be why the algae is still growing so strongly, or should I not worry about algae on everything? I don't seem to have the string algae ... yet! It sounds awful when you get it, though.
Oh, glad you liked that silly dog picture. What a hoot they are!!!
Oh, and my pump on the skimmer going to the bog is I think 1200 gph. I also have a 4200 gph pump that feeds my small fountain and the filter/waterfall. I may be able to fit a larger pump into the skimmer, but I know we got the 1200 because it would fit the space provided for the pump. I have an extra 4200 for "emergency", although it's the better pump! My initial pump seized up on my 2 weeks after starting it, cleaned it and panicked so bought another pump, now it has worked perfectly ever since! Don't even have to clean off the grill of it either. Have checked it several times, never anything on it to plug it up. Maybe initially there was stuff on it that caused it to quit, though.

lol country, my pond is technically over a year old, I do have some algae on the plants, have not been concerned with it. The water it self is clear, the sides have no string algae, no floating little green stuff.

I have noticed some algae growing on some pea gravel in the bog that showed up with the heat, it is like a carpet algae.

So far my fish ignore the plants, even the new guys. It takes time to get the pond to become a pond.............ie established.

The best thing is the great water tests!

 

[sissy]

poor dogs you work them to the bone ,literally of course .Your pond really turned out great .I was wondering when you were going to post more pics of the whole pond .Soon you will know if any block heave from the cold .I had to reset one side of my pond the first year ,but did not matter because that was the side I was going to make a bigger water fall and put in a bigger filter .Can't believe how big your plants got WOW

 

[koiguy1969]

there is so much i want(ed) to do to my pond.but finances just wont permitt...every time i get my head above water ...along comes another wave to push me back under. hopefully next year i can start bringing them to reality...first thing is a 2' high block wall surrounding the current pond hole,about 2' out from its current edge. dig out the plant shleves that are there presently...

 

[CountryEscape]

I was wondering about the block "heave", Sissy, so we will see. The only wall I'm concerned about is the wall between the waterfall and the pond. But, since the waterfall will be shut down during the freeze and cold, if it does fall, as long as no fish is under it when it happens, it can be fixed next year, and I will have learned. It's all dirt behind that wall, so we shall see. The short walls on the outside, if they move, so be it. No biggie. They can't go too far, unless of course they fall over. But, since they have that lip, I suspect they will not be pushed over by the water freezing on the pond, especially since I'll have a tank heater to keep a hole. I know if it gets really cold, it may freeze on the edges anyhow.
KoiGuy, if I sat back and looked at all the money I have socked into this pond, I would STOP! LOL, but since I don't, and since this is my "big project" for the year (I could do that, since the barn painting and new steel came in under estimate, and I was using that Federal tax money from when I bought my house 2 years ago ...), it's budgeted for. The only reason I went over what I originally thought as far as price is that I dug it way bigger than originally thought, and the liner was about double what I originally figured. But, I've bought everything on sale, except for the last couple of pots of plants. Given their individual prices, I think I got a good deal, though.
Sissy, some of those plants in the bog are original, some are new. The taller ones are new, and came that tall. The umbrella palm, dwarf cattail and elephant ear plants are all what I originally put in. The sweet flag has not grown much, nor have the irises, but they are still alive and look fine, just not growing much.
And, I'm still jealous about how others who have gotten some of my water primrose from my farm pond and put into their koi/goldfish ponds have it growing really well! Mine just kind of sits there, so I go out and get more. LOL Considering I have about an acre of it in my farm pond, I sure don't have to worry about it getting all used up!

 

[j.w]

Country I do think if you added more plants like that lovely primrose that you have it would help w the algae. What is it that they say your pond should be covered over w/ say around 75 to 80% plants? Mine is almost totally covered so I took one of the plant rings out so the fish could have some space to really swim in at the surface. I have some algae but not much and the fish nibble away at it. I also noticed they sure like to tear into the water lettuce roots and they are all just goldies. Oh well water lettuce doesn't look so good anyway w/ all the yellow. Let them party down w/ it till it dies off in fall!

 

[addy1]

I only have about 50% coverage, but the bog is stocked full of plants, they suck out what the algae needs.
she could add more, get the sucker with more coverage until the algae gets better under control.

 

[j.w]

Yes you have tons of bog plants and that counts as coverage for you pond too I would assume cuz it's eating all the nutrients from the pond. You've prolly got 175% coverage, lol!

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, yes, I could trot out to the pasture and scoop out some more primrose. Maybe I will do that this afternoon, as I can always take it back out once the algae gets more under control. In fact, I may swap out some that has been in the pond for a while, as it is looking kind of sickly and replace it with new fresh stuff that has more leaves and flowers.
So, neither of you think that the beneficial bacteria that I've added previously would have anything to do with the algae? In fact, I think my water was clearer when I was using it, than it is now. Wondering if I should dose it weekly as it says you're supposed to do .... I can see to the bottom, but it's kind of murky now again. I think it may be because I quit using the Pond Perfect 3 weeks ago. Your thoughts?

 

[j.w]

I've never used that stuff or any other kind of bacteria additives so can't help ya. My pond has been running for several yrs so I would think it has all the bacteria it needs. How does one test for good bacteria.........hmmmm, I for sure don't know.