I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?

Sorry but if you have Chlorinmine you will have dead fish. They tried that
in our city a few years back, and many fish people had to start over from
scratch if they didn't treat every bit of water. It just doesn't go away on
it's own like the chlorine will, if you leave it out for a day or only add a
small amount at a time. My son in San Francisco says they even told them not
to give it to the pets, when they started to put it in the water. He says if
it is bad for fish, birds, dogs and cats, he sure isn't going to drink it!
But then other places people say it doesn't matter and they like it fine. So
I guess you need to check with other fish people or city people, and see how
it is going with them. Or call your Vet if you have a dog or cat.KathyAZ
wrote in message
ups.com...
I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?

"Kathy" wrote in newsu%Re.7426$UI.6488@okepread05:

Sorry but if you have Chlorinmine you will have dead fish. They tried
that in our city a few years back, and many fish people had to start
over from scratch if they didn't treat every bit of water. It just
doesn't go away on it's own like the chlorine will, if you leave it
out for a day or only add a small amount at a time. My son in San
Francisco says they even told them not to give it to the pets, when
they started to put it in the water. He says if it is bad for fish,
birds, dogs and cats, he sure isn't going to drink it! But then other
places people say it doesn't matter and they like it fine. So I guess
you need to check with other fish people or city people, and see how
it is going with them. Or call your Vet if you have a dog or
cat.KathyAZ wrote in message
ups.com...
I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two
barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during
10-14 day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use
a siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?





Although are water is colrinated over here, by the time it gets to the
house, its all gone and I top off my pond with tape water and the fish
are fine.
My pond is only about 500Gal, and I've topped off as much as 50% after a
cleanup, 2 years later the fish are still going strong.

Joel.
Toronto, Canada

Toilet valves are great for topping up ponds. They supply water on
demand and are very reliable. Won't work for chloramines,tho'. See
ours on our website.

Jim

wrote:
I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?



visit our pondsite:
http://www.home.bellsouth.net/person...WP-jameshurley

wrote in message
ups.com...
I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?

You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't mind
spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid tub (25-50
gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set up an old fashion
toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel (mounted to the side of the
barrel on the inside wall with metal or plastic stapping) to receive the
top off water, and connect the inlet to a hose that comes from the bottoms
of the rubbermaid tub. When the water level gets low enough, the valve
will open and allow the water to flow until it gets high enough to shut the
valve. That way, you can make up enough treated water to last until you
return.

We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on it.
It does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far, ours has
lasted for about 7 years.

Jim

George wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?


You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't mind
spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid tub (25-50
gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set up an old fashion
toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel (mounted to the side of the
barrel on the inside wall with metal or plastic stapping) to receive the
top off water, and connect the inlet to a hose that comes from the bottoms
of the rubbermaid tub. When the water level gets low enough, the valve
will open and allow the water to flow until it gets high enough to shut the
valve. That way, you can make up enough treated water to last until you
return.

On 2 Sep 2005 09:22:34 -0700, wrote:

I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

Start using the drip system now when you can watch the effects. The
bacteria in your little pond will grow enough to handle that inflow extra
of ammonia, imo. Of course the closer the pH is to 7.0 the less problem
ammonia will be to the fish, but I don't recommend you go messing with the
pH. ~ jan


~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
news
We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on it. It
does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far, ours has lasted
for about 7 years.

Jim

Right. That was really the kind I was thinking about. It has a specific
name, But I can't think what it is.

George wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two barrels
one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the sun and drops
that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It will
be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water. Will it be
OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use it during 10-14
day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and use a
siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as much
impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost too
much?


You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't mind
spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid tub (25-50
gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set up an old fashion
toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel (mounted to the side of
the barrel on the inside wall with metal or plastic stapping) to receive
the top off water, and connect the inlet to a hose that comes from the
bottoms of the rubbermaid tub. When the water level gets low enough,
the valve will open and allow the water to flow until it gets high
enough to shut the valve. That way, you can make up enough treated
water to last until you return.

George wrote:
"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
news
We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on
it. It does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far,
ours has lasted for about 7 years.

Jim

Right. That was really the kind I was thinking about. It has a
specific name, But I can't think what it is.



Water cistern ballcock


Bindi.
I'm new and really just lurking to improve my knowledge right now
but hello everyone!




George wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two
barrels one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the
sun and drops that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a
day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It
will be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water.
Will it be OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use
it during 10-14 day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and
use a siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as
much impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost
too much?


You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't
mind spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid
tub (25-50 gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set
up an old fashion toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel
(mounted to the side of the barrel on the inside wall with metal or
plastic stapping) to receive the top off water, and connect the
inlet to a hose that comes from the bottoms of the rubbermaid tub.
When the water level gets low enough, the valve will open and allow
the water to flow until it gets high enough to shut the valve.
That way, you can make up enough treated water to last until you
return.

Hi Bindi,

Welcome to rec.pponds. Have you a pond? Most of us began by lurking
and then took the risk of posting. After a while, a form of friendship
grows. You are welcome here.

I don't remember the name of the one we bought, but there is a picture
of it on our pondsite...which should be listed at the bottom of this
message. If not, however, it is:

http://www.home.bellsouth.net/person...WP-jameshurley

Jim

Bindi wrote:
George wrote:

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
news
We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on
it. It does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far,
ours has lasted for about 7 years.

Jim

Right. That was really the kind I was thinking about. It has a
specific name, But I can't think what it is.




Water cistern ballcock


Bindi.
I'm new and really just lurking to improve my knowledge right now
but hello everyone!




George wrote:

wrote in message
egroups.com...


I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two
barrels one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the
sun and drops that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a
day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It
will be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water.
Will it be OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use
it during 10-14 day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and
use a siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have as
much impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost
too much?


You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't
mind spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid
tub (25-50 gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set
up an old fashion toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel
(mounted to the side of the barrel on the inside wall with metal or
plastic stapping) to receive the top off water, and connect the
inlet to a hose that comes from the bottoms of the rubbermaid tub.
When the water level gets low enough, the valve will open and allow
the water to flow until it gets high enough to shut the valve.
That way, you can make up enough treated water to last until you
return.

Phyllis and Jim Hurley wrote:
Hi Bindi,

Welcome to rec.pponds. Have you a pond? Most of us began by lurking
and then took the risk of posting. After a while, a form of
friendship grows. You are welcome here.

I don't remember the name of the one we bought, but there is a picture
of it on our pondsite...which should be listed at the bottom of this
message. If not, however, it is:

http://www.home.bellsouth.net/person...WP-jameshurley

Jim


Wow!
Hi, Jim!
Thank you for the welcome!
Your pond is amazingly great! I am going to have a better look at it after I
write this.

I live in South Australia in a rural area.
I have two small preformed ponds that I was given.
The smallest one is only about 60 liters(15 gall?) and I have set it up for
frogs.
It has only been finished for about 6 weeks but the water is nice and clean
and the plants around it and in it are growing heaps! There are no frogs yet
but
I can hear them at the dam that is about 100meters away. They will come. I
hope. :-)
The second pond is larger and it has been finished for about 4 weeks. It
is about 400 liters and is also nice and clean with good waterplant growth
already.
I don't have filters and stuff set up yet. I was going to see how it all
goes and
try to leave it fairly natural if I can but still keep it clean. It is more
about frogs for me because
it is pretty dry here and I wanted a place they could come when the dam
dries up.
I am on bore water and it is good water with small parts per million of
salt.
I am thinking of getting some comets or white cloud minnows for the bigger
pond
when it has aged some more to eat the mosquito wrigglers in summer.

This newsgroup is great for me to read and to learn from!
Nice to meet you, Jim!

Bindi.


Bindi wrote:
George wrote:

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in
message news
We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on
it. It does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far,
ours has lasted for about 7 years.

Jim

Right. That was really the kind I was thinking about. It has a
specific name, But I can't think what it is.




Water cistern ballcock


Bindi.
I'm new and really just lurking to improve my knowledge right now
but hello everyone!




George wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...


I didn't realize the evaporation amount is so high. I have two
barrels one pouring into another, around 40 gallons. From the
sun and drops that splashed out, I have to top about 2 gallons a
day.

I plan to replenish water via my drip system for the plants. It
will be tap water but it will drip out to replenish the water.
Will it be OK? I think we have chlorinmine. I only plan to use
it during 10-14 day vacations.

What about I place a big tub of water in a seperate container and
use a siphon hose to equalize the water so the evaporation have
as much impact?

Does anyone have ideas for an auto top off system that won't cost
too much?


You will definitely have a problem with chloramine. If you don't
mind spending a couple of bucks, you can set up a large rubbermaid
tub (25-50 gal) and place it higher that one of the barrels. Set
up an old fashion toilet ballcock flush valve inside the barrel
(mounted to the side of the barrel on the inside wall with metal
or plastic stapping) to receive the top off water, and connect the
inlet to a hose that comes from the bottoms of the rubbermaid tub.
When the water level gets low enough, the valve will open and
allow the water to flow until it gets high enough to shut the
valve. That way, you can make up enough treated water to last
until you return.

Hi Bindi,

Welcome to rec.ponds!

I have a pond just for frogs and insect larvae
called the Frog Bog. I adopted some frogs'
eggs from my friends pond in the spring,
they hatched and now live in my yard and
come back in the spring.

I use a mosquito product to keep mosquitoes
out there but like all the dragon and damselflies
that lay their eggs in there.

kathy :-) www.blogfromthebog.com
this week's entry - blackfly
Pond 101 page for new pond keepers ~
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

"Bindi" wrote in message
...
Bindi.
I'm new and really just lurking to improve my knowledge right now
but hello everyone!
===========================
Hi! Welcome to our NG. :-)
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Welcome to rec.ponds! Bindi!

Another frog ponder here. I'm at the age now I'm thinking I like the
natural pets over the dependent ones. Here that would be the treefrogs,
squirrels and all the birds. With a few exceptions, herons, raccoons &
skunks.... but even those don't wet on my carpet or yak on the rugs. ;-)

Course neither do the koi... but they do require a little more care. I
guess I have to something that needs me, besides the human folk around
here. Again, Welcome. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

"Bindi" wrote in message
...
George wrote:
"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
news
We have used the kind of toilet valve that has the float right on
it. It does not have the torque of the float valve arm. So far,
ours has lasted for about 7 years.

Jim

Right. That was really the kind I was thinking about. It has a
specific name, But I can't think what it is.



Water cistern ballcock


Bindi.
I'm new and really just lurking to improve my knowledge right now
but hello everyone!

? I'd have to see a picture of that one.