Arapaima Pond Build

[Luc]

The third picture shows a good size comparison between his current pond and the new one.
Tomorrow will be filling and lots of small things to do.
- drain settling tank No. 2 and skimmer connect to settling tank
- put up some more poles at the sides
- maybe some sand work for the first bog
- connect 1 pump to settling tank No. 1
- try to connect air pump to see if the diffuser works.
Let's see how far we get..



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[Fozzybear]

hey looking great luc! Pretty cool that that leak was fairly easy to spot, I'm sure you've been reading Nolapete's indoor 3600gallon behemoth's thread already, I was worried for you that finding the leak would be something like the experience he's been having. So, does Mr. T go in in a couple of days here? Or are you going to try to cycle this thing somehow :rofl:



[edit] hey I see you've got that tarp hanging over the whole thing for a roof, do you have any plans of building in something solid there or is it going to be open? I'd think a 4x4 arbor roof would be pretty cool over that, maybe cover it with corrugated plastic to keep rain etc. out. something like this...

 

[mykidsmylife]

Wow!! That is HUGE! I would so swim in it.

It's looking great!

 

[Luc]

Hello FozzyBear, moving Mr. T. will likely be in 14 days from now. Depends how all the stuff holds up.
The 'tarp' is sun netting, blocks 70% UV and is ok for me. Not pretty, but still some work to do on it.
Nothing more permanent, low budget remember?

The pond will have more things to it to take the focus away from it anyway.
Cycling the pond...lol...nah, it will be large enough and the water of his current pond will go in there during the move.
The 2 weeks will be enough to get the water stabilized.


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[Luc]

Wow!! That is HUGE! I would so swim in it.

It's looking great!

Thanks, with the small budget I have, it turns out very nice...lol.



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[Fozzybear]

Sounds sweet luc, as far as the roofing I was talking about, I just posted a quick picture off the web, its all fancy. My porch has a really low budget version of the same idea, and the best part is that its covered with a translucent UV blocking plastic. I grabbed some pictures. Obviously your resources are taxed at this point from just building the pond...but it may be a fun addon later. (I'm envisioning decks around the pond with a bridge over it and seating areas so you could plop down, feed Mr. T and sip on a brew on what I'm sure are some fantastic evenings you've got over there.) Anyways, pictures.




Real cheep easy joists


They didn't even fasten these.

Its got buried culvert tubing filled with concrete for feet, I'd think a 5gal bucket with the bottom cut out would be effective.

Here is the plastic on the sunward side

On the lee side from the sun.


I don't know what the cost of lumber or steel is over there, but if you used reclaimed materials (find a dock being demolished or something?) and didn't have any of the fancy scroll work you could still make something great.


Either way you've got an amazing pond there. I regret that I'm moving back to AK partially because I won't be able to keep any ponds up there. I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through you and Mr. T lol.

 

[Luc]

Looks nice, I like the rough wood, gives it a strong clean look.
Too expensive for now, and I hope with some climbing plants front and side that it will grow in fast.
That way you would not see much of it from the front.
Later worry, on the way to work to see how it holds up and get stuff done.




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[Luc]

As for the beers, would love it, but alcohol inside the premises is banned..implemented that rule myself, so too bad.
Factory after all, so limited in what can be done to that extend....lol


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[Luc]

Well, so far so good.
Water exactly the same as yesterday, so pond and drains are holding up well.
Started filling just now. Had to wait for cleaning the temporary pond.

One of my ladies out to the shop for parts.
Also got the second pump in yesterday, so with a hose I get soon, I'll bypass the normal watertap and see how much we can increase the pumping of water directly from our holding-tank.

First airpump connected, that was a breeze, will make some pictures later, but couple of PVC parts, female screw-fitting and an end-cap, small hole drilled in the cap, airline through it, on the inside a larger fitting to block the air-line from slipping out. filled up with silicone around it and push it on the airline to the diffuser.
Connected it and straight away a huge amount of bubbles coming up.

Filled the second settling tank with dirty water from Mr.T's temporary pond. With all the fine solids in it, it looks like quite a few of the small leaks are settling already.
So will repeat that a couple of times over the next few days to hopefully settle everything before switching it on.

So later, when the parts come in, we'll get to make some real progress I hope.

 

[mykidsmylife]

I have my fingers crossed that all goes as you have planned! Good Luck!!!!!