Arapaima Pond Build

Fozzybear said:
Grats Luc looks great, good lookin on that fencing. My bet is on you really finding that stuff handy before too long. Okay Im like seriously though, I need to swim in mr t's house
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Come over and feel free to get a refreshing dive...lol.
Just bought 4 small oscars....they are in a tank next to the climbing Perch's tank and is that funny to watch. Oscars at 1 inch, 4 of them, racing to the 'window' scaring the heck out of the 2 Perch I have in there.
They by them self are really aggressive fish, but those little buggers behind the glass are freaking them out...welcome to the new neighbours...hahaha

Anyhow, will keep them for a couple of weeks in a small tank, see how they eat and behave, then see of moving to one of the bogs or the main pond is an option.

My RTC is an hybrid, pretty sure.
Moved him into the bog at my house, little test model of bog/pond that works very well. Only 1/4 filled with stone and plants, but it's crystal clear water in the pond. For the remaining 1 meter by 30x30cm, the hybrid is happy for now.
Once 1 bog is ready I MIT move him there for more space.

So for now, stocking is 4 tilapia, 4 oscars, 1 hybrid TRC and 1 arapaima.
Couple of hundred smaller feeders.

Cheers,
Luc

Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Mr. T. is in good shape. He likes it, pretty sure....Think he got hold of one of the Tilapia, so need to get some more feeders in there or just wait and then start with the pellets again. But at least after the scare of moving, he is calm, swimming, comes over again and lets us tap / stroke his back and sides.
Maybe order some prawns today to keep him off the Tilapia for a bit...see how..
Funny though, there's a fresh-water crab in there, doesn't touch it. Only looking a bit and that's it.

Settling tanks are taking out a considerable amount of waste, so that's absolutely good news.
Water is clearing up nicely, so I think by the time we get to the bogs, it will be tap water quality.
Tanks look a bit murky with the rubbish settling in it, opening the clear-out valve pushes out green/brownish water.
Very happy with that, even without the bogs...wow.

Also found a cheap stone that's not your typical bog-stone but way way cheaper.
For rounded river stones I'd pay about 1.00 to 1.50 USD p/bag of 10kg.
Need about 1000kg at the minimum, so that's serious money.
So I'm thinking of using concrete 'filler', stones used for concrete.
Yes I know, they are pointed, sharp and everything but at less than 50 USD for 1 ton, it's a bargain.
(Stones are crushed granite, black/grey color)
Plan is to put the liner in as normal, then 3 or 4 layers of Nylon BigBags, then the water-return.
Put the gravel on top and then plant it and fill in with more gravel.

Not sure yet for the PVC water return. I still have 4 meters of 3 inch pipe.
With the pumps running 12,000 Liter p/hour, I might use a reducer 3" to 1" (pump outlet is 1") and have it perforated with hundreds of small holes. That would be the safest way to avoid holes being blocked. Added security for that could be to use loose stacked bricks around the pipe to create a void between the gravel and the pipe openings with dirty water pushing out and having space to gain speed before going up and side-ways.

That's for the coming Saturdays. First need to change the nylon net around the bog a bit and finish the bog-walls.
 
WOW!!!! Incredible, that's all I can say, just incredible!!!!

Can't wait to see the finished project!!!!
 
xUnRaTeDxxRkOx said:
WOW!!!! Incredible, that's all I can say, just incredible!!!!

Can't wait to see the finished project!!!!
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Thanks...same here. Hope to get at least one Bog running asap. But I'm pretty amazed about the water-quality already given the huge amount of rubbish from his temp-pond that went in on Saturday. Pretty much disappeared it seems.
Some settled in areas on the bottom, but I think most got sucked into the drains and is now running circles around the bowl...lol..ready, 1...2....3...flush...
Will try an underwater video later to see how the water looks from below. If good, might get a nice shot from Mr. T. as well...

Cheers,
Luc
 
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Ok, tested the water with camera, nothing good yet, greenish from algea but seems with very little floating stuff.
Some pictures anyway from above the water...

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nice work Luc, keep it coming
 
awesomeness. Just awesomeness.

lol, I can't help but imagine Mr T. next to and RC Boat an thinking "jaws.. the freshwater version" :D

So, I have to ask, how are you going to put 4 1in Oscars in a pond with Mr T? Won't he eat them all?
 
Fishfriend1 said:
awesomeness. Just awesomeness.

lol, I can't help but imagine Mr T. next to and RC Boat an thinking "jaws.. the freshwater version" :D

So, I have to ask, how are you going to put 4 1in Oscars in a pond with Mr T? Won't he eat them all?
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Growing them out first...My plan is to leave an area in one bog quite deep and open, only gravel on the bottom.
That will then function as a grow-out area. Will take time, but that's what I have anyway.
The RTC will hopefully grow a bit faster now in the bigger pond at home. But he's looking healthy and enjoys a spot between the plants on the gravel.

Will be visiting Talat Thai soon again to buy more fish, but for now it's waiting for the bogs to get ready.
Mr. T. is all normal again, begging for food, gulping down pellets, 3 Tilapia still there, even the one he almost got yesterday.
So far so good...he's loving it...
 
Do you plan/hope to get Mr. T another arapaima friend? Or do you think he's fine alone?
 
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