Arapaima Pond Build
- Thread starter Luc
- Start date
Mr. T. doing good. Eating like a pig again. Not the slow lazy eating like before. Good, he's really shaping up in his new home.
Tomorrow preparing for the bog-area's water-system. Getting some pipes, connections and valves and then start cutting, fitting and glueing.
Made a quick and dirty drawing just to get the parts-count. The slots for water will be at both sides, not bottom and top as in the picture. That's only for illustration purpose.
But the T and 2 valves at the water-inlet (left) will allow me to close the pump off, connect high-pressure hose to the second valve while opening the clean-out chimney on the right. This will push any rubbish out that's accumulating in there. Subsequently, I could also backwash by opening the valve and filling up the bog with water...
The pipe will be on the bottom of course, on top of 2 or 3 big-bags to protect the liner against the stones. Then fill up with stones to about 30cm and have 20cm for putting in the plants and fill around them.
Tomorrow preparing for the bog-area's water-system. Getting some pipes, connections and valves and then start cutting, fitting and glueing.
Made a quick and dirty drawing just to get the parts-count. The slots for water will be at both sides, not bottom and top as in the picture. That's only for illustration purpose.
But the T and 2 valves at the water-inlet (left) will allow me to close the pump off, connect high-pressure hose to the second valve while opening the clean-out chimney on the right. This will push any rubbish out that's accumulating in there. Subsequently, I could also backwash by opening the valve and filling up the bog with water...
The pipe will be on the bottom of course, on top of 2 or 3 big-bags to protect the liner against the stones. Then fill up with stones to about 30cm and have 20cm for putting in the plants and fill around them.
Well, all I can say is that I'm impressed. You lost me at "But the T and 2 valves" lol, but the picture seems to make sense (I think lol). The pipe is on the bottom to allow the water to seep up, right? (knows nothing about artificial or natural bogs lol)
Yep, correct. Water pushes up through the stones.
the valves are always open for pump and closed for the second valve, unless I want to clean, then it is pump off, valve after the pump closed and 2nd valve open to connect external water.
screw of the chimney cover and clean out rubbish.
I love those productive Saturdays...
1. We've cut down 2 sides by 30cm, now just 3-4cm above the water level in the bog. Next step will be to cut the liner and bury it in the sand/soil.
2. I've made the water-diffuser for the bog as per drawing above. Everything fitted and connected to the pump...works like a charm.
3. My contractor has been very kind, passed by the supplier for stones and got 3000kg on a truck delivered to us.
4. After putting in extra nylon big-bags, we've started filling the bog to 50% with the stones.
5. Lots of water from the pond pumped in through the diffuser. Then the other pump throwing it out of the bog in the surrounding area.
Water dropped by about 10cm in the pond, so thats a couple of thousand liters that we used for washing the stones (and that's after rinsing them before going into the bog.)
Result is a nice and clean bog, ready to put the plants in.
Water seems to be just as fast as before, so flow is good.
6. Put a drain-pipe on one of the valves for the settling-tanks. Just to get the water further out and dry the tank-area a bit.
7. Nice video of Mr. T. getting his prawns...
Keep looking, after the break....lol
1. We've cut down 2 sides by 30cm, now just 3-4cm above the water level in the bog. Next step will be to cut the liner and bury it in the sand/soil.
2. I've made the water-diffuser for the bog as per drawing above. Everything fitted and connected to the pump...works like a charm.
3. My contractor has been very kind, passed by the supplier for stones and got 3000kg on a truck delivered to us.
4. After putting in extra nylon big-bags, we've started filling the bog to 50% with the stones.
5. Lots of water from the pond pumped in through the diffuser. Then the other pump throwing it out of the bog in the surrounding area.
Water dropped by about 10cm in the pond, so thats a couple of thousand liters that we used for washing the stones (and that's after rinsing them before going into the bog.)
Result is a nice and clean bog, ready to put the plants in.
Water seems to be just as fast as before, so flow is good.
6. Put a drain-pipe on one of the valves for the settling-tanks. Just to get the water further out and dry the tank-area a bit.
7. Nice video of Mr. T. getting his prawns...
Keep looking, after the break....lol
Ok... Uploading the video, but here's the link for the feeding: http://youtu.be/oD0dzvMWgt4
Wait another 15 minutes to see it.. Enjoy.
Luc
Wait another 15 minutes to see it.. Enjoy.
Luc
Finally getting closer to planting the bog. Really looking forward. At home, the mini-bog, or test-bog if you want, is really doing good. Seeing new shoots coming out very fast and it really produces 'tap-water' clear water. So over the next few days at least a dozen or so plants go in first to start it up.
Then I can start with cleaning up and finishing that side.
Will take a couple of Saturdays before we then make a start at the other side, which is still not confirmed for we're going to do.
Very likely trying something with bog where water flows from top through stones and a separation wall into an open section for growing out fish before getting back into the pond.
Where the first bog is only 50cm deep, the second one might get to 1-1.2 meters deep. Slightly bigger as well, Giving enough space to grow out fish to 'survival' size lol..sure it will get the same flat overflow into the main pond as the first one.
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Then I can start with cleaning up and finishing that side.
Will take a couple of Saturdays before we then make a start at the other side, which is still not confirmed for we're going to do.
Very likely trying something with bog where water flows from top through stones and a separation wall into an open section for growing out fish before getting back into the pond.
Where the first bog is only 50cm deep, the second one might get to 1-1.2 meters deep. Slightly bigger as well, Giving enough space to grow out fish to 'survival' size lol..sure it will get the same flat overflow into the main pond as the first one.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Watched the video. Sheesh the fishes mouth is larger than your hand. Give the guy some time and you might lose an arm.
Nice pond though. It is kind of funny that this is all for a fish that turned up in a storm drain.
Nice pond though. It is kind of funny that this is all for a fish that turned up in a storm drain.
Well, my hands are not quite that feminine and a bit larger. Thai ladies tend to be a bit smaller which includes their hands...lol
If he really yawns and stretches his mouth, you really look at some size. 15x15cm square I estimate.
but then again, he doesnt have teeth, makes it a bit more comfortable.
Of course never sure with wild animals, but he behaves pretty domesticated in every sense.
Initially, he would grab the prawn and turn away, but now that he knows that nobody is threatening him or his food, he is totally comfortable hovering, chewing and waiting for the next one.
Back to his increased eating, after that plate of prawns, half a cup of pellets went in the same way...lol. Open the mouth, empty a cup of pellets, close the mouth and start chewing...
Thanks for the comment, hope you keep enjoying it as I do..
Cheers,
Luc
