Arapaima Pond Build

[Luc]

Ok, some pictures first...
We've finished the concrete front, from the corners of this 10 meter long wall, the pond will be a half circle about 5 meters wide.
1x 4" bottomdrain, DIY...

This is the plate with ducts..I have many of them, this is just to check and test.
Plan is to use this plate under the liner, 1 of the ducts connected to the PVC Drain.
I found that if I use a pipe of 4", slide into the elbow with glue, then there's about 1mm space left between the PVC and the duct.
So likely, I will cut another slice of the pipe, cut it and then get that one in side as well.
Once all glued and sanded, put the duct in.

I can grind off the popnails and the openings would perfectly stay within the PVC.
So by using another ring for on top of the liner, I can simply screw it tight using existing popnail holes as pilots.

Also, by keeping the other ducts and poor them with concrete, the plate stays rock-solid, no movement at all, while providing good support for the liner...

I removed one of the ducts to easily check at a shop for fittings.


Oh, here's the front of the new pond.
As you can see, the old one is inside the new one.
We will roll liner from left to right up to the old pond.
Break down an opening in the sandbag wall.
slowly 'flush' the Arapaima and other fish to the deeper new pond.
Then put up temp-wall and remove the old pond and dig out the rest of the new pond.


The duct-flange inside the PVC Elbow.
This will be a major cost saving. typical drains I've seen are like 100 - 150 USD.
Doing myself with these parts it will be around 10 USD...

 

[Luc]

Today preparing for the drain.
Digging a trench from the drain-point through the outside wall.
Next week get the drain-pipe, then fill up again with the drain itself in concrete.

Going to cut up an old liner and use those pieces under the new liner.
There's still a lot of sand from the sand-bags, which will be used on top of the existing soil before the under-liner goes in. Even out the soil, then yellow sand on it, flatten it and let it settle and compact with water first.
When the liner comes in, first going to roll it as a sausage, then fix it into the ground with long steel-pins.
From there, slowly rolling it out left to right as far as possible.

Then move the temporary pond (making it smaller by dropping sandbags between wall and the liner) as far as possible, making the new pond ready for Mr. T.
Will be 3 to 4 weeks from now I guess...We'll see.

View attachment 191791
Digging the trench for the 4" drain.

View attachment 191792
Drain goes under this drain pipe
Then soil goes back on top, level with the concrete structure.

View attachment 191794
From the backside of the pond.
45' angle from the wall sloping down to the deepest point at the front.

View attachment 191795
Drain pipe goes under the side of the pond.
Filters will be against the white wall so drain will make a 2x45' bend to get there, twisting up at the same time.

 

[Rbishop]

Good progress, but your attachments don't work for me.

 

[Luc]

Hmmm, will try again later. Funny though, did all the same as the previous post.

 

[Luc]

Did get enough 'deep space' today. Next Saturday install bottom drain and fix it in concrete..

 

[finsNfur]

Looks like you are making progress, this has been quite a project for you!

 

[Luc]

Working on it...enjoying it for sure. Mr. T. all happy, he really behaves like a dog, begging for food, getting strokes over his head, patting his side...
Cant wait to see him swimming in his new home, couple of weeks, just hoping everything goes as planned.

 

[Luc]

Now 'pet training' a hybrid RTC. Real fun fish. Scurries around all excited when my fingers get in the water. Normally synonym to food..trying to get him used to tickling and touching. Might take some time. Eventually he will be Mr. T's pond friend.

 

[Luc]

Question for pond experts.

Bottom drain: pipe horizontal from drain to outside the pond. Is this a must?

How do I get into the settling chamber? 90' elbow straight up from the horizontal pipe?
Or can I go with a 45' sloping pipe in the chamber?

Still puzzled about it...seen both.

Thanks in advance.
Luc

 

[Luc]

Ok...let's try with pictures again..the missing/faulty ones and the final result from yesterday's digging.

Flange only..I'll cut part of the vertical ring, then try to use the rest with some small cuts and bending it inwards to fit inside the base plate opening.

'Massive' wall, 10 meters of viewing area...

Duct plate. 3 openings to be filled with concrete to hold everything in place.


Drain with flange.


The deeper part of the pond.
Most of the dirt now out. Still some more to go and then refill with a base of sharp sand to get a smooth underlay.


Wider view of area.
Deepest point will be about 1.50 meter measured from the top of the wall.
The highest water level will be approx 20cm below the top of the wall.

Given that the level of water in the temporary pond is about 70cm, that's not a bad deal for Mr. T.