Author Topic: Got the hall pond planted (Read 4286 times)

Jonna · « **on:** July 19, 2009, 10:05:24 AM »

I've got it planted and fish in it and the water is pretty clear. The fish I got are so small that they are hard to find in that big space but I'm feeding them twice a day and hoping they grow and thrive. I got 10 cichlids, now I can't remember exactly which ones. I had the choice of bigger ones, in the 3" range, or the tiny ones that are about an inch long. I had to get them all the same size as they are a bit territorial and omnivores. I decided to go for the smaller - cheaper - ones, so they cost me about $1 each! I have a Convict, a Firemouth, one they called a Lemon, one that is more orange but I forget the name, one that has silvery stripes and I don't know the name and more that I can't remember. I got 10 in total. Plus a small Pleco to eat the algae. I had already put a few Mollies and a pregnant Guppy in there to test the water. They are large enough that they should be fine for a while but they might get eaten when the Cichlids get big.

I planted the bog boxes with the Mananga, a type of edible Aroid that doesn't get huge, and Caladiums of various colors. I bought 3 pots of each and then discovered I had more than enough.

Here is the pond a little after noon when the sun is coming directly down on it. I love the way it looks although it is hard to capture with a photo.

A little earlier when the light is not direct.

The pillars I bought work great, the pots are concrete as well and the bottom of them is barely in the water. The ferns get some splash and hopefully they will get larger and catch more of the splash, I still get a little water on the floor. It's not a big deal though, all the floors are concrete and tile and I just wipe it up occasionally.

Here's a pic that shows the whole wall up to the opening. My next plan is to put Monstera or another large leaf philodendron at the bottom of the pillars to grow up the wall. One thing, Tammie was right a year or so ago when she said that someone she knew had an indoor pond where she is in Hawaii and it made the room much more humid. You can feel the increased humidity in the hall now, it is a hall though and it has lots of ventilation so I'm not worried about it yet.

HOWELL · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2009, 10:19:04 AM »

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats Jonna and we now need the pics of the fish..

Jerry · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2009, 10:22:02 AM »

AS I said before very classy!
Looks like a top hotel

Kat · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2009, 10:52:30 AM »

WOW!!

Amy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2009, 01:40:19 PM »

I agree with Jerry, it does look a hotel! A VERY classy one! Looks amazing!

Jonna · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2009, 01:52:54 PM »

Thanks guys, a 2 bedroom hotel! There is a guest room for any of you that venture down here. It's a very old house and actually my house is only part of the original house, that big hall was once part of a colonnade and interior patio. My neighbors have the other half of the columns and the patio. They built very large houses in those days, built for large families and extended families. The high ceilings were a must because of the heat, they really work. We don't have AC yet although I might put it in. The house is cool enough and the ventilation is terrific. Unfortunately it's hard to keep the mosquitoes out and still keep the air flowing so I may put the AC in just so I can sleep without getting bit.

Howell, the fish in the inside pond just show up as specs in pictures. They are about an inch long and they don't hold still! Plus, that pond is 2.5 feet deep and they seem to hang out at the bottom. Hard to see them much less take their picture.

jw · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2009, 04:38:14 PM »

Very nice...............I like it a lot

Vickie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2009, 05:08:24 PM »

Breathtaking! I don't think anyone can top this.

bunny56lbc · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2009, 07:49:53 PM »

Quote from: Jerry on July 19, 2009, 10:22:02 AM

AS I said before very classy!
Looks like a top hotel

Yes Very Classy !
Looks Great

bonnie

Pa Nancy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2009, 08:27:20 PM »

Wow! That is absolutely STUNNING! And I LOVE the color.

HOWELL · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2009, 09:14:25 PM »

Quote from: Jonna on July 19, 2009, 01:52:54 PM

Thanks guys, a 2 bedroom hotel! There is a guest room for any of you that venture down here. It's a very old house and actually my house is only part of the original house, that big hall was once part of a colonnade and interior patio. My neighbors have the other half of the columns and the patio. They built very large houses in those days, built for large families and extended families. The high ceilings were a must because of the heat, they really work. We don't have AC yet although I might put it in. The house is cool enough and the ventilation is terrific. Unfortunately it's hard to keep the mosquitoes out and still keep the air flowing so I may put the AC in just so I can sleep without getting bit.

Howell, the fish in the inside pond just show up as specs in pictures. They are about an inch long and they don't hold still! Plus, that pond is 2.5 feet deep and they seem to hang out at the bottom. Hard to see them much less take their picture.

1 inch long man that is small.

Well yeah it may be hard to get in there.
What type of cichlids did you get? One time I had this blue cichlid in the pond but it used to fight back and forth with my koi, even thought the koi were nice he was always trying to get them to fight.

mascot · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2009, 12:42:48 AM »

that looks really kewl! it's a glassless aquarium! very nice.

ponderer · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2009, 05:34:12 AM »

Absolutely gorgeous!

Joyce · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2009, 05:37:58 AM »

That's breathtaking. What an entrance!

Wall mounted orchids would thrive there!

Jonna · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2009, 09:02:16 AM »

That's what I'm hoping Joyce. Do you think the Monstera will cling to the wall? I've only seen it attach to wood.

Joyce · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2009, 09:45:30 AM »

I think it would attached to the wall just fine...maybe too fine.

I would use wood a few inches in front of the wall and keep an eye on the air roots.

karen J · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2009, 10:21:25 AM »

Jonna, that is just gorgeous! You did a wonderful job. Are the before and after pictures on your blog? I need to show them to my hubby.

Jonna · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2009, 11:09:15 AM »

Here's a pic from before the renovation of the area with the pond, you can see the pillars.

Last January I did a blog post on how the house looked in Jan 08 vs Jan 09, that was about a month before we moved in. Of course, it's different now but you can see the big changes. Here's a link to that post.

http://baddog.com/2008/12/31/371/

Mikey · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2009, 12:05:05 PM »

Beautiful! What a transformation. Do you suddenly get the urge to have to go tinkle when you walk down the hallway?

karen J · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2009, 01:11:45 PM »

Thanks for posting the link to the renovation post. It's really quite fabulous. It must be quite a treat "coming home" from everyday errands and walking through that hall.

Esther · « **Reply #20 on:** July 20, 2009, 01:18:19 PM »

Love it Jonna.

Somehow, I didn't even need to see who posted the tinkle comment.

Jonna · « **Reply #21 on:** July 20, 2009, 01:26:43 PM »

Thanks, it's been a fun and interesting renovation. I'd do it again, I actually enjoyed most of it.

Mikey, the light well above the pond goes up to the patio outside our bedroom and we always have those doors open at night so now I can hear the pond. Not sure if that has increased my night trips or not

I like the sound of water around me all the time, the outside pond doesn't make any noise as it is a very shallow fall but there is a waterfall on the pool. We rarely turn it on however. I'm really happy now to have that falling water sound from the hall pond. I grew up with the sound of waves crashing and when I first moved away from home I couldn't sleep because it was too quiet. On the other hand, I once had a tenant in Calif that wanted me to turn off the fountain in the central courtyard because she hated the sound and it made her want to pee. The other tenants outvoted her though, and she either got earplugs or adjusted.

Jerry · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2009, 01:36:17 PM »

Or peed a lot

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2009, 03:33:56 PM »

Fantastic hallway remodel! I love it!

Kittyzee · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2009, 04:50:28 PM »

It's beautiful Jonna! The pics of before and after are AMAZING!!

Jonna · « **Reply #25 on:** July 20, 2009, 05:46:41 PM »

Yeah, it was quite a dump. It was structurally sound though and had original details like doors, windows, ceiling beams and some tiles that were over a hundred years old. No one had lived in it for at least 5 or 10 years and the only electrical was a line running down the hallway to a bulb in the kitchen. We put in all new electric, water, gas, waste and added a floor upstairs. Lots of work was done, but it has turned out better than I dreamed. Now if I ever have any money again I will furnish it

Kittyzee · « **Reply #26 on:** July 20, 2009, 06:07:16 PM »

Nah, who needs it!!?? You've got a bed, kitchen chairs and table, outside patio furniture--you're set!!

Amy · « **Reply #27 on:** July 20, 2009, 07:19:56 PM »

Jonna, your renovation pics are AMAZING! The before and after pics are unbelievable, you have a beautiful home!

Jonna · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2009, 09:49:37 PM »

Thanks all, you're right Kitty, we've got the essentials but I keep buying plants and fish instead of coffee tables and lamps.

Jerry · « **Reply #29 on:** July 21, 2009, 08:34:14 AM »

Is there locally made Bamboo furniture? Might be a bargain as well as look good