Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Structure

esshup you are probably right. I do have the tubes in the water now for testing but the more I think of it the more I think it is a dumb idea.

Not a bad idea IMO. Any increase even for a few days results in more forage.

The problem I see with the tube idea is there is so little undersurface for egg deposits. What I am considering now is taking some pole barn siding ( roughly 3 1/2'x 10')and double stacking it ( or multiple stacking like a deck of cards) with wood spacers on the ends and in the middle to separate the sheets enough for small fish to swim into but keep the larger fish out. This would create a large amount of hard surface in a small space for FHM egg deposits. I would set this next to my heavy cattail growth so as the fry were born they could go strait to the safety of the thick cattails concentrations. So what I need to do now is build a few small stacks to see how small the spacing between panels can be that the small minnows will accept. I would start with 3/4", 1", and 1 1/2" spacing’s and watch the minnows interact with these.

I'd probably start at the 1 1/2" mark (space between them) and go to 4" of space,

esshup I put this prototype model together yesterday and it's in the water so when this wind calms down I can get a good check on it. The spacing is 3/4", 1" & 1 1'2 ". If I don't get the results I am looking for I will go larger as you suggest.

When I had FHM in my tank the deposited their eggs on the side of the tank and never used anything I placed in the tank for them to use the underside of. I found it odd, but I guess they chose what felt the best to them.

Was pretty neet to watch the little FHM swim around.

That's interesting. I appreciate information like that.

Had an eventful year; but never had the chance to fix these. Still have the pipe and can get more. Also have a plentiful supply of cattle mineral tubs (hold about 200#s of mineral when full). Thinking ahead to when fix these, they could take a heap of concrete. Any suggestions for ways to decrease cost of that or just go ahead with idea it would last a very long time?

I'd a) cut the tubs in half height wise and make two tubs from one or b) fill the bottom half with dirt, and pour 4" or so of concrete on top of the dirt. Put one piece of pipe in the tub so it's end is barely below the concrete, and make sure that there is a hole in the bottom of the tub.

Once it's in the water, air that is trapped by the concrete will exit the pipe, and water will enter via the hole in the bottom.

Dirt, gravel, rocks, whatever you have that is cheap for fill, but isn't buoyant.