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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
        
(Message started by: Kris_in_SJ on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:12pm)

Title: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:12pm

OK, I admit it. I always have to have a project. My goal for the past four years is to build enough garden beds, paths, etc., so he'd have less grass to mow.

Last year my project was ponds. I built (dug) 2 of them (well, he did most of the digging, all the while telling me I was asking for trouble because I'd have to clean them, test water, pick out the dead fish, etc).

Today, I did my spring pond cleaning. Weather was great, all the ice and snow is gone, and it had to be done. Found 4 dead and definitely drowned mice, a petrified bird who had obviously tried to get a drink and slipped, a ton of bird seed that my feathered friends had flipped out of the feeder and into the water, and a whole ton of slime.

The ponds are clean now - ready for plants and new fish. When I came inside smelling like an uncleaned toilet, my darling hubby merely smiled. Never said "I told you so." (I know he was thinking it though!

Kris

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by cootie on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:15pm

Get sum perona's......they'll keep the pond kill under control......that's one job down Pam ;;D

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Langa on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:21pm

Found 4 dead and definitely drowned mice? Slime? :-[

Glad you got through that, cause I would've been retching the whole time... :P

Maybe post a pic when it's all filled with the fishies...?

Langa

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:27pm

I'll definitely post a pic when the time is right. Meantime, the windows are open and I'm listening the the gentle sound of running water from my little waterfall.

Worth it? Right now yes (I had a bath with lots of good smelling stuff). A couple more springtimes and more dead mice, and my answer might be different.

Kris

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Frank_W on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:31pm

We have a swimming pool that we allow to go stagnant over the winter after purging the pipes and stuff. I'm forever fishing dead mice, moles, and toads out of it, and it turns so green, it's nearly black. Mmmmm.... Fun with science in your very OWN GARDEN!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Langa on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:34pm

Can't you cover it for the winter Frank? I just can't see myself doing this..they'd probably find me floating in the stuff from passing out... :-[ What can I say, I'm a bonafied city girl wimp...

Kris, what fish do you put in the pond? Do you take them out when it starts to get cold?

Langa

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Frank_W on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:43pm

Well, a pool cover is definitely in the budget, but we didn't get around to doing it last year. This year, it's definitely getting done. In addition to dead critters, I also end up fishing about forty pounds of leaves out of the bottom, too. LOL

Kris, if your ponds are deep enough, koi will survive the winter just fine. (Just be sure to bust a couple of holes in the ice, if it freezes over, so they can get oxygen)

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:43pm

My ponds are pretty small but deep. I was truly going try to overwinter them by keeping the pumps running. But nooooo ... it got way too cold and there was no way to keep the water from freezing, so the goldfish died. I didn't have to scoop them out though - I guess they disintigrated (unlike the mice). I'm using regular cheep fish from Walmart. They were happy last summer though. Maybe this fall, I'll bring them inside in a bowl.

Maybe my next project should be a pond big enough for Koi!!

Kris

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Frank_W on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:45pm

Ah.... Okay. That answers that question. Not big enough for koi, and too cold to keep the pump running.

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Langa on Apr 10^th, 2005, 8:47pm

I'm all intrigued now...I need to see a pic when it's ready... ;;D

Langa

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by don on Apr 10^th, 2005, 9:41pm

Quote:

Last year my project was ponds. I built (dug) 2 of them (well, he did most of the digging, all the while telling me I was asking for trouble because I'd have to clean them, test water, pick out the dead fish, etc).

I did that. Complete with two waterfalls. Got a little carried away though. You could swim with the dolphins in this thing. Dug to deep to begin with. Put the fish in and never saw them again.

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by BikerBob on Apr 11^th, 2005, 1:21am

When I did ponds the raccoons were in them every night eating the fish.

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Pinkfloyd on Apr 11^th, 2005, 1:46am

http://images.snapfish.com/34363%3C7923232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D%3A24%3D556%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C8895773ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/34363%3C7923232%7Ffp45%3Dot%3E2329%3D%3A24%3D556%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C8895%3A6%3Aot1lsi

It's tough to see but there are three ponds behind all the growth. Tied together with waterfalls and streams.

If your pond is deeper than the frost line in your area (usually not more then 36"), it won't freeze solid.

You need to shut "off" your pumps and filters. Anything that will bring the warmer water from the bottom, up to the top of the pond. That will freeze it solid.

Once they go into hibernation (drops below 50 degrees and stays there) all you need to do is keep a hole open through the top with a small heater (about 50 bucks) to allow the gases to escape.
No need for filters since they stop eating, and decomposition of debris slows. (try to keep as many leaves out as possible..they will rot on the bottom and cause the fish to die off...a little won't hurt)
Just started feeding mine this week. I wish my kids only ate 7 months a year.

Bobw

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by sandie99 on Apr 11^th, 2005, 2:29am

We don't have a pond, but I wanted a swimming pool when I was a kid. :)

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Charlie on Apr 11^th, 2005, 9:22pm

Beautiful garden there. Lovely.

No pond, no pool here. Spent our summers fishing drinking, eating dead animals and sponging off the relatives who took over the family cottage on Chautauqua Lake, only a few miles away. Never was a swimmer anyway. Beautiful woods when I was a kid.

It's like pets with me. I enjoy other people's problems because I'm so friggin' lazy. Cheap too.

Charlie

Title: Re: So ... My husband said I'd be sorry!
Post by Renee on Apr 13^th, 2005, 4:23am

If my pond was that close to the house, the water mocassins would be sunning on the porch.. :o