Topics

1

Pond Chat / Pond plant help, please

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:05:01 PM »

I'm in far West Texas, and it is hot as a mother here. 103 temps are like a cold front. We've hit 117 several times this summer.

My pond is in almost full sun, about 85% of the day. I have shade cloth over 1/2 the pond, and it's deep enough that the water stays cool. My problem is, several of my plants have cooked. My lilies, cattail, and parrot feather has done okay, as is my Hornswort, when I can get it to say on the bottom.
 Pickerel, and about 6 other plants I can't remember the name of, went belly up. DUCKWEED dies, for heck's sake!!! What are some good hot weather plants?

I get my shubunkins Friday - can't wait!!!

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Pond Chat / Help!!

« on: May 01, 2011, 11:38:38 AM »

Got my new pond lined, and all filled up. Everything was going pretty for a day or 2, and then we have 4 days with 50 - 65 mph winds. My pond was/is a mess! There's about an inch of dirt (caliche, really) on the bottom, and all this brown scummy stuff floating in and on top of my pond. Do I need to drain it and start over? Thankfully, I hadn't put my fish in yet, just my lotus pot and some lilies.

Ugh. Damn West Texas!!

3

Pond Chat / Just wanted to say thank you

« on: April 23, 2011, 03:28:42 PM »

I haven't posted much here, but I've read almost every thread for pages back. I figured most questions I might have, have already been answered in triplicate. Between here and koiphen, you guys have been a wealth of information. I appreciate all the time you guys have spent answering questions for pond noobs like me. I've avoided a lot of mistakes I might have made without you guys. My pond is about done, and I owe all of you a lot of thank yous!!! Love this site!

4

Pond Chat / Adding beneficial bacteria to new pond?

« on: April 17, 2011, 07:37:25 AM »

I'm getting ready to add my liner and fill it up. My question is, do I add one of the beneficial bacteria products they have out there? If so, which one? I'm somewhat confused as to what they do. Are they like the good bacterias that I've been hoarding out of my aquarium filters, for use in seeding my pond filter?

Also, what should the levels on my test strips be at before I add my fish? I've seen so many numbers in threads, my head is spinning.

Thanks for any help. This is my first big pond, I'm trying not to screw up too bad, .

5

Pond Chat / I am sooooo disgusted and disappointed

« on: April 02, 2011, 09:12:16 PM »

in my "local" pond center. I called last week to ask about her plants, and she said everything was out, due to our super warm temps (it's been in the 90's since the beginning of March.) I specifically told her how far I was coming from, and she said everything I could ever want was looking lovely.

So, we drive an hour and a half over there. And wow. Her actual ponds looked great. The ponds holding the plants for sale... not so great. There is string algae choking everything, and clinging to all the lilies. One tank had lilies and fish, and was the color of strong tea, no pump, no filter, nada. Too bad, I would have bought 4 of the fish in there on the spot. They had gorgeous markings. But. I couldn't tell if they were healthy or not. She had several umbrella plants, all in various stages of death. Nothing else. She said it would be several more weeks before anything else was out. 

She had the fish in a greenhouse, in huge stock tanks. Water color was horrible, you couldn't make out what any of the fish looked like at the bottom. There were at least 4 dead fish floating in every pond. Apparently, they occasionally scoop out the dead ones and fling them to the side of the walkway, or wherever happens to be easiest. There was old fish bodies every where. The coup de gras, was as we were walking out the door of the fish house, my 9 yr old son stepped on a huge goldfish, maybe 8 or 9 inches. That had been laying there maybe 4 or 5 days. Nasty, nasty, nasty. He almost left them a present, and he walked back to the truck in his socks. Shoes were thrown in a trashcan conveniently located outside the door. Maybe this was a common problem?

Her pond supplies were located in a quaint old cabin, that had no light, except from the open door. Probably so you couldn't read the prices. A barley bale was 35$. THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!!!! Really? Wow. Her de-chlorinator was $29. For maybe 6 oz. Who knows, maybe I misread and it was actually liquid gold?


After touring the whole facility, she finally shows up. We shall leave unsaid the things I told her. Just use your imagination....   ~ I'm glad my kids were in the truck already, my DH hurried them off when he saw her arriving.....

Needless to say, I am planning to buy most of my plants off of the wonderful members here. I am planning a trip to Albuquerque (6 hr drive, one way) to visit the Albuq. Water Gardens, whom my mother has used for years. At least I KNOW I can count on her fish/plants to be super healthy and in fantastic shape. P.S., if anyone is ever there, swing by. Her place is a desert oasis, and I vouch for her completely.

So, in conclusion, Never. Ever. use Natural Ponds and Gardens in Odessa, TX. Unless, perhaps, you ARE in the market for algae and dead fish. 

P.S.S. - I did happen to find mini-cattails and an odd plant (can't remember the name) at Lowe's, in the pond section. I would normally pass, but they were growing like crazy in the container, and stood straight up within 5 minutes of removing them from the bag. Wish them luck! 

6

Pond Construction & Filtration / Help picking a pump/filter system, please

« on: March 25, 2011, 10:36:16 AM »

I'm now trying to figure which pump and filter to get. I found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290449242122&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_3895wt_989 filter, (my pond is roughly 2500 gallons). It seems to be a good price. What pump would work with it? Do you guys have any suggestions for a better brand/filter? Help please! See what happens to me when I never plan anything out? This is what I get, . Thanks, guys~

ETA: I added this in pond chat and here. Don't know where it would best belong. Sorry.

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Pond Chat / Help me pick a compatible pump and filter, please!

« on: March 25, 2011, 10:30:12 AM »

I'm now trying to figure which pump and filter to get. I found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290449242122&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_3895wt_989 filter, (my pond is roughly 2500 gallons). It seems to be a good price. What pump would work with it? Do you guys have any suggestions for a better brand/filter? Help please! See what happens to me when I never plan anything out? This is what I get, . Thanks, guys~

ETA: I hope this is in the right forum.

8

Pond Chat / Hello, newbie here

« on: March 21, 2011, 09:53:09 PM »

Hey guys. My name is Lisa. I'm 31, in West Texas, near the Midland/Odessa area. I'm getting my first pond soon. They start digging tomorrow. Can't wait. So far, it's marked at 15 x 9, and 2.5 at its deepest. That may change slightly tomorrow.  My dearest husband isn't quite on board yet. He didn't like the area I picked first, so I moved it to a corner of the yard. My first marked pond area was maybe 9 x 6. He somewhat complained about that size/location. So I moved it. And made it bigger. I told him every time he complains, the size will magically grow. Really though, he's not completely against it, just hesitant. I want a massive pond, but I'm trying to behave myself. It's not easy.

Anyways, I'm just making it for goldfish and some mosquito fish. My boss's dad is trying to give me his 15+ year old Koi, but I'm not sure I want Koi. I am dying to add all the plants, and the 2 don't mix well. Plus, it would need to be bigger/deeper for Koi. I have a 5 yr old who is as much of a water baby as I am, and if she manages to fall in, I want her to be able to stand on the bottom.

I'm hoping to become pretty active here. I'm sure I'll have a million questions!