fill it with water! lol
yeah I know the feeling... I used to think my parents were very strange in there thinking... now I have my own kid and some of the stuff he does makes me wanna tear my hair out
Help...How can I convince them?
- Thread starter Sawyer
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fill it with water! lol
yeah I know the feeling... I used to think my parents were very strange in there thinking... now I have my own kid and some of the stuff he does makes me wanna tear my hair out
Lupin
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You know for 6 comets, it's either a pond or a 180g tank. Do you have pictures of your fish to confirm if they are comets, common goldfish or a mix of both? Try a pond with dimensions of 6 feet, 2.5 feet and at least 3 feet deep. If possible, try to use some terrestrial plants for shade. A 90 degrees weather, the top strata would have a temperature of at least 84-86 degrees while the bottom would be at least 78-80.
For a filtration system, get powerful submersible pumps and a large bucket as your filter. Connect the PVC pipes similar to tubings. There's a DIY of it around the websites or look up "overhead filter". A lot of Asians use this similar system in their tanks and ponds. The only downside is they are clearly visible above the pond and can clash with the natural looks of the pond if one aims to make it look like a natural waterhole. At least, this system doesn't clog easily but check your filter input flow regularly in case some muck stuck to the impellers and magnet.
As far as the goldfish classified as "subtropical", subtropical applies to temperature tolerance ranging from 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish prefer temperature no higher than 76 degrees on a long term basis. Comets, shubunkins and common goldfish are more tolerant to stiffly cold temperature compared to fancy ones provided your pond is at least 3 feet deep to prevent the water from freezing completely which could potentially kill the fish. Perhaps "temperate" may be a better term although "coldwater" has been the norm and thus, generic term.
For a filtration system, get powerful submersible pumps and a large bucket as your filter. Connect the PVC pipes similar to tubings. There's a DIY of it around the websites or look up "overhead filter". A lot of Asians use this similar system in their tanks and ponds. The only downside is they are clearly visible above the pond and can clash with the natural looks of the pond if one aims to make it look like a natural waterhole. At least, this system doesn't clog easily but check your filter input flow regularly in case some muck stuck to the impellers and magnet.
As far as the goldfish classified as "subtropical", subtropical applies to temperature tolerance ranging from 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish prefer temperature no higher than 76 degrees on a long term basis. Comets, shubunkins and common goldfish are more tolerant to stiffly cold temperature compared to fancy ones provided your pond is at least 3 feet deep to prevent the water from freezing completely which could potentially kill the fish. Perhaps "temperate" may be a better term although "coldwater" has been the norm and thus, generic term.
lol we have filled it with water before (to make it easier to dig, but it just ended up being too muddy to dig in until it dried 
).
Since the hole that's already dug is already about 4ft long, 4ft wide, and 6 ft deep, I think I'll keep it like that but make it 2 ft longer. That's about 1, 167 gallons, so I could house a lot more than 6 commons/comets in there. Later on after my goldfish are already in the pond I'll probably adopt some shubs/comets/commons or a koi if its large enough for a koi.
It barely ever gets below freezing here, so it won't freeze and I have no idea how to make a filter myself so I'll have to buy/find one. Yeah, I have pics of two of them, they're in this thread http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193158. The other 4 I'll get a pic of tomorrow.
I don't feel as stressed now about this now that I know where the pond will be, that its practically already dug, and that maybe if I post an ad on craigslist I can find some supplies. I think later I'll bring my goldfish out to show my parents and let them interact with them and feed them. Maybe they'll care more about their health if they see them, I don't think they ever have before.
).Since the hole that's already dug is already about 4ft long, 4ft wide, and 6 ft deep, I think I'll keep it like that but make it 2 ft longer. That's about 1, 167 gallons, so I could house a lot more than 6 commons/comets in there. Later on after my goldfish are already in the pond I'll probably adopt some shubs/comets/commons or a koi if its large enough for a koi.
It barely ever gets below freezing here, so it won't freeze and I have no idea how to make a filter myself so I'll have to buy/find one. Yeah, I have pics of two of them, they're in this thread http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193158. The other 4 I'll get a pic of tomorrow.
I don't feel as stressed now about this now that I know where the pond will be, that its practically already dug, and that maybe if I post an ad on craigslist I can find some supplies. I think later I'll bring my goldfish out to show my parents and let them interact with them and feed them. Maybe they'll care more about their health if they see them, I don't think they ever have before.
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I just went and measured the hole and it's actually 4.5 feet long (which I'll make 6 ft long), 5 ft wide, and at least 6.5 ft deep, maybe a little more (I didn't measure the deepness because there's boards covering the hole and I didn't want to take those off). So that's 1,459 gallons! 
I knew this hole would one day be useful.
As my brother and I dug the hole we piled all the sand up above the hole and that made a small mountain (I'll post a pic of it later so you can see what I'm talking about) I was thinking about getting rid of the "mountain" in case it somehow caved in but I realized one day it might be possible to make a waterfall with. For now though, the "mountain" makes the hole soon-to-be-pond look pretty with all the vines growing on it. but when it rains mud might run off into the pond..
I knew this hole would one day be useful. As my brother and I dug the hole we piled all the sand up above the hole and that made a small mountain (I'll post a pic of it later so you can see what I'm talking about) I was thinking about getting rid of the "mountain" in case it somehow caved in but I realized one day it might be possible to make a waterfall with. For now though, the "mountain" makes the hole soon-to-be-pond look pretty with all the vines growing on it. but when it rains mud might run off into the pond..
Lupin
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It does look like you have a mix of comets and common goldfish. Do you have pics of the hole? I have trouble picturing out what is happening.
Do your research on ponds, find out everything you need to know after you find out your dad is correct and 5 feet deep the water will get to 90 degrees in the shade, and you have calculated in a cooling system...figured out the costs, even the monthly maintenance.and electricity bill increase.....written it all out..and sketeched out what it will look like..and have your own money that mom and dad did not give you, then go to them with a plan, with the money, and present to them as a responsibile young adult...and they just might say yes.
If they say no perhaps it is because they remember the hampster you said you would take care of, they see the bedroom you never clean, they see the missing spoons and forks and bowls and dishes ending up in the garbage instead of the sink cause when you clean your room thats is where it goes. Perhaps they are saying no because, this si the 200th thing you have demanded in the past 6 months. Perhaps your parents are saying no because they are tired, they are fearful of the added expenses during these economic times that may cause job layoffs, higher electric prices, higher food prices, and you dont seem to have a single concern aobut the fact that living expenses have nearly doubled in 2 years...
The key is no whining, stomping your feet, bickering, pleading or the air of entitlement....that will just get you a good swift kick in the....... out the door earlier than planned (at least in my house it does).
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Yeah, I did do research on them before I got them. Like I said, we already have a huge pond (it was there when we moved here) and I had planned to put them in there. My parents were fine with that. Then after I got them I told them I was going to put them in the pond when they were large enough (when I got them they were very tiny) and they were like "no, kids might sneak into our yard and fish, birds will get them, etc'. Even my siblings thought that was the stupidest idea ever. So then I decided they were right and decided to build a pond and have netting over it so nothing could get them. My mom was fine with that and still is pretty much. She isn't arguing with me about it like my dad, she's just like indifferent about it. And they would rather I make a giant pond than give them away I'm sure. Deep down they probably do like them, since they didn't want me putting them in our current pond.
I am paying for it with my own money. Which is why I need to find everything for free/cheap because I only have like $200 and $100 of that has to go to my rabbits being neutered.
Nah, none of that is why they don't want me to have a pond. I don't do any of those things, they only really get mad about how I stay up too late and how I leave my pets things laying around sometimes.
I wasn't calling them stupid, I meant ignorant like lack of information on the subject of ponds, or fish in general really. Every few days we have the same argument about how you hardly ever need to do water changes on tanks, that a filter cleans the water for you. And when I try to explain why you still need to do water changes at least weekly my dad says he's owned fish and he knows more than I do. And he thinks that just because 5+ years ago he cleaned a pond that he knows everything about them.
Lupin, yeah later today I'll post a pic of the hole. The two goldfish in that picture I thought were two commons. I think the other 4 are 2 commons and 2 comets. The ones I think are comets are white and red and their tails seem to be shaped different. I'll get pics of them later.
I am paying for it with my own money. Which is why I need to find everything for free/cheap because I only have like $200 and $100 of that has to go to my rabbits being neutered.
Nah, none of that is why they don't want me to have a pond. I don't do any of those things, they only really get mad about how I stay up too late and how I leave my pets things laying around sometimes.
I wasn't calling them stupid, I meant ignorant like lack of information on the subject of ponds, or fish in general really. Every few days we have the same argument about how you hardly ever need to do water changes on tanks, that a filter cleans the water for you. And when I try to explain why you still need to do water changes at least weekly my dad says he's owned fish and he knows more than I do. And he thinks that just because 5+ years ago he cleaned a pond that he knows everything about them.
Lupin, yeah later today I'll post a pic of the hole. The two goldfish in that picture I thought were two commons. I think the other 4 are 2 commons and 2 comets. The ones I think are comets are white and red and their tails seem to be shaped different. I'll get pics of them later.
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This is an interesting thread! Well, all I can suggest is this: if you want the pond, then make sure you build it, pay for the costs, maintain it, and fill it in when you leave home... all 100%! Go and make a contract that states these stipulations and then have your parents look it over and all sign it. Make sure you also state what will happen if you don't follow through with your obligations (parents love that stuff).
Good luck, remember that things are generally harder than what you expect many times.
Good luck, remember that things are generally harder than what you expect many times.
You really need to respect your parents wishes here. Not only will the pond be a heck of a lot of work, but it will also end up costing your parents quite a lot of money. Unless you were planning on chipping in to pay the water bill and electric bill, which I doubt you can afford.
As a parent here are my thoughts: If my child were mature enough to draw up a formal proposal (that outlined the specific plans, their cost, contingency plans for when things went wrong, CONCRETE plan for when they moved to college that did NOT involve me filling in the pond, etc), demonstrated that they had done a large amount of research on the subject which would include but not be limited to taking the time to read and understand a variety of articles, and demonstrated how they would cover the additional cost by aquiring a job and budgeting/saving appropriately for the project (as outlined in the proposal), I might think that he or she would be ready to think about it. We'd probably work out some sort of contract and a plan that included clauses for if he or she failed to uphold his or her end of the bargain.
If my child simply dug a hole, they'd be in seriously deep doo-doo. We're talking grounding, no car, no phone, no TV, hard work in the yard, etc as well as covering the cost of resodding the grassin that area! It would be some serious you-know-what.
As a parent here are my thoughts: If my child were mature enough to draw up a formal proposal (that outlined the specific plans, their cost, contingency plans for when things went wrong, CONCRETE plan for when they moved to college that did NOT involve me filling in the pond, etc), demonstrated that they had done a large amount of research on the subject which would include but not be limited to taking the time to read and understand a variety of articles, and demonstrated how they would cover the additional cost by aquiring a job and budgeting/saving appropriately for the project (as outlined in the proposal), I might think that he or she would be ready to think about it. We'd probably work out some sort of contract and a plan that included clauses for if he or she failed to uphold his or her end of the bargain.
If my child simply dug a hole, they'd be in seriously deep doo-doo. We're talking grounding, no car, no phone, no TV, hard work in the yard, etc as well as covering the cost of resodding the grassin that area! It would be some serious you-know-what.
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And...thread is officially derailed.
I'm sorry you guys feel this way.. but honestly, you don't know me or my parents. I think you're over reacting a little...The hole we dug was probably 4 years ago and my parents thought it was awesome. My brother and I used to sit down there in the summer because it was so cool down there. I'm definitely not filling it in, I'm making it a little bigger and using it for my goldfish. Yes, of course I'm going to take care of the pond myself. I take care of all my animals myself.
This is stressful enough without making it seem complicated. And my parents would believe that I'm going to maintain the pond because they already think I do way too many WC's on my tanks. They're not concerned that I won't take care of it. I think they're concerned about the goldfish. My mom hates outdoor animals because she thinks something might happen to them. That was the first thing she said when I told her about the pond "I thought we decided not to have anymore outdoor pets?"
That usually doesn't work, but I think I'll email a short thing about the pond to my dad. the more complex I make it sound to them, the less inclined they're going to be to agree. If I just say "It'll be really simple and cheap. I just need pond liner, netting, and a filter. I might even be able to find those on craigslist and I've found netting for only $8 that blends in with the water so you can still easily see the fish. And the hole is nearly finished anyways, we might as well use it hole for something. Maybe that's what this hole has been meant for. And My goldies will be really happy in this pond and we can even make it look pretty with rocks and plants around it and we can have plants growing in the pond like water lily." etc, etc. But before I got all that out I'd probably be interrupted.
How does the filter work? I mean, will it be electrical? So I'd need to plug it into a wall?
I'm sorry you guys feel this way.. but honestly, you don't know me or my parents. I think you're over reacting a little...The hole we dug was probably 4 years ago and my parents thought it was awesome. My brother and I used to sit down there in the summer because it was so cool down there. I'm definitely not filling it in, I'm making it a little bigger and using it for my goldfish. Yes, of course I'm going to take care of the pond myself. I take care of all my animals myself.
This is stressful enough without making it seem complicated. And my parents would believe that I'm going to maintain the pond because they already think I do way too many WC's on my tanks. They're not concerned that I won't take care of it. I think they're concerned about the goldfish. My mom hates outdoor animals because she thinks something might happen to them. That was the first thing she said when I told her about the pond "I thought we decided not to have anymore outdoor pets?"
That usually doesn't work, but I think I'll email a short thing about the pond to my dad. the more complex I make it sound to them, the less inclined they're going to be to agree. If I just say "It'll be really simple and cheap. I just need pond liner, netting, and a filter. I might even be able to find those on craigslist and I've found netting for only $8 that blends in with the water so you can still easily see the fish. And the hole is nearly finished anyways, we might as well use it hole for something. Maybe that's what this hole has been meant for. And My goldies will be really happy in this pond and we can even make it look pretty with rocks and plants around it and we can have plants growing in the pond like water lily." etc, etc. But before I got all that out I'd probably be interrupted.
How does the filter work? I mean, will it be electrical? So I'd need to plug it into a wall?
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