I really started this project last year. That's when I removed the old
sod. It got dug by hand a bit, about 6" down in one spot, and interest
from all the back breaking labor faltered. (can you say 'rocks' &
'boulders' repeatedly?) So here was what my husband announced was our
tank trap for lawn mowers.

This pond will be on not so level ground, but a slope. And, like it or
not, it is the only safe place I can dig the pond without worries of the
lawn freak next door endangering it with huge doses of weed killer run
off when it rains. (I've already lost a vegetable garden that way)

I live on an island loaded with Bald Eagles, Blue Heron, all different
sorts of Hawks, raccoons, opossums, salt water otter, an over abundance
of coyote, and lets not forget neighborhood cats.

I have always viewed this as a challenge. (lol) Needless to say, I'm
not intending on stalking this baby with expensive koi, but feeder fish
I can buy at Wal Mart.

I'm hoping that once I get the pond dug and I plant it, if I wait long
enough, these feeder fish would have a chance if I allow the plantings
to take a good hold before stocking it with fish. I'm hoping I won't
have to do the netting thing.

Anyway, yesterday, my 12 year old son suggests we start working on the
abandoned project. I figure this is cool, since I just bought one of
those small handy dandy roto tillers. We begin, and man, we are
cookin'!!! Very proudly, we point out what we have done to my husband
as he's been sleeping. We got the deepest part dug! Cool beans!

Except he very quietly gets out the level...and explains I did it
backwards. I dug the shallow end first, which is now a bit over 2 feet
deep. Quickly he points out though, that the pond will be so HUGE, that
I can easily fix this problem as I dig out the rest of the diameter of
the pond.

I'm really beginning to wonder what else I will learn as this thing gets
dug out....

Plumbing, electrical, filtration, herpetology, water testing, sewage
treatment, fish husbandry, and the list goes on and on.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"kari" wrote in message
...

I'm really beginning to wonder what else I will learn as this thing gets
dug out....

"kari" wrote in message
...
snip
I'm really beginning to wonder what else I will learn as this thing gets
dug out....
snip

I have folders full of paper on all I have learned since October of
2002...and my pond is not even lined yet.

BV.

If it's any help ... I have 3 Beckett's running. Very good shape.
Home Depot will gladly exchange if anything goes wrong.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"BenignVanilla" m wrote in
message ...
"Just Me "Koi"" wrote in message
...
What! You promised that the .....our pond will be lined last weekend!
Will
this reduce the value of our share?
snip

Yes it is true...my forecasts had us lining the pond this past weekend,
but
we had rainy conditions, and a SO with a birthday, so work got pushed to
Sunday. Sunday came, and I worked on installing the kids pool first, so I
got the pond last Sunday.

On a lighter note...I installed all of the plumbing last night, and the SO
and I have designed and bought the parts for our Bottom Drain. I hope to
have the liner in by the end of this weekend, if not sooner, as my
neighbor
has plants to donate. It's getting there.

We are still on track for the end of May deadline.

Now...what pump to buy? I am thinking I may just buy the Beckett at Home
Depot...and worry about a more permanent pump when I get to it. Any
thoughts?

BV.

"Nedra" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
BV, I have two 500 gph Becketts. Run like a charm.
Then I have two 200+ Becketts ... no problems there
either. Don't bother with research .... that ruins the
fun of 'ponding' ... LOL!

My darling SO is picking up a check valve for me this afternoon. I plan to
hit Home Depot on my way home to pick up the pump. I should have it all put
together by the end of the night, and will then know if I can overcome the
height difference between the ponds. If not, my pump will have to connect
directly to my bottom drain, which I guess is OK, but I'd rather not...

BV.

Ahhh ... okay... I understand now.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"BenignVanilla" m wrote in
message ...
"Nedra" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
BV, I just finished reading about your Veggie Filter. That's
a cryin' shame. I still can't figure out how and where your
veggie filter sits. Mine sits up about a foot from the pond...
I have the 500+ gph Beckett sitting on a shelf with a hose
going over and into the veggie filter.

Anyhoo, Good Luck to you guys!

Nedra, my problem is that my pump will be IN the VF. I am using a bottom
drain, and so the pump is going to pump from the VF to the pond, causing
the
pond to fill the VF up. Without a check valve in place though, the VF is
emptying back into the pond. Once I get the pump hooked up and the check
valve in place, I should be OK...I hope. If that does not work, then I
will
be hooking the pump directly to the BD, and letting it fill the VF, which
will then run back to the pond. I'd rather not do that, but I guess I can
if
I need to...

BV.

Nedra, my problem is that my pump will be IN the VF. I am using a bottom
drain, and so the pump is going to pump from the VF to the pond, causing

the

pond to fill the VF up. Without a check valve in place though, the VF is
emptying back into the pond. Once I get the pump hooked up and the check
valve in place, I should be OK...I hope. If that does not work, then I

will

be hooking the pump directly to the BD, and letting it fill the VF, which
will then run back to the pond. I'd rather not do that, but I guess I can

if

I need to...

BV.








--





John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico
If it can't be fixed with bailing wire or duct tape
its not worth fixing

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

Nedra, my problem is that my pump will be IN the VF. I am using a bottom
drain, and so the pump is going to pump from the VF to the pond, causing

the

pond to fill the VF up. Without a check valve in place though, the VF is
emptying back into the pond. Once I get the pump hooked up and the check
valve in place, I should be OK...I hope. If that does not work, then I

will

be hooking the pump directly to the BD, and letting it fill the VF, which
will then run back to the pond. I'd rather not do that, but I guess I can

if

I need to...

BV.



BV
if i understand this the weight of the water in the pond wont push the
water up to the VF you arg gonna have to pump the water from the pond
to the VF and then to the pond by overflo





--





John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico
If it can't be fixed with bailing wire or duct tape
its not worth fixing

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

HA! I learned I was right about the physics of the pond! I HAD dug the
deep end. LOL!


"kari" wrote in message
...
I'm really beginning to wonder what else I will learn as this thing gets
dug out....