Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water New guy here with some Questions( Pics, long)

Amazing pics of all the critters. Neat little trio of ponds.
Sorry to hear about the queen, I agree that the perps need to be dispatched-post haste. A pack like that can be very dangerous for a neighborhood and completely unpredictable.

Jeff-

Well I think for the time being till we can gather the money to do it correctly were going to have to go with the more simple option and just build an overflow. The siphon is gonna cost more than we have to spend right now.

Im going to have to go at it with a pick axe, shovel, and an old pair of jeans cause I dont have an excavator, but hey a little hard labor never hurt anyone.

Ill post more pics as I update. I will be out there for 4 hours or so in the morning starting around 6AM, so maybe I can get some good fog pics.

I decided to stop clearing around the pond today, when I ran into two nests of ground wasps. Soo. I did what any self respecting outdoorsman would do, I bought some chicken liver and went fishing. Caught 12 blue cats, threw the smallest two back. Could have caught more, but its a friends pond and they stock it, so I didnt want to overcatch my welcome.

Ill have a pic or two up in a little while of the catch.

10 fish, 47 lbs, nice day.

Pour some liquid detergent down the hole and you'll eliminate bee or wasp problems. Warning; wait until they settle down and are all underground.

Phat, really good-looking project. Keep us updated, and we'll be here forever. Great photos.

Thanks Dave didnt know that, a glass coke bottle full of gas turned upside down in the hole will do the same. Thanks rmedgar, Ill update as I can. Trying to find work so the ponds are taking a back seat for a few days.

Lots of things kill bees and wasps, but not as well (or often as safetly) as pesticides designed for that purpose. I recommend not approaching the nests of ground-nesting wasps during daylight. Go out at night with a flashlight. All the wasps will be home and you won't get stung!

Yellow jackets are one of the nastiest bugs out there... I don't know which I hate more, yellow jackets or mosquitoes!

only problem is first I have to clear the brush from around the hole,(no pun intended), then I can attact them with something to kill them. We set fire all around the hole last time, and the ones that flew out got burned to death.

I hate yellowjackets.

Here is a smallish update...a few more critters, and some pond pix.

I added these to the stock last week..None died, and one or two are eating the floating food. I know its them cause of some markings on thier heads.



our bird feeder became a squirill feeder...we dont mind


So far Ive cleared this around pond 2




The rest are pond 3, about a weeks worth of work, Im not in the shape I used to be, adn I keep having to deal with wasps.







Planning for the new drain, Im not using the fitting on the end of this pipe, I know its wrong.


So slowly we are making progress, I can only work for about 4 hours till the sun just gets too damn hot to keep going. More work tomorrow.

Those ponds are shaping up, Phatboy! You'll have paradise before you know it.

One thought: you might leave one bank or a portion of a bank on each pond grown-up somewhat to attract dragonflies and such. I'm not an expert on this, but there are a couple old phosphate pits I'm working with that have very overgrown banks, and it's like dragonfly Mardi Gras every time I go there - I've never seen as many of the critters anywhere. They lay their larvae in the water and said larvae are then eaten by the bluegill (I learned this from Bruce).

I dont plan on removing all the bank cover Walt, just most of it. Im leaving some of those "willow looking" trees. Im not really sure what they are, but they do attract mayflies as well as web worms, the branches dip down into the water, and the bream go crazy under them. Im hopeing that with the new drain in place, I will be able to move some lilly pads around into the 3rd pond, adn add some cover that way too.

I might sink some things in the 3rd pond Id have to have a tractor but I have lots of concrete on my property that could be busted up, and placed in the center of the 3rd pond.

One day, I want to add another Acre to pond 3, and create a waterfall from pond 2 to an area where another pond used to be.

That pond will have Koi in it as I am an avid aquarist also.

Sounds like a pretty splendid plan. Keep the pictures coming - it looks great!

If those aren't willows, what are they?

Im not sure what they are Dave, if they are willows they are not the weeping kind, we like them anyway, and the fish do too.

I have been very busy in the past two days, and I will have a nice update for you this evening, with a video or two.

Well here we go, I got a good bit more done this week.

Video of perch and turtles feeding.


Video of the cats and turtles feeding. It was late so this one is a bit dark.


Pix of the new drain




ElCheapo measuring stick


pond up 1/4 inch


pond up 1/2 inch


cleaned the bank all the way over to the drain pipe.


pic of the perch, and turtles

Those are some happy bluegill. And before long they'll be some big bluegill. Looks like a couple are already decent-sized.

I am enjoying this thread, Keep up the good work. The place is looking mighty fine!

Phatboy, the place is looking SUPER!!!!

I have to make one suggestion though. Remove ALL the trees and brush on or near the dams. They may look great but they WILL be a source of trouble sooner or later.

Phatboy, beautiful place and great work!

Got an interview today, wish me luck.

Go knockem dead

Well we had about an hour of hard rain last night, so the pond came up a few inches. I will get a few more pics today.

How did the interview go?

went well, going back today to talk to the General Manager. Lets hope.