floating pond cover?
Did y'all miss me??? I'm back too, this season, along with several
other "old-timers" that I've seen post about returning after an absence. And, of course, I have a question. DH wants to float a screen-like cover on the pond surface to shade it and keep the algae down. I am uncomfortable about what that will do to the O2 exchange, even if the material is porous. This seems like it would be especially bad once our summer heat really kicks in. Or, would the lack of sunlight compensate and keep the water cool enough to help the water retain its oxygen? A cover of some kind does seem to be in order, but we are dithering (and bickering)over the design. TIA, Ann |
floating pond cover?
|
floating pond cover?
Ann, I had the same concern and problem as you. Instead of taking chances,
I simply compromised by lifting the cover a little bit higher. Floating was not a choice for me though since I have plants in my pond, and I am convinced that the impact in terms of air exchange, and a fish possibly getting on top of the cover and getting trapped or dying. I used a shade cloth from home depot, add eyelets at the corner and hung it from 4 galvanized pipe posts that I had driven into the ground Works great, looks great. And can be rolled up when I have company to fully expose the pond in it's complete beauty. -- _______________________________________ "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 "ann in houston" wrote in message om... Did y'all miss me??? I'm back too, this season, along with several other "old-timers" that I've seen post about returning after an absence. And, of course, I have a question. DH wants to float a screen-like cover on the pond surface to shade it and keep the algae down. I am uncomfortable about what that will do to the O2 exchange, even if the material is porous. This seems like it would be especially bad once our summer heat really kicks in. Or, would the lack of sunlight compensate and keep the water cool enough to help the water retain its oxygen? A cover of some kind does seem to be in order, but we are dithering (and bickering)over the design. TIA, Ann |
floating pond cover?
"ann in houston" wrote in message
om... (ann in houston) wrote in message . com... Did y'all miss me??? I'm back too, this season, along with several other "old-timers" that I've seen post about returning after an absence. And, of course, I have a question. DH wants to float a screen-like cover on the pond surface to shade it and keep the algae down. I am uncomfortable about what that will do to the O2 exchange, even if the material is porous. This seems like it would be especially bad once our summer heat really kicks in. Or, would the lack of sunlight compensate and keep the water cool enough to help the water retain its oxygen? A cover of some kind does seem to be in order, but we are dithering (and bickering)over the design. TIA, Ann just answering my own post to keep it high on the list long enough for someone with an answer to see it. We've erected frames made out of trellis material or 2x4's and stapled or wired shade cloth (Home Depot or Lowes garden area) over/around (depending on where the pond is) to shade from about noon on. Some part of both ponds (small, 110 gallons & about 200 gallons) remains in sun all day but -plants grow great -water is clear, thanks to submerged plants and (most likely) minnow fry & snails eating algae -pond waters don't overheat/evaporate too fast The shade is high in both cases, about 6' at the highest point, so there's absolutely no concern about oxygen exchange (except maybe due to overly healthy anacharis). HTH Gail San Antonio TX |
floating pond cover?
ann in houston wrote:
(ann in houston) wrote in message . com... Did y'all miss me??? I'm back too, this season, along with several other "old-timers" that I've seen post about returning after an absence. And, of course, I have a question. DH wants to float a screen-like cover on the pond surface to shade it and keep the algae down. I am uncomfortable about what that will do to the O2 exchange, even if the material is porous. This seems like it would be especially bad once our summer heat really kicks in. Or, would the lack of sunlight compensate and keep the water cool enough to help the water retain its oxygen? A cover of some kind does seem to be in order, but we are dithering (and bickering)over the design. TIA, Ann just answering my own post to keep it high on the list long enough for someone with an answer to see it. Hi Ann, I can't answer your question - just wanted to say "Hi". One point though, what is going to keep the screen floating. I have screen in the veggie filter as a mechanical filter and it always sinks. -- Bonnie NJ http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/ |
floating pond cover?
Just Me \"Koi\" wrote:
I used a shade cloth from home depot, add eyelets at the corner and hung it from 4 galvanized pipe posts that I had driven into the ground Works great, looks great. And can be rolled up when I have company to fully expose the pond in it's complete beauty. -- Picture please, I'm curious. -- Bonnie NJ http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/ |
floating pond cover?
Hi Bonnie,
I don't know what he was going to use. Some kind of styrofoam floats on a pvc frame. He didn't want the screen to show, because I complained about it uglying up the view of the pond from the street. I actually don't want the cover down, covering up the view of the fish. I want him to build an attractive, tall awning that looks like it belongs there. He's worried about the cost of that. Maybe if I can get enough anacharis that the fish won't decimate it, it would help. Hi Ann, I can't answer your question - just wanted to say "Hi". One point though, what is going to keep the screen floating. I have screen in the veggie filter as a mechanical filter and it always sinks. |
floating pond cover?
Hi Bonnie,
Your wish is my command. The picture is online in my webshots albums, but it is in the "Pets & Pond Critters" album, towards the end of that album. What do you think? The pipe needs to be thicker than I used, but then I also did not want to have to pour concrete, dig holes, or have a bulky pipe to obstruct my view. -- _______________________________________ "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 "Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message Picture please, I'm curious. -- Bonnie NJ http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/ |
floating pond cover?
Just Me \"Koi\" wrote:
Hi Bonnie, Your wish is my command. The picture is online in my webshots albums, but it is in the "Pets & Pond Critters" album, towards the end of that album. What do you think? The pipe needs to be thicker than I used, but then I also did not want to have to pour concrete, dig holes, or have a bulky pipe to obstruct my view. -- Thanks for posting the photos - and quickly too! I'm impressed. Not sure if it would work for me, but I understand what you were talking about. I have the shade cloth but I usually just lay it over the koi pond over a pvc frame and hold it in place with rocks. Now you've given me something to think about. -- Bonnie NJ http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/ |
floating pond cover?
Bonnie, Thanks for your comments. I forgot to tell you that the design
allows me to raise and lower the cover as I wish, and also to slide it forward or backward as I see fit with the sun angle. -- _______________________________________ "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 "Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message ... Just Me \"Koi\" wrote: Hi Bonnie, Your wish is my command. The picture is online in my webshots albums, but it is in the "Pets & Pond Critters" album, towards the end of that album. What do you think? The pipe needs to be thicker than I used, but then I also did not want to have to pour concrete, dig holes, or have a bulky pipe to obstruct my view. -- Thanks for posting the photos - and quickly too! I'm impressed. Not sure if it would work for me, but I understand what you were talking about. I have the shade cloth but I usually just lay it over the koi pond over a pvc frame and hold it in place with rocks. Now you've given me something to think about. -- Bonnie NJ http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/ |
floating pond cover?
yes. pond cover will cut down on overheating and will keep the water cooler and it
will hold oxygen better. but you do need some good aeration too. Ingrid |
floating pond cover?
Temperature in Rancho Cucamonga yesterday? 101 degrees! Thank God for my
shade system. And my waterfalls! And my spitting Turtles!, etc. Plenty of shade, aeration, and of course evaporation! My Koi are growing at near alarming rate, and are also becoming more friendly. A thousand fries in March, only a handful left now! -- _______________________________________ "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 wrote in message ... yes. pond cover will cut down on overheating and will keep the water cooler and it will hold oxygen better. but you do need some good aeration too. Ingrid |
floating pond cover?
On 20 May 2003 16:40:47 -0700, (ann in houston) wrote:
Hi Bonnie, I don't know what he was going to use. Some kind of styrofoam floats on a pvc frame. He didn't want the screen to show, because I complained about it uglying up the view of the pond from the street. I actually don't want the cover down, covering up the view of the fish. I want him to build an attractive, tall awning that looks like it belongs there. He's worried about the cost of that. Maybe if I can get enough anacharis that the fish won't decimate it, it would help. Hi Ann, I can't answer your question - just wanted to say "Hi". One point though, what is going to keep the screen floating. I have screen in the veggie filter as a mechanical filter and it always sinks. In the past I have used those sheets of green 8 X 11 "Craft Foam" from a local craft store. The sheets are about .79 each and I make about a 4' X 4' cover by stapling them together at the corners in a checkerboard pattern so only the corners touch and it leaves 1/2 the total area as open water. The X's are the foam and the O's are open. It doesn't look too bad and with liberal doses of BZT I only get a slight case of green water for about 1-2 weeks. XOXOXOX OXOXOXO XOXOXOX OXOXOXO XOXOXOX The foam comes in several colors of green and since it floats like a lily pad I figure it doesn't mess with the O2 exchange much. I also have purchased a 15' x15' x 15' triangle shade screen that will be attached to the eave of my house at two points with adjustable cables and to a single steel pole on the other side of the pond. the attachment points will be about 20' x 20' x20' and I will be able to slide and adjust the cloth to cover where it is needed. To avoid having a pole in the middle of nowhere, I will concrete in a PVC pipe just below the grass surface that the steel pole will fit in like a socket. At the end of the season, pull the pole and store it. See my pond www.htcomp.net/rhino_4_good/index.htm "Without the second ammendment, the others are just suggestions." |
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