Author Topic: I QUIT!!!! (Read 3496 times)

GAjen · « **on:** July 06, 2007, 12:28:11 PM »

Well guys and gals.....I hereby announce I quit ponding as of today. Why? What we build and do doesn't turn out right or doesn't work right. The skippy is in the little pond with very little flow and it is getting clogged up. The Lily pond....don't even ask. All of this is now the hubby's to do with as he pleases. I'm done....it's been problems since the preformed was pulled up 6 years ago. I'm now burnt out. I won't be a ponder but I'll look at your ponds.

Kittyzee · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2007, 12:31:11 PM »

Oh no Jen! I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you'll stay here. You guys have had quite a run of bad luck when it comes to ponding...maybe just water gardening without all the pumps and such. Or just plain gardening

Ky Kim · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2007, 12:57:35 PM »

No, don't throw in the towel yet. Hang in there this year, maybe next season will be totally different and things will go in the right direction. I've always thought you pond was pretty.

Kim

GAjen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2007, 01:24:59 PM »

I'm not leaving the forum just realizing I don't know squat about ponding and I'm really drained from all the trouble we've had. You know when you just tire of things not working.....that is where I am. I could of had a really nice reef tank for the money spent ponding and just don't won't to invest anymore.

Ky Kim · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2007, 01:32:35 PM »

Didn't you just start you lily pond, with that beautiful Miami Rose?

Kim

Kat · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2007, 01:50:43 PM »

Don't give up yet. Try to sit back for a few days & see if things are better next week. Goldfish can be kept in ponds that don't have filtration, like I do with my lily ponds. Most of the time the water is very clear as long as you don't stir up the bottom of the pond. Just clean it in the spring time & sometimes the fall. Maybe a very simple pond is what you need right now.

As for reef tank keeping, that is a lot harder to do in my opinion. I had 5 softie reef tanks going at one time. I'd much rather deal with my lily ponds instead

MikeW · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2007, 02:04:52 PM »

That was me early this year. Plants would not grow, water was beyond green, raccoons kept knocking over the slate on the falls, making the pond drain itself. I kept picturing an extra piece of beautiful lawn.

But you just don't somehow, appreciate a thing of beauty if it wasn't at least a little bit of a hastle to do in the first place.

So, take a few weeks off. Kick the %^$# pond when no one is looking, and then come back to frustration - but eventual "wow, look what I did"

Hang in there Jen.

Mike

Jerry · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2007, 03:24:27 PM »

Mike W. got it right! as did the rest of our members
I was close to filling it in too.
lots here will help you

thedahlialama · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2007, 03:30:10 PM »

my pond's third year was a nightmare. nearly everything that could go wrong did. i learned how little i had known when i started the pond. rocks on the botom were an absolute mess. couldn't keep anything alive - the raccoons kept destroying the plants and probably some fish. the heron definitly got fish. raccoons punctured my pump tubing outside the pond. i couldn't keep my filter from clogging daily. i spent more time fighting with the pond than enjoying it. i was about to just let it destroy itself when i decided to spend the extra money to do it right and not just good enough (which i was learning it wasn't). gradually things got better. Tammie did a trade with me that filled my pond back with lilies. i finally had tears of joy in my eyes rather than flames of anger. since that year, the pond has been easier to deal with. it requires less maintenence and i've spent more time just sitting and watching again.

just HANG IN THERE!! let the pond take care of itself for a bit if need be but don't rush to the decision you're not going to particiapte in it any more. everyone has a bad year sooner or later. frankly i think its better when its sooner.

so give yourself one of these -

and imagine yourself getting one from all the people who've responded here.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2007, 04:26:30 PM »

Don't give up!!! Just take care of what you have now. Try not to take in anything else until you have the hang of it or rather everything falls in its place. Maybe concentrate on one part of the pond that makes you happiest. One thing at a time. Anyone would be overwhelmed!!

GAjen · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2007, 04:40:46 PM »

Thanks for the support you all the plumbing seems to be the biggest problems. I just got up from a catnap and I bet DH is outside working on it. Sometimes I wish I could fly a few of you down to solve the problem. It has been a hard year. With the fires we were late starting the ponding season and like I said and GAWD I hate the fact but we just can't get the plumbing right.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2007, 04:47:02 PM »

Like I always tell my DH, "you're getting all technical" and that makes it more tough than it needs to be. Less elbows more flow. Check Timgods site on building a bog on his pond as filtration. Too simple! Now all I have to do is follow my suggestion. BTW I have simple dimple plumbing for my pond and it works just find. I just like Timgods method for keeping water clear.

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2007, 05:54:04 PM »

Jen, welcome to the pond school of hard knocks. We've all been there. Is there a Chuck-E-Cheese near you? You need to go there and spend some money on the Gopher game. It will releive your stress.

Happy ponding,
Scott

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2007, 06:27:01 PM »

Scott

I'm going to try that one!

GAjen · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2007, 06:31:57 PM »

Quote from: PondmaninFL on July 06, 2007, 05:54:04 PM

Jen, welcome to the pond school of hard knocks. We've all been there. Is there a Chuck-E-Cheese near you? You need to go there and spend some money on the Gopher game. It will releive your stress.

Happy ponding,
Scott

No we don't have one but there is good news......my pal Shae who I met on this forum btw....called after reading this and I know what to do to fix it all now.

DH used too small of PVC and stuff. Sorry DH love ya but, you tried and now we will do it the right way.

I do have Full Tilt Poker Scott my other obsession.

Bonnie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2007, 07:15:05 PM »

Good for Shae!

See that was an easy one...

GAjen · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2007, 07:20:22 PM »

One I was too stupid to figure out. We live, we learn and we get frustrated. Y'all wish us luck that the new plumbing works and thanks again.

Bonnie · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2007, 07:28:10 PM »

Can I ask what size pipe that you were using in the beginning which didn't work?

tucker · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2007, 10:11:01 AM »

Lets talk about quitting.
My 5000 gal goldfish pond is 5 years old....and this year, suddenly, everything went to h...

This winter, we had lots of cold, warm, snow, thaws, over and over again. When the pond finally thawed for the last time....it was a mess. I couldn't see 1 inch down. It was brown, green, and every color in between. I started up the filters...and everyday, sometimes twice a day, I cleaned it. Couldn't see any fish, couldn't figure out how they could survive....10 goldfish didn't - I think they got caught in between the layers of ice between the different thaws.
I was ready to fill it in, nothing I could do would help. I even had someone who maybe could take my fish. I finally drained half the pond (which is alot when you are on a well), and started using a cup of koi clay every day. Finally one day, it was clear enough to almost see the bottom - full of leaves from all the winter winds, a lawn chair (don't know who's it was), and algae of every kind you could think of, then some.

It took over a month of cleaning every day, rain or shine, shop vacing every day, to finally get it clean. I then refilled it, and then went thru the green pea soup. Today, its finally clear.

I don't care what anyone says, sometimes it takes time, alot of time, to get it right.

Hang in there......it eventually does get better.

Karyl

Shae · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2007, 10:13:31 AM »

Jen, I hope things are going better for you today. Be sure to post and let me know if any of my suggestions helped.

GAjen · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2007, 12:58:11 PM »

Got up early went to the grocery store and to Eldridge's to get everything. We haven't done anything yet it is awful hot out there. Just took a stroll around the yard the fall is barely putting out so maybe when we change the pipe and hose it'll be okay. Found all the parts thank God cause I was afraid they wouldn't have something and got THE RIGHT SIZE this time. Lily pond looks okay have 3 blooms. Remember my promise......

Sean · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2007, 08:14:39 PM »

I quit smoking cigarettes 3.5 years ago, does that count?

Cheers,
Sean

Bonnie · « **Reply #22 on:** July 07, 2007, 08:18:35 PM »

LOL at Sean...

Hey I've got you beat, I quit 23 yrs ago!

Johns · « **Reply #23 on:** July 07, 2007, 08:38:57 PM »

Jen,

before you quit, go to my website and read a bit. You may find something that will help. check these pages especially:

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/web8.html

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/pool10.html (This one deals with plumbing)

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/web17.html

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/headcalcp3.html

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/perfectwater.html

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/flowcalc.html

http://www.gardenendeavors.com/rack/conepage.html

Sean · « **Reply #24 on:** July 07, 2007, 08:45:38 PM »

Jen,

John Johns has a multitude of beneficial information on his website that will help you and Shep in these beginning stages of development with your new lily ponds.

I wish I could help more but I have been unavailable between my vacation to California and my Graveyard shifts at the hospital since my return.

Bonnie,

I only smoked for 26 years, you certainly have me beat

Cheers,
Sean

Shae · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2007, 05:22:34 AM »

I'm sending you good vibes Jen. Hope it works!

GAjen · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2007, 08:10:42 AM »

Thanks you all. Sean and Johns I will be on Johns site shortly and will bookmark it. I just got my sorry butt up. We stayed up late last night with a sick puppy. I stopped smoking in August 1997. How many of us have gained weight from it? I did!

Shae....I hope to get things going today. I haven't even been outside yet and it is almost 11:30.

Oh PS.....the problem is if DH would do it right the first time everything would be okay.

Now he tells me to go do it. I LOVE THAT MAN I REALLY DO.

perplexed ponder · « **Reply #27 on:** July 08, 2007, 12:58:32 PM »

Jen-

I hope your puppy is o.k.!!
Gosh, Husbands can be .....um, let's say DIFFICULT? Shall we? haha! What on earth would we do without them though? Mine is finally learning though, so there is hope! After almost 17 years of marriage he has realized that if he plants a shrub/tree etc for me, I will UNDOUBTABLY say I need it to be 6 inches this way or that, so NOW he digs a big enough hole for it to be moved around to my liking the FIRST time!

GAjen · « **Reply #28 on:** July 08, 2007, 01:02:05 PM »

Quote from: Bonnie on July 06, 2007, 07:28:10 PM

Can I ask what size pipe that you were using in the beginning which didn't work?

3/4 Bonnie

GAjen · « **Reply #29 on:** July 08, 2007, 01:04:14 PM »

Quote from: perplexed ponder on July 08, 2007, 12:58:32 PM

Jen-

I hope your puppy is o.k.!!
Gosh, Husbands can be .....um, let's say DIFFICULT? Shall we? haha! What on earth would we do without them though? Mine is finally learning though, so there is hope! After almost 17 years of marriage he has realized that if he plants a shrub/tree etc for me, I will UNDOUBTABLY say I need it to be 6 inches this way or that, so NOW he digs a big enough hole for it to be moved around to my liking the FIRST time!

I think we finally have the same ideas in tact. Marco is better bless his heart.....thanks.