Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Size of PVC

Hey guys I'm new to the sight but already have learned so much. I'm sure this has been covered but I will ask anyway. I have found several 100 ft. of 1/2" and 1" pvc that is free for the taken. My question is is the 1/2" and 1" big enough and also how tall should they be, and how far apart. Is there a specific design that is best or should I be creative. Thanks in Advance.

No expert here, but if it's FREE...take it, and take it all. If I had that much right now, I'd be spending time "planting" various lengths in the bottom of my not-yet-near-full pond. I'd vary it from, say 3 feet to whatever gets me within 18-24 inches of the surface. Starting in shallow (3 feet?) of water, and trailing off into deeper water.

Here, in Iowa, I might just concentrate it in the deepest portion and mark it well...couldn't beat it for ice-fishing structure. Not all straight up and down...vary the angles a bit.

Wanna make sure if any sticks above water, poke a few drain holes in it below (way below) water line, so that it can't fill up and freeze/burst.

Make sure if it's near where anybody could dive into it, that the ends are blunt, or mark it "no swimming..."

JMHO...wish I had that problem...

Welcome T.Woods!

Where are you from?

Steve B.

I heard he's got a modest little place in Jupiter Beach FL

I second Matt's enthusiasm. I drive past a well-drilling business on my way to work every morning and have been known to stop and throw their castoff black plastic well pipe in the back of the truck for miscellaneous future use. I keep hoping they will throw away a bunch of short length (4' - 6') small diameter pvc again, like they did one morning when I didn't have time to scrounge.

T.W.
No doubt you figgered out that you stumbled onto a small pot o gold. Glom it up, m'man.
I share in your curiosity for PVC design. I think somewhere in the last couple of months there was a post (or perhaps an entire thread?) that discussed creating PVC trees...? The only thing I came up with is a very insightful thread with great words of structure wisdom: Structure thread, 2002 You'll find some PVC stuff therein.

If you haven't subscribed to Pond Boss magazine, do so. There's an advertisement in there for a pvc fish habitat. I figure they can make it and sell it cheaper than I can buy the stuff. But, if the parts are free?

Take six foot sections of the one inch, drill a hole the same outside diameter of the half inch. Drill your first hole six inches from the end of the pipe. Drop six inches, spin a quarter turn and drill another hole, then do it again, all the way to the other end. Take six foot lengths of the half inch and shove them halfway through each hole. That gives you one 'unit.' Couple three to five units together and put them in water no deeper than ten feet. They work pretty well.

Thanx, Bob.
Can you add a couple of brush strokes to the picture by further describing the method of anchoring the "units" to the bottom? Upright in 5 gal buckets/concrete? Laying down, willy-nilly?

Thanks guys. I live in North East Florida. I can also get all of the pallets I need, I've already read some of the threads on pallets so I'm pumped about that. I also got 8 xmas trees so I will have a pretty good start. My pond is about 3 acres and its not full yet. They keep it pumped down so they can keep digging. It is spring fed and we have counted about 15 good sized springs. They are almost finished and are starting to slope the sides so I'm going to follow them and put out my structure. Any disadvantages on putting dead oak trees in. They have been dead for about 6 months and are small enough to deal with. Thanks Again

Fresh oaks, depending upon your water quality, can be deadly. Dried ones should be OK. Test by cutting a piece and dumping it in a bucket of natural water. If it discolors the water, burn them. If it doesn't, thsy should be OK.

Just a quick comment on the X-mas trees. I also get excited when I have 5-10 X-mas trees to put in. After I put them in, I realize I should really be putting 50 in.

My Pond is about 17 ' at its deepest point. Would it hurt to put some xmas trees out deep? Thinking it might give the bass some structure out deep when it gets hot.

Lake will be stratified so do not put many below about 10 feet b/c used very little. The water is cold but there is no oxygen ther. Concentrate more on shallower areas and dropoffs.

Dave I sell the No-hang you are talking about. I will bring some to meeting so folks can see them in person. Pretty cool design. I can get you a shpere that you can even fly home with if you want.

T. Woods, That would be a good idea. Tie 2 trees trunk to top, make they stay upright with a 1 gal. plastic milk jug tied to the free end top. Anchor bottom with a concrete block. Good cover.
If you aerate, the deep water will give more useful pond area.

T.Woods :

I put xmas trees in deep water tied to poles in pond bottom in standing position(top up or down). I use water depths from 17-4 ft. The fish will only go as deep as the theromocline in summer (not enough oxygen below) but from Oct. to May mine use all depths. I also use pallets attached to poles and in other ways and oaks. On oaks I think that the effect on water depends on type of oak (concentration of tannin in sap)and water quality (more alkalinity = less problem) as oak tannin when mixed with acidic water forms tannic acid.

Thanks Greg but right now I don't have 10 ft. of water. Hell, I couldn't even cover them with water.

The reality is that the NWS is not expecting normal rainfall around here until September. Long before than I'll be dry. What a great opportunity for building channels and humps.