Ponds (1000 - 15000 Gallon) & Dam (200000 Gallon) Blog

Hey guys,

A few people have asked me about my dam... Here's the blog for it

The first photo is the side of the dam I've been working on. Plants are going mad and "parrot-feather" weed causing rubbish. Where I'm standing is a huge pile of rocks that have been there forever, goes about 50metres into the water.

The second and third photo is of the smallest and newest pond connection (most work we've ever done on a pond) and has a man-made river-type connection to it.

Dam Stock (That I know of) :

- 6 x Freshwater, Smallmouth Bass
- 6 x Koi Fish (No idea What types)
- 50 - 60 Fantail Goldfish
- Millions of Western Mosquito Minnows
- Millions of Zebra Danios

 

Very nice!

 

Thanks Battling algae is the biggest thing right now, is that way every summer ... But still so much fun

 

Awesome pond!

What stock do you have in it Izao?

Ken

 

In the pond in photo #2 and #3 (the biggest) I have 5 koi (2 Kohako's and 3 Taisho's) Along with some more mosquito minnows (dont know how they got there).

I also believe that there are kerpers (A small version of colourful carp) but not sure as they are very shy.

There are also 3 other ponds beyond this one and a self-built dam too

It has been amazing to watch how the wildlife has grown by itself. The koi were placed by me, but the mosquito fish, snails, everything actually came by other means. We have millions of western mosquito fish (livebearers) that we assume arrived through our well water, but could also have come from birds or frogs, anything.

Since the layout of our dam and ponds, we have found the following (wildlife we have not placed there) :

4 Egyptian Geese
2 Blue-Eye White Ducks
515938 (;D) Bullfrogs
The same amount of 3 other species of frogs
13 Species of snake (4 Poisonous)
Mosquito Fish
4 Stray Cats
1 Blue Heron (google this one - - - Amazing!)
1 Protea Crane
Hundreds of species of plants, both aquatic and non, including bamboo (almost covering 50 square metre area)

...

It has been an amazing 4 years to watch it all unfold.

 

08/02/2012 - Still really struggling with algae. I measured the temp of the various ponds today. Shocklingly the temp in the mid sized one was highest, which was at 28 C which is about 82. This is the highest I have ever recorded. The dragonflies were out today, and oh yeah, my brother got a new camera so I will be taking some really amazing stills of the dam, ponds and tanks!...

Look forward to that!

 

Heres the algae I mentioned. Don't know what to do because everything is on such a large scale!

 

Can't wait for pics!

 

This weekend is play with the camera time! Mwahahaha!!!

Whoo, from thereon, it should be pretty amazing!

 

Good morning,

For my little 125g pond, I use barley straw to help prevent algae issues. It really does help with algae issues. Maybe you could find it in the quantity you would need for your larger ponds. (?)


I do not normally recommend chemicals for algae control, but here is some Concentrated liquid barley, it's organic, that might work. I've never used it personally:

If it wasn't organic, I wouldn't suggest it at all.

One more link:


Ken

 

I'm not a pond expert but maybe some large UV sterlizers could maybe help control the algae?

 

Cant wait for more pics!!!!!! Your own piece of paradise!!!!!!

 

Good morning,

For my little 125g pond, I use barley straw to help prevent algae issues. It really does help with algae issues. Maybe you could find it in the quantity you would need for your larger ponds.

I do not normally recommend chemicals for algae control, but here is some Concentrated liquid barley, it's organic, that might work. I've never used it personally

If it wasn't organic, I wouldn't suggest it at all.

I agree about not using anything inorganic. The only issue is that when considering the scale I am working on (largest pond being about 15 000 gallons) it's difficult to contol the small scale things. But I definetely like the idea. I will def try that!

I know one of the issues is 2 of the ponds are lined with black aqualining. This does play havoc with the sun and could possibly be the cause for the happy growing environment for the algae.

Thanks for the suggestion

I'm not a pond expert but maybe some large UV sterlizers could maybe help control the algae?

Unfortunately, I do not run any equipment on my ponds. It requires electrical outlets that I do not have (ponds and dam are about .5 mile from house). I also believe that UV sterilizers can be quite costly.

However, Thanks for your suggestion too!

Cant wait for more pics!!!!!! Your own piece of paradise!!!!!!

New Camera... Whoo!!! ;D;D;D

 

Update:

So barley is almost non-existent in South Africa. I can get barley extract, but that will again be something temporary...

Is there any possibility that I can get snails or fish (to perhaps help this problem) that will survive in these waters. That's if this algae is commonly eaten.
Parameters are listed below.

Temp: Lowest 15 C (60 F), highest 28 C (82 F) These are extreme though. Most times it is between 18 and 25 C (66 and 78 F)

No NH3
No NO2
NO3: 20 - 40 (sometimes gets to about 60 in the winter but only for a couple of weeks)

pH: 7.8
kH : 11
gH: 28

No copper

Any recommendations guys?

 

Opened.

Ken

 

We had snow in Johannesburg for once!... This was bad news for the ponds though, so there was me using all my extra aquarium heaters to help the fish out. Also carried 20 Gallons of hot water regularly for 3 days to the ponds to help keep them okay and to make sure they didnt freeze over. Only lost 1 fish, and he was REALLY old so all in all it went well.

All these are doing well, and i've convinced myself that I am making one of the ponds into a frontosa pond Hope to do that really soon!

 

This is an amazing thread to read. I love all your ponds and someday to have big enough ponds like yours.

I hope you all the best with battling the snow.

 

the only thing I can think of that will eat thous types of algae are mollys and spixI snails not sure if they would be okay with the temmp fluxes but if the ponds can sustain Zebra Danios I would think so

 

This is an amazing thread to read. I love all your ponds and someday to have big enough ponds like yours.

I hope you all the best with battling the snow.

Thanks so much! Really nice to have positive comments. Really inspires one to go further and try harder!

The snow is over finally so I can leave the entire system in peace

the only thing I can think of that will eat thous types of algae are mollys and spixI snails not sure if they would be okay with the temmp fluxes but if the ponds can sustain Zebra Danios I would think so

Believe me, Zebra Danios are more hardcore than most people would even come close to believing.

The water in the small pond (where most danios are housed) dropped to 2C which is about 36F. Not one died. They are THE hardiest of tropical fish. Unfortunately I know for a fact that neither mollies nor spixi's would survive in these waters. Perhaps some spixI would survive, afterall the danios did, but I cannot be certain, whereas the danios I can be.

Not a bad suggestion though. Where did you ever think of spixi's?! ;D