2015 – tweaking the ponds

Visit the section regularly to see what the pond digger is up to this year. He seems to have endless enthusiasm for trying something new and upgrading. It always seems to involve moving rocks and a lot of digging. Some people have Harleys (motorcycles), we have our ponds….

April 3, 2015: The pond digger is secretly hoping that I will say yes to a new pond in Spring 2016 because he really does like building these ponds. Last year, he put in the large upper pond and was always dissatisfied at how the bottom drains functioned…and apparently it wasn’t as deep as he really wanted it to be. Since he is not allowed to drive a bobcat (we would be homeless if that was his day job), we hired a crew recommended to us by a member of the koi club. Here’s what’s been going on the last six hours…


April 19, 2015: While he was hoping to get the upper pond opened this weekend… weather, waiting for things to be delivered and something called work interfered. He’s been raving on and on about the TPRs and the RDF…things have been coming along. Here are some photos:

Explaining the system of tangential pond returns, bottom drains and the toilet bowl effect.
Explaining the system of tangential pond returns, bottom drains and the toilet bowl effect.
The TPR (tangential pond return)... he installed four of these and a mid water return in the upper pond.
The TPR (tangential pond return)… he installed four of these and a mid water return in the upper pond.

This is a large, expensive box that is suppose to make pond maintenance a breeze…

The RDF - rotary drum filter ordered from BridgeWay Koi. " ProfiDrum is a company that is focused on the development and production of innovative products in the field of water purification. Our systems are designed for water companies, fish farms and pond hobbyists that have high requirements for water quality. The concept of our filters ensures superb quality and sublime disposal of solids and dirt particles by means of techniques that originate from water treatment. ProfiDrum systems are characterized by: - high flow rates in terms of throughput of water - an adjustable and fully automated rinsing -intensive and safe integration of electronics - quality materials from the process industry - a virtually maintenance free way of filtering your pond"
The RDF – rotary drum filter ordered from BridgeWay Koi.
” ProfiDrum is a company that is focused on the development and production of innovative products in the field of water purification. Our systems are designed for water companies, fish farms and pond hobbyists that have high requirements for water quality. The concept of our filters ensures superb quality and sublime disposal of solids and dirt particles by means of techniques that originate from water treatment.
ProfiDrum systems are characterized by:
– high flow rates in terms of throughput of water
– an adjustable and fully automated rinsing
-intensive and safe integration of electronics
– quality materials from the process industry
– a virtually maintenance free way of filtering your pond”
I am unable to park in my garage bay. We actually return a lot of stuff to the store at random intervals. I'm surprised Home Depot let's my husband in the door when he drags back his Santa pack full of PVC parts to return.
I am unable to park in my garage bay. We actually return a lot of stuff to the store at random intervals. I’m surprised Home Depot lets my husband in the door when he drags back his Santa pack full of PVC parts to return.

 

May 1, 2015 Pond work is still happening…

Working on a pond in Minnesota can be a little cold even if it is 50 or 60 degrees and sunny. Some chest high waders allows the pond digger to comfortably remain and work in the water.
Working on a pond in Minnesota can be a little cold even if it is 50 or 60 degrees and sunny. Some chest high waders allows the pond digger to comfortably remain and work in the water.
Finished putting in the returns in the pond and started filling the pond. The pond digger will be working on minimizing the wrinkles by folding and pulling as the pond fills.
Finished putting in the returns in the pond and started filling the pond. The pond digger will be working on minimizing the wrinkles by folding and pulling as the pond fills.
The lower pond is still waiting for some attention. We were thinking about dismantling and redoing the rocks for the waterfall but I'm ready to get this pond started. We need to put in some returns and the pond digger has not yet decided what type of filtration system he is going to use.
The lower pond is still waiting for some attention. We were thinking about dismantling and redoing the rocks for the waterfall but I’m ready to get this pond started. We need to put in some returns and the pond digger has not yet decided what type of filtration system he is going to use.
The wall between the filter area and the pond looked like it needed some reinforcement to keep from collapsing. The dirt in this area tends to be sandy. A combination of concrete blocks, concrete, dirt and insulation should ensure a sturdy wall. We will most like use concrete to permanently set in a lot of walking stones around the pond this year.
The wall between the filter area and the pond looked like it needed some reinforcement to keep from collapsing. The dirt in this area tends to be sandy. A combination of concrete blocks, concrete, dirt and insulation should ensure a sturdy wall. We will most like use concrete to permanently set in a lot of walking stones around the pond this year.
The landscaping in this area will have to wait until the filter box is done. However, my azaleas were in danger of being trampled and some of the little plants are under a lot of dirt. I'll be heading out to the nursery this weekend to look for some new plants. We still have to think of an attractive cover for the filter equipment area. A raised deck might be nice....
The landscaping in this area will have to wait until the filter box is done. However, my azaleas were in danger of being trampled and some of the little plants are under a lot of dirt. I’ll be heading out to the nursery this weekend to look for some new plants. We still have to think of an attractive cover for the filter equipment area. A raised deck might be nice….

 

May 3, 2015 a lot of progress made yesterday on the upper pond.

The liner folds were taped down and the pond digger started filling. We trimmed some of excess liner and cleaned up some of the landscaping. I purchased two more Walker Weeping Caraganas – miniature weeping willow type of tree, also known as peashrub). I would love to go get some more azaleas but we’ll have to see how the equipment area gets topped off first. The pond digger has said that the koi can be put into the pond later today. We’ll probably throw in ChaCha for the test run.

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May 12, 2015 – more work getting done…

Sometimes the pond work is two steps forward and then one step back. We’re getting closer to thinking about landscaping but those thoughts are still a few weeks away. The upper pond is now functional. We’re thinking about using some diffusers for the upper pond and the bog filter is going to be bypassed with a second moving bed filter (I think this is the plan currently…) As for the lower pond, the pond digger has been thinking about different plans. Today the plan is to continue to use the bog filter, some sort of settling tank, a bead filter, yadda yadda yadda. I’ve learned to never really count on what’s going in until stuff actually starts getting built.

The lower pond has two tangential pond returns, taped down folds and is ready to fill once the filtration system is hooked up.
The lower pond has two tangential pond returns, taped down folds and is ready to fill once the filtration system is hooked up.
Last year the water came crashing into the pond over the waterfall. This year we're going to try to create a calmer scenario with the use of diffusers. We also have an automatic koi feeder going but I think it's dropping out too much food.
Last year the water came crashing into the pond over the waterfall. This year we’re going to try to create a calmer scenario with the use of diffusers. We also have an automatic koi feeder going but I think it’s dropping out too much food.
The rotary drum filter and the moving bed occupy a pit that seems to be expanding. It also turns out that the RDF has to be lowered (and it's really heavy). Pond digger will be planning his day carefully when he rearranges the equipment pit. It seems to involve setting up an alternative filtration system, planning for the re-do and actually doing the work. Some day there will be a deck over the equipment pit...
The rotary drum filter and the moving bed occupy a pit that seems to be expanding. It also turns out that the RDF has to be lowered (and it’s really heavy). Pond digger will be planning his day carefully when he rearranges the equipment pit. It seems to involve setting up an alternative filtration system, planning for the re-do and actually doing the work. Some day there will be a deck over the equipment pit…
and of course we still have to tuck away the pond liner and arrange the river jacks around the pond
and of course we still have to tuck away the pond liner and arrange the river jacks around the pond

 

May 15 – May 17, 2015 Lowering the RDF