- Joined
- Jun 10, 2014
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- 358
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- Morton, WA
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- 8a (10 - 15 degrees F)
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Warning: This is me venting a bit. Not to be taken too seriously, and I don't necessarily need "answers" because I'm stuck in a waiting game for now. Bottom line: I picked the wrong person for the job. We moved to a new house back in October, and of course with our koi being beloved members of our family, we worked on lining up a pond contractor ahead of the move, to ensure our fish would have a (bigger and better) home at the new place. We live in a VERY remote and rural location now, so finding someone willing to travel there was one of the most restricting challenges.
I know... I can already hear all of you saying "Do it yourself!" There are several reasons why we weren't willing to tackle this on our own. I don't need to get into that.
So work started in mid-November, and things were going decently (hiccups here and there). We were told the project would take 2-3 weeks. Then things were taking longer than expected. Materials and time had been under estimated, and expenses were mounting. Then more time.... and more. FINALLY, in late March (more than 4 months after starting), the project was to be completed. We were filling the pond! The contractor, paid in full, took off.
Well, the pond is partially above ground, concrete construction with an epoxy coating liner. And before it had finished filling to the top, it became hugely apparent that there were leaks. So filling ceased, and we call the guy. He delayed his return date. Then delayed it again. And again. And again. Claiming family obligations, then vehicle troubles. Now 2 months later (6 months from start of project), he still has not returned to properly re-seal the pond. He is saying the job was "complete," and that this is a "warranty issue" (he says he guarantees his work for 5 years). How is a pond that was never able to be filled "COMPLETE?" The only thing complete was our payment, and now I realize what a huge mistake that was.
The warmer the weather gets, the more detrimental it is going to be to move the fish back into a 500 gallon holding tank while the pond is drained, dried, and re-coated. Because of holes in the liner, the concrete is leaching lime in, and we are sitting with a fairly high pH around 8.4. I am certainly not able to obtain any new fish this season under these circumstances. And I'm losing hope that I'll even be able to fully enjoy my pond before the next hibernation begins. This is so stressful!! I've been so hopeful to put up a proud new gallery on here. And I can't just fix it myself, or pay someone else to step in and make it right, because we are financially WAY too far in on this as it is. The guy that has all our money needs to fix it, and we are patiently trying to avoid legal conflict.
Specs: 12' x 12' square, formal pond, mostly a 5' depth, one section at 3' depth, approximately 4,800 gallons. 3 stainless steel waterfall spillways, bottom drained. 8000 gph bead filter, 3 qty 36W UV's. Same 13 fish I've had for a long time (some have lived at 3 different houses with us now!). I'll share one photo of the sadly unfinished pond. Thank for listening to me rant!
I know... I can already hear all of you saying "Do it yourself!" There are several reasons why we weren't willing to tackle this on our own. I don't need to get into that.
So work started in mid-November, and things were going decently (hiccups here and there). We were told the project would take 2-3 weeks. Then things were taking longer than expected. Materials and time had been under estimated, and expenses were mounting. Then more time.... and more. FINALLY, in late March (more than 4 months after starting), the project was to be completed. We were filling the pond! The contractor, paid in full, took off.
Well, the pond is partially above ground, concrete construction with an epoxy coating liner. And before it had finished filling to the top, it became hugely apparent that there were leaks. So filling ceased, and we call the guy. He delayed his return date. Then delayed it again. And again. And again. Claiming family obligations, then vehicle troubles. Now 2 months later (6 months from start of project), he still has not returned to properly re-seal the pond. He is saying the job was "complete," and that this is a "warranty issue" (he says he guarantees his work for 5 years). How is a pond that was never able to be filled "COMPLETE?" The only thing complete was our payment, and now I realize what a huge mistake that was.
The warmer the weather gets, the more detrimental it is going to be to move the fish back into a 500 gallon holding tank while the pond is drained, dried, and re-coated. Because of holes in the liner, the concrete is leaching lime in, and we are sitting with a fairly high pH around 8.4. I am certainly not able to obtain any new fish this season under these circumstances. And I'm losing hope that I'll even be able to fully enjoy my pond before the next hibernation begins. This is so stressful!! I've been so hopeful to put up a proud new gallery on here. And I can't just fix it myself, or pay someone else to step in and make it right, because we are financially WAY too far in on this as it is. The guy that has all our money needs to fix it, and we are patiently trying to avoid legal conflict.
Specs: 12' x 12' square, formal pond, mostly a 5' depth, one section at 3' depth, approximately 4,800 gallons. 3 stainless steel waterfall spillways, bottom drained. 8000 gph bead filter, 3 qty 36W UV's. Same 13 fish I've had for a long time (some have lived at 3 different houses with us now!). I'll share one photo of the sadly unfinished pond. Thank for listening to me rant!