How to spend the day out side

[slandis3]

Well if anyone needs some concrete to fill a big hole I have plenty for free. Myself, Hunger, and my dad spent the day doing this,



so if you don't hear much from us the next few days we don't be shocked.  probably gonna be taking Advil like candy. 2 sledge hammers, 1 4"x4" and a spud par. all the tools we had. So much for doing that water change to day. Lol

[Blown76mav]

I'd throw that up on craigslist as live rock

[HUNGER]

that sucked doing

[buckeyereefer]

that's partly what i do for a living. just better tools for me !!
not bad for three guy's & what u had to work with ! ur HIRED!!
how much more u tearing out ? replacing it ??

[slandis3]

Thats all we are taking out. Want some of our yard back.  We took out the shed this spring now the concrete Going to go get a 50lb bag of grass seed and start spreading. LOL

Does anyone know of a local place to take this if no one wants it?

[buckeyereefer]

 gotcha !!!  get starter fertilizer with the seed.. it does make a big difference.
grass comes in much thicker alot faster. i will use it when i just tear top of
grass of with my bobcat tracks also. customers are amazed that a week later
they can't tell i was there. other than the hit to their bank account !!  

[slandis3]

gotcha !!!  get starter fertilizer with the seed.. it does make a big difference.
grass comes in much thicker alot faster. i will use it when i just tear top of
grass of with my bobcat tracks also. customers are amazed that a week later
they can't tell i was there. other than the hit to their bank account !!

I will look for that when I buy me seed. Now I just need to get rid of the concrete and clean up the mess. We are actually thinking of tearing out and leveling the whole back yard. I may go rent a bob cat to make it easier. Unless a bunch of you want to come over and help dig. 

[slandis3]

I have a great idea for a meeting next spring


Aprils meeting theme will be...

How to install a pond, bring your own shovel.   LOL

[HUNGER]

I have a great idea for a meeting next spring


Aprils meeting theme will be...

How to install a pond, bring your own shovel.   LOL

i quit  lol

[slandis3]

Well good news the concrete is gone and my new fence will be done today. Next project, DIY yard leveling. lol

[HUNGER]

did some one come pick it all up?

[slandis3]

Yea some guy is going to use it for back fill on a farm.

[buckeyereefer]

 how much do they get to rent a bobcat in ur area ? we might be able to
work a deal. 

[slandis3]

gonna look it up today. Ill let you know.

[HUNGER]

Yea some guy is going to use it for back fill on a farm.

thats good

[METZCOOL]

If you can find one to rent use one of these: http://www.abcgroff.com/ic/ati1.htm the first one in the link and don't waste your time and money on a bobcat.
Tru value in Minster Ohio rents them with a john deere tractor and we leveled, graded and seeded a huge area all in one day.

[slandis3]

Well here it is. A week and a days worth of work. Removed about 2 ton of concrete, and tore down old fence and installed a new one. Time for a break.
 
 

[HUNGER]

wow looks great

[slandis3]

Thanks gonna give it a few weeks to dry out then gonna have a staining party. Anyone want to come? Lol

[HUNGER]

u gonna get a sprayer

[TechGuy]

Thanks gonna give it a few weeks to dry out then gonna have a staining party. Anyone want to come? Lol

I can help depending on the day and time

[slandis3]

u gonna get a sprayer

dont be a      Gonna roll and brush it on. I can hear the neighbors now. Over spray on everything. lol

[HUNGER]

i know i was hope there kids were out side than i can spray them hehehehe

[slandis3]

Gonna rename this thread to better suit it. Spent the last few days digging our new pond. I need fill dirt to level the yard so what better way ( and cheaper    ) than to install a pond. Doing all the digging by hand. I am going to pick up some drainage tile tomorrow to help with the run off from the yard. Once that's installed I can start to level the ground around the pond. The pond we are going to put in will be 19'x10'x3'deep. Will have a waterfall installed on the back side. The pond probably won't be finished until spring but I needed to do something about the standing water behind my house when we got a heavy rain.
 
 
before

 
the first level of digging

 
the mound of dirt 

[UDJustin]

looks good im glad im not digging my back still hurts for doing my parents pond

[HUNGER]

wow that is a lot of dirt

[Sunny]

Man, that brings back memories.  Here's pics of one of our many upgrades.  I was on the deck with cocktails watching and taking pics ... lol 

[HUNGER]

thats def cool looken

[slandis3]

Well after work today I started digging the drains. Didn't get them finished so I am sure to have a huge mud pit out back after the rain tomorrow.
 

 

[HUNGER]

ur son wil love the mud pit hahahahahaha

[lazylivin]

How do those drains work. Looks like the connect to a vertical pipe next to your patio?

[slandis3]

How do those drains work. Looks like the connect to a vertical pipe next to your patio?

That is the down spout from the gutter. I am going to tie that into it as well then run the pipe around the house and put a pop up emitter in the side yard so the water will run down hill into the front yard and into the street.

[slandis3]

I forgot to post this yesterday. While I was at Menard's I walked through there pond stuff and found a 4300gph on sale for $96.99    I put the bottle of water next to it for comparison.
 
 

[lazylivin]

That is the down spout from the gutter. I am going to tie that into it as well then run the pipe around the house and put a pop up emitter in the side yard so the water will run down hill into the front yard and into the street.

Now that is smart.

[HUNGER]

thats a big pump

[harleyrider]

DP&L ought to love you!

[Sunny]

DP&L ought to love you!

I have a 4500 gph on mine, DP&L got $40 a month extra from me.   

[harleyrider]

thats about right, i used to run one in one of my ponds, good pump though!

[slandis3]

I am thinking about putting it on a timer to run during the day. I wanted a pump to run the waterfall and anything else we decide to hook up.

[cyberwollf]

I am thinking about putting it on a timer to run during the day. I wanted a pump to run the waterfall and anything else we decide to hook up.

Can always throttle it back to use less power if you don't need all the flow

[Sunny]

I am thinking about putting it on a timer to run during the day. I wanted a pump to run the waterfall and anything else we decide to hook up.

Are you keeping Koi in your pond ?

[slandis3]

I think we will at some time. If we do we will take the timer offline.

[Sunny]

Can always throttle it back to use less power if you don't need all the flow

I did that after the first electric bill.  But, in the winter it runs full open.   

[HUNGER]

we can just wire it befor the metter   

[Sunny]

we can just wire it befor the metter   

I'll give you my address and you can do that while I'm looking the other way .... lol   With all the pumps I have running between the pond and tanks .... I should get some kind of discount for all the money they get from me.   A coupon to Tim Hortons would make me happy   

[HUNGER]

if the price is right i could

[Sunny]

if the price is right i could

I didn't even know you could do that till I was watching Holmes on Homes and they were doing a marijuana grow-op house.  The things ya learn ....  lol

[cyberwollf]

I did that after the first electric bill.  But, in the winter it runs full open.   

Do you have to run alot of flow for koi in the winter? I thought my freind said he just throws a heater in to keep it from freezing, the fish dont consume alot of oxygen so they dont need much flow for gas exchange

[HUNGER]

I didn't even know you could do that till I was watching Holmes on Homes and they were doing a marijuana grow-op house.  The things ya learn ....  lol

love that show thats were i got it from

[Sunny]

Do you have to run alot of flow for koi in the winter? I thought my freind said he just throws a heater in to keep it from freezing, the fish dont consume alot of oxygen so they dont need much flow for gas exchange

Oh, I thought you meant you were putting it on a timer to run during the day all year long.  No, in the winter they need very little if any flow.  They will go to the bottom and stay where the water is warmest.   Just keep a hole open for the gas exchange.  We made a floating heater out of an upside down tote on those noodles kids play with at the pool and a light bulb. 

[HUNGER]

thats a cool idea

[Viggen]

Didn't realize this was a pond thread..... very cool!  I am also building one.... but I haven't touched it in months, just a big hole with a rubber lining in it

Are you doing bottom drains or anything like that?

What filters do you plan on using? 

I want koi so I went the bottom drain route with vortex filter & bead filter-s.... yea DPL is going to love me.  Time to add some solar panels 

[slandis3]

I am going to run a water fall filter, probably do a bio ball filter of sort as well. I don't think I will do a bottom drain just because I don't want to cut the bottom of the liner. I may set up some bog plants around the water fall area as well as some lily's placed along pond.

[Viggen]

yea... cutting a hole in the bottom is something I worried about.  It really depends on what you want with your pond.  If you want koi then do a bottom drain

If you want to stick with goldfish & plants everyone in the koi club states a bottom drain isn't a necessity for this type of setup but does make like a lot easier in the maintenance area. 

Do you plan on doing a skimmer box?  I would at least add one of those

[slandis3]

yea... cutting a hole in the bottom is something I worried about.  It really depends on what you want with your pond.  If you want koi then do a bottom drain

If you want to stick with goldfish & plants everyone in the koi club states a bottom drain isn't a necessity for this type of setup but does make like a lot easier in the maintenance area. 

Do you plan on doing a skimmer box?  I would at least add one of those

Yea I will have a skimmer box for sure. I may research the bottom drain a little more. I am going to start out with cheap gold fish just to start then go from there. I am also going to be putting a net over it to keep the local life out of it lol

[Sunny]

I have a Bio filter and a small Bog filter which will I will be making bigger next Spring.  I don't have a bottom drain. I just empty it every Spring and spray it with the hose. It's a weekend project when we get a hot Spring day.   I didn't need a skimmer, we don't have any trees, any thing that does get in there, I have a skimmer net to scoop it out with.  I only have 4 koi, the rest are comets and shubunkins. 

[buckeyereefer]

i have a bottom drain in my above ground swimmin pool. i know it's
not a pond. but it's been there for 8 years now an has never been
an issue. couple holes in liner thru the years but nowere close to
the drain. 

[Viggen]

they aren't horrible to put in.  Just dig the hole deaper & put concrete around it.... some silicone.... screw it together & that's it.  I did have a guy help me from the local koi club with the instalation of the bottom drains.  I purchased my liner from him so he helped me throw that down as well.

I used two of the koi toilet bottom drains for my pond.  Doing this you can also add a air bibbler..... which is a cheap way to get the water to turn over.

Any idea the gallons of your pond?   

[slandis3]

It should be around 3500g.

[HUNGER]

good size for some bass

[slandis3]

Well after looking into all of the pond info on the net and looking at the location we picked out. The ponds needs to be move to a different part of the yard.  So now back filling the old pond spot which works out because we now can fix some of the drainage issues we were having. May have to have a cookout/ dig a big hole day at my house before it gets to cold.  We need to level the yard where the pond will sit before we move on to fixing the rest of the yard. I got a 150g Rubbermaid tube from Lazylivin this weekend (thanks Brian) to use as part of the filter we are going to set up.


Anyone local have access to a concrete saw? I have to make 2 cuts one is about 6' long the other is about 10'. I hate to rent a saw to do that little bit of work.

[cyberwollf]

Ohh man that sucks!! looks like you only got 42 days to finish the pond ^^^

[slandis3]

Yea it won't be finished this year but I want to get the ground leveled this year so I can get new sod down as soon as the weather breaks this spring.

[HUNGER]

o wow but if u add on the house at least u wount have to move the pond now

[Sunny]

What was the issue with where you originally picked for it to be ? 

[slandis3]

I don't have enough room to build up the water fall and install the filter. I would have to do a remote filtration and I dont want to get into that. Moving it to the back of the yard will make it easier to level the yard as well. And instead of the diamond shape now it will be a rectangle so I will have more water volume. This will also place it right next to the area where we will be sitting at.

[Sunny]

Oh, I see.  Yes, you want it where you spend the most time.  You will enjoy it more.  Ours is near the deck, between the house and garage.  Where we spend most of our time.  The fish are so use to seeing us going and coming, they stay out all the time.  They don't even hide when the dog drinks their water. 

[HUNGER]

thast good cuz mikes dog will try to catch them 

[Viggen]

wish my dogs just drank the water.....

[Sunny]

wish my dogs just drank the water.....

Our Rott fell in it twice when he was a puppy.  He's never tried to do anything to the fish.  He'll drink right where they are swimming.  Whether it's a dog or human, they'll come to the top thinking they will be getting some food.

[Viggen]

mine goes in at least once a day in the summer..... he just jumps in to cool off.  The fish then follow him around due to stirring up the bottom.... the 1 pond was made 20 yrs ago I think & has probably never been cleaned out.... lots of stuff....

He likes chasing the frogs & unfortunantly gets them every once in a while....... He's a brittney spaniel

The 2 Border collies go in a little but not nearly as much as my dog.  They also want to heard the frogs or the mallard ducks, they just run laps around the pond, very funny to watch

[Sunny]

If my sides were sloped, he would probably go in, he likes water.  But, they are straight down.  He never messed with the frogs though.  Must not be a frog dog ... lol

[slandis3]

Well next weekend I am getting a jack hammer at taking out the last of the concrete next to the garage then I need to get a skid steer and try and level the yard. I have never ran one before so this should be fun.  26'x68' is just to big of an area to try and level by hand especially by myself. 

[Sunny]

Sounds like a whole weekend job.  Hope the nice weather holds out for you.  Never heard of a skid steer.  That would of been nice to have.  Our yard is so unlevel. 

[slandis3]

skid steer or bob cat as most people know them as. Bob cat is just a name brand. I may just wait until the 23rd and get a bob cat with a jack hammer attachment to do it all at once. I dont think I will have the $440 = $200 deposit by next weekend 

[HUNGER]

i would wait when i get back in town  i can drive them and get jeffs f350 to pull it

[slandis3]

i would wait when i get back in town  i can drive them and get jeffs f350 to pull it

I am going to have it delivered because I cant be here to take it back monday morning. But yea I am going to reserve it for the following weekend.

[HUNGER]

ok cool

[slandis3]

Well I realized the meeting is the 23 so I won't be getting the jack hammer and bob cat that weekend so I can still go to the meeting. I did however decided to try and break up the concrete by hand to save money and time when I do get the machine. So I started Sunday...
 
here is what we stared with,

This is where ended up monday night

and here is where I left off tonight. If its not raining tomorrow I will have it finished tomorrow night.

 

[HUNGER]

looks so differnt

[cyberwollf]

where do you dump the concrete once you break it up?  Thats alot of crap to get rid of

[lazylivin]

Oh wow you made quick work of that.

[Sunny]

You are really moving fast. 

[slandis3]

I put the concrete on Craigs list and some guy wants it for fill. I got a hold of him and he wants this as well so its free to get rid of.

[HUNGER]

that cheaper that taken piece by piece down the road and trowing it 

[slandis3]

Well concrete is up. Now I need to wait until the guy comes for the concrete and the yard is leveled and we are done for this year(I think). i am going to buy all the pond supplys during income tax time so I will have all the stuff I need when it gets time to dig.
 

[Sunny]

That is a lot of concrete !!  Nice work out tho ..   I had a mishap in my pond over the weekend.  The pump went bad and leaked oil. What a mess.  If you are doing an internal pump, go for a mag drive.  Either way, I think they are more energy efficient  than the direct drive. 

[cyberwollf]

Man you are get this done quick

[slandis3]

here is the pump I will be using
 
http://anjonmfg.com/anjonbigfrogbf5500pump5500gph.aspx

[slandis3]

Man you are get this done quick

I have 31 day until my new baby is here so I am trying to get as much yard stuff done before I need to finish the baby's room. That will take about 3 - 4 days to finish then I have about 5 months to recoup and re-adjust to the new baby then put up the new deck and install the pond. I am hoping to be done by April so I can host a meting then.

[HUNGER]

man that does look good

[Sunny]

here is the pump I will be using
 
http://anjonmfg.com/anjonbigfrogbf5500pump5500gph.aspx

That sounds like a very efficient pump. I looked around, found this website had that one for $459.99. http://outdoorelementspa.com/bigfrog_pond_pumps.html
 I like the warranty, most are only good for 1 year.