In case you haven't been following, back in the spring we took down the pond in order to make some cinder block walls as well as install a cinder block collar around whatever part didn't have a wall. I won't go into details, but we have clay "soil" and LOTS of ground water issues that have caused problems since the initial build in 2012. So the intent was to do as much as possible -- short of filling it in and starting over -- to address these problems.
It's been a S...L...O...W process 'cause it's been mainly just me doing the work. Hubby and son help out some, and I couldn't have done what I have without their help, but it's still been mostly a one-woman job.
The poor goldfish have been living in a 300 gal. Rubbermaid stock tank and have done remarkably well! I moved the 100 gal. Skippy filter to use for them. I was able to transport all of the biomedia and keep it moist during the transition, and that was a success as the water in the 300 gal. tank has stayed perfect with the help of water changes to eliminate nitrates! And that's even with my over-feeding them.....there was no algae for them to graze on, and I just didn't feel right about limiting their food. They totally ate up my entire duckweed & azolla crops, little piggies! [Which reminds me, I need to order more] But they are thriving, appear healthy, and some have obviously grown.
Any and all plants I had went into a kiddie pool [or tubs, in the case of the water lilies], and they have survived. I put some oxygenators, parrots feather, and water hyacinth in with the fish and I think the fish have munched on them a little.
And in the midst of all this, there were fry.....and I
had to rescue & raise those little guys! Oh, and I rescued as many tadpoles that were in the pond as I could, as well. But I didn't need to...... Having the plants in the kiddie pool and the tubs has given the froggies more than enough places to make more tadpoles, LOL!
Oh, and I also built a mini-bog in the turtle habitat
It's planted with most of the plants that will go in the main bog -- next project -- but it isn't connected to the pond yet. I've been filling it via a water hose stuck in the intake tube. Once the pond is up & running, the turtle-bog will feed back into the pond via a little stream running through the habitat.
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Fast forward.......
I am
FINALLY where I can start putting in the underlayment! Yea! I can't believe it! Going to start on that today. Every where I have cinder blocks, I was concerned about the sharp edges, so I bought an angle grinder [great tool, BTW] and "bull nosed" any sharp or protruding places. But even with that, I'm going to install extra padding [carpet] under the regular underlayment where there is cinder block, and I want to glue that in place [to prevent movement] with some PL roofing goop. That's probably going to take most of the day,
and for some reason my family thinks I need to go grocery shopping today.......
The liner is going to be a problem, due to its weight, so it might not go in until I can recruit a 4th [or even 5th] person to help with that -- shooting for Sat. or Sunday. I can't wait!!
Sorry, no pictures to share at this time, but will post some soon.
little grand-daughter of Lou's. Guess what that is my birthday also so we get to share
