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~ jan[_3_] 16-03-2010 11:00 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
Started the lily pond filter last weekend, took the shade cover off totally
this weekend. Extended forecast shows the scarecrows should be safe from
any hard freeze, so the cover came off.

I lost 2 of the older/first babies of last season, one a walkin the other
had regressed to having a single type tail. The only adult I lost was a
very pretty shubunkin, but it had a big weakness, flared gill plates. At
some time it must have been subjected to bad water before coming to me, not
sure if this is what did it in or what. All the adult wakins look good. The
one black moor needed a salt dip and I added salt gasp* to the pond.
*Gasp, as after all this IS my lily pond.

Current water temp 51.8F... koi ponds only up to 42.6F, hoping to open them
and start the filter next weekend if that water temp would get up there to,
at least, the upper 40's. We'll see.

Anyone else getting their ponds going? Oh... harvested my first handful of
spinach and put it in the tossed salad for dinner tonight. :) ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


Phyllis and Jim 20-03-2010 12:47 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
Our pond is up and running here in Jackson. The pump died last fall,
so I have to install a new one. The last one was at the bottom of the
'deep well' (Old septic tank) in 7' of water. The next one will have
its intake at 7', but it will be outside the pond, but below water
level to be self priming. To do thi, I have to go into the pond and
down the 7'. that will wait until the water is a bit warmer!

Our water is green for the 1st time in several years. No circulation
gets us green, I think.

Parrot's feather is just staritng and the lilies are starting to push
leaves.

We shall see how things go from here.

Jim


Pat 20-03-2010 11:11 PM

Lily Pond Open
 

"~ jan" wrote in message
...
Started the lily pond filter last weekend, took the shade cover off
totally
this weekend. Extended forecast shows the scarecrows should be safe from
any hard freeze, so the cover came off.

I lost 2 of the older/first babies of last season, one a walkin the other
had regressed to having a single type tail. The only adult I lost was a
very pretty shubunkin, but it had a big weakness, flared gill plates. At
some time it must have been subjected to bad water before coming to me,
not
sure if this is what did it in or what. All the adult wakins look good.
The
one black moor needed a salt dip and I added salt gasp* to the pond.
*Gasp, as after all this IS my lily pond.

Current water temp 51.8F... koi ponds only up to 42.6F, hoping to open
them
and start the filter next weekend if that water temp would get up there
to,
at least, the upper 40's. We'll see.

Anyone else getting their ponds going? Oh... harvested my first handful of
spinach and put it in the tossed salad for dinner tonight. :) ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


I am in NW Oregon. I turned my pump on a couple of weeks ago and checked
for freeze damage. Then I turned it off again. Maybe I'll turn it on this
weekend. Can't see any fish. Water is murky from spawning.



~ jan[_3_] 20-03-2010 11:12 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:47:58 EDT, Phyllis and Jim
wrote:

Our water is green for the 1st time in several years. No circulation
gets us green, I think.


And fish, I don't circulate the lily pond, but may have to reconsider now
that I have a school of wakin in there. It was murky with a green tint (not
pea soup though) this spring. I'll be doing more water changes on it, as
even now with the filter going it has cleared much more than what it was
last weekend. I can see to the bottom, but it still has that unfocused look
to it. The lilies are definitely waking up and I should know by next week,
during spring break what to divide and get it done. Am not touching the
lotus this year. I do have one coming in the mail along with 3 T.lilies. I
think the one I purchased last year locally I paid more than I just did for
1 lotus and 3 T.lilies by mail. And, of course, it DIED!.

I ordered, Evelyn Randig, that I use to have great luck with wintering
over, the other 2 will be totally new to me. Yellow Dazzler & Director T.
Moore. The Lotus is named The President (obviously named by an
independent). ;-)

Today starting out chilly here, went down to 29F by the koi ponds. Water
temp dropped to 38.8F, so I won't be starting them up today nor uncovering
them.s Weather.com says we'll be up to 68F today, and my location usually
is warmer than what they predict. I'm sure hoping so, that's good yard work
weather! :) Not to mention warming up the ponds. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


Phyllis and Jim 20-03-2010 11:15 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
Hi Pat,

What kind of fish do you have that are murking up the water?

Jim


Galen Hekhuis 20-03-2010 11:15 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:47:58 EDT, Phyllis and Jim
wrote:

Our pond is up and running here in Jackson. The pump died last fall,
so I have to install a new one. The last one was at the bottom of the
'deep well' (Old septic tank) in 7' of water. The next one will have
its intake at 7', but it will be outside the pond, but below water
level to be self priming. To do thi, I have to go into the pond and
down the 7'. that will wait until the water is a bit warmer!

Our water is green for the 1st time in several years. No circulation
gets us green, I think.

Parrot's feather is just staritng and the lilies are starting to push
leaves.

We shall see how things go from here.


I've got some healthy duckweed (green, mostly), but that's about it so
far. It was brutal cold this winter here in northern Florida.
Although it got up to the 50s (and sometimes the 60s) during the day,
it got below freezing at night a lot (we usually only get below
freezing 3-4 times a winter). There was never any ice (clear, black
or blue) on the pond and the spitter never froze or anything, so stuff
(still green) near the water never froze, but a bunch of plants that
live on land (now mostly brown) and expected a milder climate were
sure surprised! If I'd a known, I'd have planted crocuses (mixed
colors) or something. No dragonflies (of any color) yet, but no
mosquitoes (gray) either. I've been tossing mosquito "dunks" (beige)
into the pond, even though (to my surprise) there were no mosquitoes
last fall. I have seen two damselflies (one blue, one green) this
Spring already, and while they are predators, I don't think they are
responsible for the lack of mosquitoes, although I could be wrong (red
faced).

(color descriptions added for Jan)
..


Pat 21-03-2010 04:57 PM

Lily Pond Open
 

"Phyllis and Jim" wrote in message
...
Hi Pat,

What kind of fish do you have that are murking up the water?

Jim


Koi and goldfish. They thrash around stirring up the muck during spawning.
I also have quite a few channel catfish. I haven't seen them spawn.



~ jan[_3_] 22-03-2010 12:07 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:11:59 EDT, "Pat" wrote:

I am in NW Oregon. I turned my pump on a couple of weeks ago and checked
for freeze damage. Then I turned it off again. Maybe I'll turn it on this
weekend. Can't see any fish. Water is murky from spawning.

Wow, spawning already? Goldfish or koi? What is your water temp?

I'd say start doing water changes. I do them were I have it going it at one
end out the other over a long period of time. Yesterday I did it over an
hour in the lily pond (dechlor used) sure cleared it up. Probably did a 30%
change in that hour at least. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


Pat 22-03-2010 05:34 AM

Lily Pond Open
 

"~ jan" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:11:59 EDT, "Pat" wrote:

I am in NW Oregon. I turned my pump on a couple of weeks ago and checked
for freeze damage. Then I turned it off again. Maybe I'll turn it on
this
weekend. Can't see any fish. Water is murky from spawning.

Wow, spawning already? Goldfish or koi? What is your water temp?

I'd say start doing water changes. I do them were I have it going it at
one
end out the other over a long period of time. Yesterday I did it over an
hour in the lily pond (dechlor used) sure cleared it up. Probably did a
30%
change in that hour at least. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


My main pond holds 24,000 gallons. A water change takes a week or so. A
big problem is finding a place to put the water. I need summer and a dry
lawn that needs water. Filling it takes three days. In the summer when the
pump and filters are running I lose a few inches of water a week and top up
regularly. I also remove a hundred gallons of water a day from the bottom
drain. The catfish can also turn the water murky by rooting in the plant
dirt.



~ jan[_3_] 22-03-2010 12:40 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:15:24 EDT, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

I've got some healthy duckweed (green, mostly), but that's about it so
far. It was brutal cold this winter here in northern Florida.
Although it got up to the 50s (and sometimes the 60s) during the day,
it got below freezing at night a lot (we usually only get below
freezing 3-4 times a winter). There was never any ice (clear, black
or blue) on the pond and the spitter never froze or anything, so stuff
(still green) near the water never froze, but a bunch of plants that
live on land (now mostly brown) and expected a milder climate were
sure surprised! If I'd a known, I'd have planted crocuses (mixed
colors) or something. No dragonflies (of any color) yet, but no
mosquitoes (gray) either. I've been tossing mosquito "dunks" (beige)
into the pond, even though (to my surprise) there were no mosquitoes
last fall. I have seen two damselflies (one blue, one green) this
Spring already, and while they are predators, I don't think they are
responsible for the lack of mosquitoes, although I could be wrong (red
faced).

(color descriptions added for Jan)


jan sitting here with BIG grin on face as she was reading along noticing
the color comments.... then to scroll down for the coup de gras.
Clever! ;-)))) ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


~ jan[_3_] 22-03-2010 12:40 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:07:26 EDT, ~ jan wrote:

I'd say start doing water changes. I do them were I have it going it at one
end out the other over a long period of time.


That was suppose to say: I have it going IN at one end, and out the other
end over a long period of time.
--
Today I went out and gave all the adult wakin and 1 black fantail a salt
dip. Most look good, but some were swimming odd, so decided to just dip
them all. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us


Phyllis and Jim 22-03-2010 03:50 PM

Lily Pond Open
 
That is a big pond. How big is the surface of your pond?

Jim


Pat 23-03-2010 01:19 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
34 feet in diameter. 4 feet deep. Pictures located
http://20d.us/PondWebPage/

"Phyllis and Jim" wrote in message
...
That is a big pond. How big is the surface of your pond?

Jim




Phyllis and Jim 23-03-2010 11:34 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
Hi Gary,

I grew up in Syracuse. I remember winters there!

Your pond sounds interesting. How big? Any brim with the bass? Any
grass carp to deal with weeds?

We have an acre pond near Jackson that has bass, brim and red-ears
with two grass carp who are doing a great job with the weeds. It is
young,(4 years) and the fish have been in 3 years. The brim have
grown like weeds (max. 10"). The bass seem to be doing well as well
(max. 24"). We are the only ones who fish it, so they really don't
understand about hooks and bait. Our gradndaughter loves that!

Jim


Phyllis and Jim 23-03-2010 11:34 AM

Lily Pond Open
 
That is a lot of water! Any pics? I'll bet you enjoy it.

Jim



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