My Deck Pond From the Start

[Nick83]

The temperature has been really out of whack for the past week with lows in the upper to mid 30's at night but rising up to the 60's and 70's during the day. I've been able to keep the water between 55 and 60. My GF and the pleco are all still very active. The air is gradually going to get warmer over the next couple of days with 80° coming into the forecast. I wish old man winter would get his act together!!!

 

[tbendl]

I feel you Nick83. It's jackets and fuzzy hats in the morning and t-shirts in the afternoon.

 

[Nick83]

Well it's another shorts and T-shirt day so I thought to spend some time out on the deck and take a couple pictures of my shubbie. He's looking kind of big in the belly region and likes to play with the comet but can't keep up with its lightning fast swimming abilities lol.

 

[Nick83]

Another short movie I put together today.

 

[j.w]

Nice filming @Nick83 and your fish look like they love all that vegetation to swim around in. Beautiful fish!

 

[Nick83]

Thanks @j.w I'm working on a longer more steady video without moving the camera. Yeah they really do like playing in the vegetation and nipping at the leaves.
I do want to add more loose plants on the bottom in the spring to create more hiding places and add some more color to the floor.

 

[Nick83]

Rare footage of my pleco

 

[j.w]

I had a Pleco like that and he grew to be 12" long. I finally gave him to a guy w/a fish obsession who had lots of indoor aquariums. I was done w/aquariums and the Pleco was going to live forever I could tell!

 

[Nick83]

A friend of mine had to do the same with his. It just outgrew his aquarium. I'm planning on keeping it as long as I can. If he doesn't become aggressive I'll keep it forever.

 

[j.w]

You are lucky you can keep yours outdoors there @Nick83 . I have heard they can become aggressive but maybe if it has plenty of room it won't happen.

Here mine was at my house and then 2nd photo is at Larry's house in his new home.

 

[Nick83]

Very pretty pleco. If mine does become a problem in the deck... it will give me a reason to dig a larger pond in my backyard lol. I'm going to make sure he is happy and well fed as he/she grows to adulthood. So far it keeps to itself and is the smallest fish in the pond.

 

[j.w]

Doesn't take much to give us a reason to build a bigger pond.................oh yes I know

 

[Nick83]

The past few days as you are aware, I have been taking a lot of underwater video of the fish in my pond. After viewing the videos I have noticed one of the fish is a red cap oranda. It just looked like a plain old fantail from above and I knew that there was something different about this one. After seeing it from the side it's head is forming a lump characteristic of a red cap oranda.

 

[Nick83]

Well I(my fish) survived its first winter with the new pond. I can't really say it was much of a winter but we had a couple cold snaps. The Lillie's are blooming. Well they never did stop blooming but one plant died back and it is coming up strong now. The fish never stopped eating and the water temps only dropped under 40°F maybe twice for less than 48hours. Everyone is happy healthy and strong.

 

[sissy]

I love your fantails .If I had a dream it would be my pond with only butt wigglers