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July 3rd, 2008
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Fish Bum
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I like the idea of searching the desert for free rock. But I do like slate, it would be smooth for the fish. The sandstone might make a nice sandy bottom over time. Maybe some red sand from Redrock. Ooo better not get caught. I'll start looking and work out my plan. Thanks Gremlin.  |
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July 3rd, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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Gremlin...you say you got a preformed pond...any info on where you got yours or suggestions if I was wanting one bigger...I'm thinking about a 6x6
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July 3rd, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JasperII
I like the idea of searching the desert for free rock. But I do like slate, it would be smooth for the fish. The sandstone might make a nice sandy bottom over time. Maybe some red sand from Redrock. Ooo better not get caught. I'll start looking and work out my plan. Thanks Gremlin. |
stay away from the sandstone. A couple of the goldfish in my pond came from a friend who got rid of his. He had some sandstone in his pond and the fish rubbed against it so much that they rubbed off their dorsal fins. When he brought me his fish, their backs were all red and infected from rubbing under the sandstone shelves. It took several months of quarantine in my old pond before they healed enough to go in my main pond. Then most of them went to my sister since her pond is larger than mine and she had more room. They still do not have any dorsal fins. Also, a lot of their scales are rubbed thin and they look kind of faded from rubbing on the sandstone. |
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July 3rd, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambitiousevil
Gremlin...you say you got a preformed pond...any info on where you got yours or suggestions if I was wanting one bigger...I'm thinking about a 6x6
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I got mine at The Ocean Floor about two owners ago. They don't carry them any more. You could do a google search for preformed ponds and probably find one. Home Depot sometimes has them. Lowe's probably would too. I bought my first one about 25 years ago. My second one I bought from a friend who was moving to Utah and didn't want to take it with her. Her fish went to my sister and she sold me her pond. It was only a couple of months old and she had mail ordered it, but I'm not sure where she ordered it from. Try to stay away from the old fiberglass ones. They are too rigid and break too easy if you drop a rock in your pond. That's what happened to my old one. It now has a hole about as big around as a pencil in one of the shelves. I was using it for a quarantine pond by only filling it half full (just to the level of the shelves), but it got a crack in the bottom so it is now going in the trash next time we have bulk trash pick up. Being the old fiberglass type, it can't patch. I've tried all types of glues but nothing will stick and hold against the water. If I wanted to use it as a pond again, I would have to get a flexible liner and line it. Not really worth it. My newer pond is heavy duty vinyl, not fiberglass, and I love it. |
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July 4th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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Wow! I didn't know sandstone could do that to a fish. Poor things. I'll not get sandstone. I like healthy fish and I don't want them hurt. Vinyl sounds good. That's so helpful. Sometimes you don't know what you're doing and without someone else's knowledge and help you can make big mistakes. Thank you.
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July 4th, 2008
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Moderator
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Be careful with slate, too. If you use it as the bottom of the pond, be very careful to file the edges smooth. Broken slate is really sharp stuff, and koi are technically bottom feeders (they're just smart enough to learn to eat at the surface if it's needed), and can tear their barbels, fins, and bellies up on the sharp edges.
It should be find as the edge of the pond, especially if the edge isn't in the water.
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July 4th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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I used a piece of brick (the gray cement kind) to knock off the sharp edges of rock anywhere. If it was sharp enough to hurt my hand, it got knocked with the brick. The rock under the water will grow a layer of moss that will also help to cushion. The algae eaters keep it pretty cleaned off, but enough will stay to help soften the edges. Moss will not grow on sandstone. The sandstone would be ok as edging around the top of the pond to hide the edge of the liner. The moss will not grow on it so it will stay nice. I prefer plants around the edge because it helps to shade the water at the edge, some of the plants grow over into the pond and provide hiding places for the baby mosquito fish, and I think it softens the edge of the pond a bit.
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July 5th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sirdarksol
Be careful with slate, too. If you use it as the bottom of the pond, be very careful to file the edges smooth. Broken slate is really sharp stuff, and koi are technically bottom feeders (they're just smart enough to learn to eat at the surface if it's needed), and can tear their barbels, fins, and bellies up on the sharp edges.
It should be find as the edge of the pond, especially if the edge isn't in the water.
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Ah yes. I always see the top of the slate being smooth, but forgot the sikes would be exposed. I will use it appropriately. Thank you.
Gremlin, what kind of rock, available in desert, would moss grow on best? |
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July 5th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Quote:
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Gremlin, what kind of rock, available in desert, would moss grow on best?
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Just about anything. It doesn't matter if it is rough or smooth either. I have some dark reddish brown slate type rock, some quartz, and some feldspar as well as some misc rock that I have no idea what it is. |
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July 7th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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Alright, cool!
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