32 replies to this topic

[ponder]

Hey Brian:

I appreciate the input.  I'll probably contact you through your web site to discuss where I'm going with this

HHH

[Casper]

Seems like you asked about this a year or so ago?

Plants, as many as possible.  Both above surface and below.

I turn my waterfall off in the winter to just 2 hours a day, just to stir the water a bit.  It will thermocline and the fish will seek the warmer deeper water.

My 8' deep water is crystal clear and we swim with the fishes.  Many species reproduce.  My gutters lead to the pool.  1" of rain gives 3" into the pond.

The best attitude is it is an ongoing experiment.

[ponder]

Seems like you asked about this a year or so ago?

Plants, as many as possible.  Both above surface and below.

I turn my waterfall off in the winter to just 2 hours a day, just to stir the water a bit.  It will thermocline and the fish will seek the warmer deeper water.

My 8' deep water is crystal clear and we swim with the fishes.  Many species reproduce.  My gutters lead to the pool.  1" of rain gives 3" into the pond.

The best attitude is it is an ongoing experiment.

Must have been someone else.......I just discovered the forum.  I appreciate the input.  Unfortunately, I disconnected the old swimming pool pump w/ timer.  It was noisy & flipping the water volume about every hour.  I replaced it w/ a smaller (& silent) pond pump that turns the water over about every two hours.  The bad thing is it's not self-priming, so it's a big deal to start it up again after it's been off.  I wish I had gotten a self-priming pump because that's the reason I went against the advise of the other ponders & left the pond so deep.....I thought the fish could go deep in the winter.   I may have to rethink it & get a self-priming pump that I can reattach to the old timer.  What kind of fish do you have in your ongoing experiment?

[gerald]

I have mudminnows in a 10-inch deep kiddie pool sitting on a concrete driveway (north of Raleigh NC, Lat = 36.0 deg N).  It will freeze about 3 or maybe 4" max; it has never frozen to the bottom in 15+ years (including last 2 weeks extreme cold).  38 F = 4 C = temp of maximum density of water, so this is usually the bottom temp of ponds or containers that are frozen at the surface. 

[ponder]

Mine never froze over, but I think the lowest water temp. I recorded was 38.7.  So, that kinda supports what you just said.

[Sean Phillips]

Sean ,
              Wouldn't an above ground pond freeze solid in your area ?  I love PA . Have friends there but the winters are not for me .

Possibly, but I doubt a 25'Dx4'H body of water would freeze completely, even in the harshest of weather. I'm not a fan of our winters either as while I'm a spin, fly, and micro fisherman, I'm not an ice fisherman and so it pains me to not catch anything for the 2-3 months of iced over waters.

[Casper]

Ponder ...

What are the dimensions of the pond and attach a photo so we can get a feel of it?

Stonerollers are an ideal species.  Mine spawn every year digging pits in the gravel.  I have a video camera trained on them that cables to my TV and living room.  Lots of fun to observe.  Stonies do not eat each other and are algae eaters so they will help keep the pond clean from scum, as will tadpoles which will magically appear.

I would look for a mixture of topminnows, shiners, suckers, darters.  Experiment but provide the proper habitat, plants, substrate, depth, driftwood, crevases.  The more plants the better always.

Too much work talking about a pump you have to prime each and everytime.

I had a Gar once but he was eating my pet fish.  I am generally predator free now prefering diversity.  I have a Green and a Warmouth which are apex predators.  Keeps everyone else on their toes, er fin tips.

Edited by Casper, 06 March 2015 - 06:35 PM.

[ponder]

The pond is more-or-less oval shaped, about 9' x 18'.  I'll try to send a picture:

 

Ah, yes, I think it worked.  The waterfall to the right came w/ the pool.  When we bought the old house, it had been vacant for a while, and the pool looked like a swamp w/ strange looking creatures swimming around in it.  I added the raised bog filter behind the old waterfall and the lower bog filter & new waterfall to the left.  In this picture I still had the old pool pump hooked up, and the water was gushing from the waterfalls.  With the new pond pump (almost silent....the old pool pump hummed) the flow is much tamer.

 

Making X rated stoneroller videos, huh?

 

I may have mentioned earlier that 55 deg. F seems to be the magic number.  On days when the water gets above 55 I'll see a few fish foraging around.  When it drops below they all disappear (into the rocks, plants, etc.?).  I'm looking forward to spring when I can get a good head count to see who survived the winter & who didn't.

[ponder]

Attached Images

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[ponder]

I think I FINALLY figured out how to send a photo.  Sorry about the messy reply.  Maybe I can blame it on the computer.  Yeah, that's what it was.

[Casper]

Nice photo!  You will have a LOT of fun with that pool.  Having an attached bog garden is a very effective fitration system.  Europeans are doing this a lot i understand, and mine has performed well.

 

When i bought our house the water was so green you could not see your fingernails and there were odd disturbing riffles as unknown creatures swam below.  I pumped it dry and found toys, guns and tadploes.  No bones.

 

A good energy efficient pump is needed.  My first pump used $45. worth of power per month.  After a few years It burned out and i replaced it with the same brand but a more efficient model that pumps about 90% of the water the old one did but only uses 1/3rd of the electricity!  I added a second pump that i turn on when i want to enhance the spawing activites.  It can make for quite a show.  Wide diameter tubing / piping with minimal bends is valued.  Small diameter and 90 degree bends will greatly restrict your flow.

 

We call it Fish Porn but it is much more than that.  Watching the nest construction, the battling between the dominant males, and all the other species that are attracted to the site makes for an explosion of life.  I really enjoy getting out in the Spring and watching River Chubs construct and dominate a mound.  Sometimes you can get in a premium area and find a couple dozen active mounds.

 

Yesterday was beautiful and the fish were active.  I switched the pump from 2 hours per day to 24/7 which i will continue unless we hit another long cold run.  My daughters threw a slice of bread into the pool and the fish gave it a whirl of nibbling.  Wedneseday i will pick up a bag of Purina Game Chow and load the auto feeder.

 

The cement pond is not unlike a typical farm pond to a degree.  I have a good bit more control on what occurs though.  A fence keeps the leaves from blowing in and the cows out.  My water is 100% clean as there are no mammal feces as you would have in a lake, pond or stream.  Fresh rain water is guttered straight in and we swim chemical free with the fishes.

 

Just remember it is an ongoing experiment.

Edited by Casper, 09 March 2015 - 11:28 AM.

[ponder]

I would say it's about 4' at the shallow end & about 8' at the deep.  I have my temperature probe at about 4' in the deep end.  The two water intakes for the filter system are near the bottom at the deep end.

[ponder]

Spring must finally be here in Central Texas.  The water temperature in the pond is finally getting up into the 60s, and the fish are coming out into the open.  I saw about 6-7 Central Stonerollers schooling around.  They need to get busy & roll some stones.  I want some little Stonerollers.  Also, the smaller fish (Mollies, White Clouds, Flag Fish?) are out swimming around.  The pond looked like a dead zone all winter, so it's good to see some activity again.