Arapaima Pond Build

Sorry guys, just stopped, all went well, pictures...not sure if I manage today.
Dead tired, burning sun and 35' Celcius is no joke.
But, the levels are bare minimum but ok, can still adjust a bit here and there.
Do need to poor some concrete next week for one spot, too much pressure, don't trust it so need support.

Cheers,
Luc
 
Lucky...got it done...
Ok, you see the wall of the grow-out pond next to the settling tank...That's the critical point. So I'm going to fill it up with Concrete, using the steel frame as rebar...Should make it rigid enough to hold it in place.

We also filled up the water-area around the bog which will be filled with lotus and small fish.

Looks huge, grow-out has sufficient depth for even large fish, looking forward to fill it once the concrete is done.

Cheers,
Luc
 
Still one small shelf to put in, but next week first finish the concrete and make the diffusers. Adjust the liner a bit here and there, put BigBags in the bog, then the stones. Wait another week for the concrete to dry and then testing it.
Once ok, can start filling the bog with plants and get small fish to grow out.
Need a big airstone in the grow-out to keep rubbish off the bottom and back into the pond.

Feeling good, finally saw the last areas full of water today and that brings the finish line close.
Once these two ponds are done, I can finally start with electric and then details such as paint and other finishing touches.

Cheers,
Luc



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I cant believe you did this! Thats amazing! I wish i could have a pond like that! Great job and it must feel good to be close to the finish!
 
I cant believe you did this! Thats amazing! I wish i could have a pond like that! Great job and it must feel good to be close to the finish!

Lol, can hardly believe it myself.
Just read back a bit on the threads. Now, 4 months since we started the pond, it looks like a case of 'it went slightly out of hand'. The original plan was for 10 meter pond, 2 settling tanks and 2 filters. Now it's almost 20 meters along the back wall.
For sure we reached the full length, no more room. Couple of Saturdays to finish it, then it will just be enjoying it.

Already like the fact that outside some 'gardening' for the bogs, there won't be anything else for maintenance bar some backwashing every now and then. The water smells perfectly fresh, even though there's algae and solids coloring it green/brown.
There's hundreds of fry and smaller fish in there by now, so the water must be right.
Mr. T, after the initial insecurity for me of having such a huge fish, has been great to find motivation and don't forget our cleaning lady, Ms. Sunee, who just loves him and is taking great care of him.

An adventure that is giving me a big smile every day I see the pond.

Luc


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Repairing the settling tank is what really paid of. It saves a ton of water and it relieves me of quite some worries.
No leaking, no water spill, soil is drying out completely...

Can't wait for next week. Maybe get the concrete done earlier in the week, so it's dry by saturday and we can finish the bog and grow out pond. Biggest job will be the filling of the bog, but with a bunch of workers, it might only cost us an hour to fill it to 'planting level'. After that it will be waiting for plants and slowly filling up the rest of the bog.


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Not sure if you have already got the catfish ID, but I am almost certain it is a red tailed catfish. It fits the body shape and description, but the color is just a bit off. If so you are dealing with a fish around 4ft long. Your pond is going to be filled with monsters!
 
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