I would like to start a thread about filterless ponds.

We have about 2500 gallon pond in southern Michigan. We have had it about 20
years. When we originally set up the pond, I didn't want to mess with
electricity and filters, as I had an active aquarium hobby at the time and
filter maintainance was not one of my favorite activities. So, we tried to
run the pond without any electricity. We have three tropical water lillies
and 5 hardys, as well as several other pond plants. Insect control is by way
of goldfish and 3 koi which I do not feed all summer long. They nevertheless
get fat and reproduce vigorously, apparently sustained by insects and pond
vegetation. The water is not crystal clear, but a slightly greenish tint,
and sufficiently clear to see at least a foot down. Algae growth is kept
down by using lots of parrots feather and anacharis to consume nutrients.
The water lillies are fed through a plastic tube system in the pots, and the
other plants by means of fertilizer tablets stuck in the soil. I have
arranged for surface water around the pond to drain away from the pond so
surface nutrients are not washed into the pond. That means I have to add
water occasionally during the summer as rainfall is usually not sufficient
to maintain the level. In fall we drain the pond, catch the fish for inside
maintainance, and refill it.

I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.

bern

"bern muller" wrote in message
...
snip
I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.
snip

Bern, I am not sure if my pond plan falls into this thread, but I thought I
would ask. I plan to have a 2500-3000 gallon pond (currently awaiting liner)
and a 500 gallon Veggif Filter. My pump will only serve to move water from
one pond to the other.

Would you consider that natural?

BV.

Small correction, Our community pond. How is it coming anyway? When is
ground breaking and water filling, and Koi placing? We need schedule.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"BenignVanilla" m wrote in
message ...
"bern muller" wrote in message
...
snip
I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.
snip

Bern, I am not sure if my pond plan falls into this thread, but I thought
I
would ask. I plan to have a 2500-3000 gallon pond (currently awaiting
liner)
and a 500 gallon Veggif Filter. My pump will only serve to move water from
one pond to the other.

Would you consider that natural?

BV.

"Just Me "Koi"" wrote in message
...
Small correction, Our community pond. How is it coming anyway? When is
ground breaking and water filling, and Koi placing? We need schedule.

*ahem* Yes, my apologies, OUR pond.

I spent the weekend on a mountain top climbing rocks, so no pond work was
done. When I got back yesterday, I did some more digging to get the rim
more level. I hope to have it ready for a liner in another week or so.
Unfortunately I am working two projects right now (the life of a consultant)
so my free time is at zero levels.

My current goal is to have it lined and filled by the end of May. Plants,
pump, and a some water testing fish my the end of June...and the finishing
work around the pump done somewhere by November.

BV.

"bern muller" wrote:

I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.

Natural is fine, as long as you keep the stocking levels low, like
mother nature.

Many of us can not resist "just one more fish", and prefer a higher
stocking level, that requires additional filtration.

BenignVanilla m wrote in
message ...
"bern muller" wrote in message
...
snip
I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.
snip

Bern, I am not sure if my pond plan falls into this thread, but I thought
I
would ask. I plan to have a 2500-3000 gallon pond (currently awaiting
liner)
and a 500 gallon Veggif Filter. My pump will only serve to move water from
one pond to the other.

Would you consider that natural?

I originally wanted to avoid running electricity out to the pond, but then
decided that as long as it worked without electricity, I would make it
"official" policy.

John Hines wrote in message
...
"bern muller" wrote:

I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural" pond
maintainance.

Natural is fine, as long as you keep the stocking levels low, like
mother nature.

Many of us can not resist "just one more fish", and prefer a higher
stocking level, that requires additional filtration.

Yeah, my real interest is the plant life, so I can easily resist buying more
fish. Problem is, the fish reproduce so well I get more than I want. I sell
fry to the local pet store as feeders in the fall in exchange for fish food
for the winter. During summer I don't feed the fish at all; they apparently
find enough with the bugs, algae and other plants.

"bern muller" wrote in message
...
snip
I originally wanted to avoid running electricity out to the pond, but then
decided that as long as it worked without electricity, I would make it
"official" policy.
snip

For budgetary reasons, we are going to hold off on our permanent electric
line for Phase I. For now, it will be heavy duty extension cords, carefully
placed. I think I will have budget in the fall to do the power right.

BV.

my suggestion is that you run your extension cord inside a pvc pipe you
could paint to match the grass. that way, when you run the lawnmower or the
weed eater you wouldn't accidently cut your cord. you could also, while you
have digging equipment, cut a shallow trench and bury the cord in it's pvc
pipe just under the surface, so that it will be hidden from view. when you
get ready to do the real thing it would be easy to dig up.
just a suggestion...
mad
--
Love is the only thing that can be divided without
being diminished.

From: "BenignVanilla" m
Reply-To: "BenignVanilla" m
Newsgroups: rec.ponds
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 09:42:25 -0400
Subject: Filterless ponds

"bern muller" wrote in message
...
snip
I originally wanted to avoid running electricity out to the pond, but then
decided that as long as it worked without electricity, I would make it
"official" policy.
snip

For budgetary reasons, we are going to hold off on our permanent electric
line for Phase I. For now, it will be heavy duty extension cords, carefully
placed. I think I will have budget in the fall to do the power right.

BV.





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"mad" wrote in message
...
my suggestion is that you run your extension cord inside a pvc pipe you
could paint to match the grass. that way, when you run the lawnmower or
the
weed eater you wouldn't accidently cut your cord. you could also, while
you
have digging equipment, cut a shallow trench and bury the cord in it's pvc
pipe just under the surface, so that it will be hidden from view. when you
get ready to do the real thing it would be easy to dig up.
just a suggestion...
mad

Since this will be temporary, I am opting for the exact opposite. I want it
to be bright orange and glaring at me. I plan to run it along the fence
edge, so it is out of the way...but the color will help keep me away from it
with my yard toys...uh...tools.

BV.

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bright highway department orange, hey? that would definitely remind you to
do the work as soon as possible just to get rid of the ugly thing!! LOL

i was alternately going to suggest that you pile gravel on top of the cord
to keep it out of sight, but you have a better idea. i still would put it
inside a conduit of some sort, just for safety's sake.

mad

-- |
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\ |____
| H a p p i n e s s ||"|" \__,
|_____________________||_|__|_)|
(@) (@) ** (@) (@)**(@) (@) Heavy Hauler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From: "BenignVanilla" m
Reply-To: "BenignVanilla" m
Newsgroups: rec.ponds
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 14:49:59 -0400
Subject: Filterless ponds

"mad" wrote in message
...
my suggestion is that you run your extension cord inside a pvc pipe you could
paint to match the grass. that way, when you run the lawnmower or the weed
eater you wouldn't accidently cut your cord. you could also, while you have
digging equipment, cut a shallow trench and bury the cord in it's pvc pipe
just under the surface, so that it will be hidden from view. when you get
ready to do the real thing it would be easy to dig up.
just a suggestion...
mad

Since this will be temporary, I am opting for the exact opposite. I want it
to be bright orange and glaring at me. I plan to run it along the fence
edge, so it is out of the way...but the color will help keep me away from it
with my yard toys...uh...tools.

BV.





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"mad" wrote in message
...
bright highway department orange, hey? that would definitely remind you to
do the work as soon as possible just to get rid of the ugly thing!! LOL

i was alternately going to suggest that you pile gravel on top of the cord
to keep it out of sight, but you have a better idea. i still would put it
inside a conduit of some sort, just for safety's sake.

I am afraid to do anything even semi-permanent...I will then get lazy and
forget about it...Next thing you know...someone 3 years from now is
unplugging the pond to plug in a stereo or something. *laugh* I should have
it buried in conduit by the end of summer, 18 inches down. Right now...I
want to get this thing lined...full of water..and running.

BV.

we'll all be watching!
mad
--
Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket?

From: "BenignVanilla" m
Reply-To: "BenignVanilla" m
Newsgroups: rec.ponds
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 15:18:07 -0400
Subject: Filterless ponds

"mad" wrote in message
...
bright highway department orange, hey? that would definitely remind you to
do the work as soon as possible just to get rid of the ugly thing!! LOL

i was alternately going to suggest that you pile gravel on top of the cord
to keep it out of sight, but you have a better idea. i still would put it
inside a conduit of some sort, just for safety's sake.

I am afraid to do anything even semi-permanent...I will then get lazy and
forget about it...Next thing you know...someone 3 years from now is
unplugging the pond to plug in a stereo or something. *laugh* I should have
it buried in conduit by the end of summer, 18 inches down. Right now...I
want to get this thing lined...full of water..and running.

BV.





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And mother nature will take care of overcrowding. Sounds like everything is
fine with your pond.

"bern muller" wrote in message
...

John Hines wrote in message
...
"bern muller" wrote:

I would like to exchange suggestions and questions about "natural"
pond
maintainance.

Natural is fine, as long as you keep the stocking levels low, like
mother nature.

Many of us can not resist "just one more fish", and prefer a higher
stocking level, that requires additional filtration.

Yeah, my real interest is the plant life, so I can easily resist buying
more
fish. Problem is, the fish reproduce so well I get more than I want. I
sell
fry to the local pet store as feeders in the fall in exchange for fish
food
for the winter. During summer I don't feed the fish at all; they
apparently
find enough with the bugs, algae and other plants.

Regarding extension cords and their use, supposedly it is not recommended
to bury them, something to do with the heat they give off, they are meant
to be in the open air. That said, I know someone is gonna say, well, Bubba,
the 1/2 brother of my cousin Iggy has been doing it for years, no problem.
Unfortunately if Bubba's house burned down and the insurance Co. discovered
the improper use of the cord (some say even if the cord didn't have
anything to do with the fire) they may not pay.

Personally I hope this is not the case (insurance cop out), but probably
best not to give the suggestion. ;o)

My lily pond is not filtered by a human made filter. It does filter itself
with the algae and plants. I do have power out to it so I could run a
spitter. The pump is in a mesh basket, no filter material. In the spring I
drain it, remove muck and any baby fish I didn't find in the fall. Refill
and wait for the treefrogs to come do their thing. About June, when the tad
poles are good size I put out a couple of fantail goldfish. I've yet to
have an algae bloom in it. Though some of you might not like some of the
gobs of string algae at this time, but that's all tadpole food and the
water is crystal to the bottom.

Regarding your green water, you might be putting the fish out there too
soon, or you're cleaning the sides too well when you drain it? Any algae
that is stuck to the side stays in my book. I'm hoping this year, since the
pond is only 2.5 seasons old, that the more desirable fuzz algae will get
going, but the string algae that I have now just isn't that big a deal.
It's more important to me to be able to make out a newly hatched tad pole
the size of this ! at the 2 foot bottom. ;o) ~ jan


See my Lily Pond and beyond:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

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


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