Forums36
Topics40,964
Posts558,005
Members18,506
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142
|
OP
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142 |
I have a beautiful 3/4 acre pond. i am now building a small 10ft deep, 25' diameter minnow growing pond next to it. I do not have a transit. The guy who did the big pond had one and its not available anymore. The pond is on a down slope so the back wall will be pretty steep. Anyone have any tricks to get this close to level? I really dont want to buy a transit. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
You could durn near use some mason's line and a clip-on bubble level for that short of a distance. If you set some stakes once you find the grade you should be able to get real close. Just remember to strrreeeeetch that line tight!
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142
|
OP
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142 |
that is perfect. i have a harbor freight 5min away from me so now I have a reason to go there!! Ok real stupid question, the one we used last time was the real deal with the pole and numbers and all, how did u use this laser? Did you make your own numbered pole stake? Or do something else?? Thanks
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
My pond was created out of a gully so I put the laser in the middle and put tall stakes in each end of the gully where it would have to be dammed, then marked the level on the stakes for each dam elevation. There was also a low spot in one side so I staked it and marked the elevation it needed to be increased to.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142
|
OP
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142 |
see my pond is on land with a pretty good downward slope so its a bit tricky. The way my bigger one is, when your standing one the top of the back wall its gotta be 25-30ft down. You could sled down it pretty fast in the winter! that being said, even the small pond is gonna have a big back wall so im trying to figure out the best way to try and keep it level as I dig. I got rid of all the topsoil, now im gonna rent a small excavator to dig it down 10ft.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
With a steep slope like you have I guess you would have to dig into the high side and keep checking with the laser. Hopefully one of the dirt experts will give you advice.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
Cheep:
Garden hose with barbed hose fittings on each end laying on the ground. Shove clear plastic hose on the barbed fittings, and tie it to a tall stake at each pond. Fill the hose with water, so you can see the water in the clear plastic tubes. That's your level. Water will find it's own level in the hose/tubes. 10' or couple hundred feet, it makes no difference. I think it's more accurate than the cheaper laser transits that you get at Harbor, especially for longer distances.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
esshup's water level is extremely accurate. Just make sure that all air is out of the hose.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
I can't picture what you're talking about.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 29 |
Picture a basic manifold. Garden hose is the body. Clear hoses are the branches and they stick straight up in the air (supported by your stakes).
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
Let me word it a different way:
Take 2 fence "T" posts. Drive them into the ground. Go to your local hardware store and buy clear plastic tubing. Attach one end of the tubing at the top of one stake, follow the stake down to the ground with the tubing, across the ground, and up to the top of the 2nd stake. Pour water into the tubing from one end until it fills the tubing on the ground and starts filling up the upright part of the tubing that is attached to the stakes. That level of water in the tube on each stake is exactly level.
Instead of buying a whole lotta tubing that you will only use once or twice, you can use a garden hose in place of the clear tubing for the hose that's laying on the ground. Just have the clear tubing going up the stakes so you can see the water level.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3 |
. . . and buy clear plastic tubing.
If you have any friends or relatives who have rented medical oxygen generating machines, they come with lots of clear tubing. For safety/health reasons it can't be reused, and must get thrown out. I threw out hundreds of feet of it when I cleaned out my FIL's garage, and again when I cleaned out my wife's aunt's utility closet.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142
|
OP
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 142 |
now I see the hose idea. So if im getting this correct, when you fill the water, if it is equal on both ends of the base and the back wall, then the pond is level. If one side has higher water then the other, then that side is low. Do I have it?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
While I agree a water hose level is very accurate, the low cost laser level I used was also accurate and a lot easier than dragging a hose around.
Either way both work.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
While I agree a water hose level is very accurate, the low cost laser level I used was also accurate and a lot easier than dragging a hose around.
Either way both work. AP I agree, it's just that I'm not confident in my ability to see if that tiny bubble level is really "level". I guess it all depends on how far the distance is.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|