Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Fathead condos/Floating islands

Thanks to John Monroe and everyone that shared their ideas for the inspiration to try and whip something up. I had plastic planters left from this years chestnut growing session. Took 2'x2' two inch thick foam insulation board, glued dark gray outdoor carpeting to the topside and glued twelve planters on the underwater side. Three done so far but I'm out of planters. Probably buy some square plastic pipe and cut to fit for the rest or just buy next years planters now if that's cheaper. Put five pounds of fatheads in each of the lower ponds today. Hopefully some will take to condo living.

Looks like it ought to work good. Might want to put some weight on the top if you have high winds like we do. Or stake it down or something. Might try to transform from a fish condo into a plane if the wind catches it just right.

Hollywood keep photo's coming. You never know what to expect from our islands. These two showed up yesterday and kept the turtles off of the island. Funny!

Yes, they will be anchored in place. There will be eight in all, 96 units for spawning. I left the carpet a little long around the edges to hang in the water to prevent wind lift and will pile some pond bottom on top. Should hold it down enough until it saturates a bit. These ponds are pretty protected from direct gusts, especially the little coves where these will be.
John, cool to see those geese on yours! I had a pair hanging out on my rainbow pond for about a week but they've been gone the past couple days. I wonder if the coyotes, fishers, raccoons, eagles or mink deterred them? Definitely looked to be setting up camp then just were gone.

Found some vinyl downspout. Cut 2" foam board into 2'x1' then a 2' piece of rectangular pipe up the middle and 5 four and a half inch pieces spread out each side of the two foot piece. I'm hoping they use the pipe and the spaces between. Nineteen little condos in a smaller foot print. Glue carpet on top, bore a hole through the carpet, foam, through the middle of the pipe. Zip tie through the hole around the outside edge of the board to hold in place. Thought better of just relying on glue. Don't want junk throughout the pond if (when) they come off.


Tied rope to a brick to anchor, put some mud on top that'll smooth out in the next rain. Threw them out far enough to prevent them from becoming heron feeders. Put in four today. Have enough material for at least six more. Hope the little suckers take a liking to them. They were schooled up under these shortly after I put them in.


A naked 2'x2' model...