Philly's Pond

[Terri]

I'm posting Phil's pictures on his behalf,... he'll have to fill in the details.

#1 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20005_jp g.jpg

#2 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20020_jp g.jpg

#3 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20044_jp g.jpg

#4 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20037_jp g.jpg

#5 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20001_jp g.jpg

#6 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20031_jp g.jpg

#7 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20007_jp g.jpg

#8 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20032_jp g.jpg

con't.....

[Terri]

#9 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20019_jp g.jpg

#10 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20018_jp g.jpg

#11 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20009_jp g.jpg

#12 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20012_jp g.jpg

#13 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20011_jp g.jpg

#14 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20013_jp g.jpg

#15 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20014_jp g.jpg

#16 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20045_jp g.jpg

con't.....

[Terri]

#17 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20030_jp g.jpg

#18 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20034_jp g.jpg

#19 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20035_jp g.jpg

#20 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20039_jp g.jpg

Some of Phil's Koi....
#21 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20028_jp g.jpg

#22 http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/pixgallery/9/images/Phil%27s%20Pond%20Photos%20%7B%208%20%7D_%20016_jp g.jpg

There you go Phil :) ... explain away!

[philly]

Hi All,

I'm new to this Forum.



Thanks Terri,

>> Since I'm one of the old school guy's and not too good with computers,
Terri offered to help me post my pond pictures.

>> First of all this pond was made over 8 years ago, yeah I know can't seem
to get going but this year I had to do something, the MRS.
insisted. :phfft:. I started this back in the end of June.

>> Dug the trench to install drain pipe, electrical conduit and water pipes,
had to dig a really big hole to tap into the eavesthroft down pipe for the
waste water from back flushing the filters, also a trench from the pond
for the bottom drain pipe to enter from under the pump shed. After
installing 2" waste water pipe, electrical wiring { 4 separate wires } and
plastic pipes, easier to work with for future plans to fill the pond.
I started to build the pump shed as the ones from RONA were either
too big or too small, I needed one sorter in-between so it does not block
the view from the patio doors, if you are not a carpenter like me you will
be doing things quite a few times, finally got it built and shingled left the
doors for last for more room. Next ran most of the piping where I thought
it should go, put 2 of the filters to the left of the shed first, then the UV
lights above the back panel board of course the pipes are not where you
want it so have to do some mod good thing I left one filter running just in
case this happens, took a few days but got most of the plumbing hooked
up to filters and return pipes just the filter to the right to be added on to
the system. Did a test run darn forgot to glue one of the returns, it's OK
now will leave it running so I can install the one on the right side now,
got all 3 working now will have to use extension cords until wiring is done.
I wired everything in, light, plugs. Separate breakers for # 1 Pump,
# 2 Pump, UV Plugs and Electrical for outdoors Plugs. Plugged all
equipment in then realized that I needed switches to shut off the power
to the plugs as each time I wanted to back flush the filter I had to hold
the plug wire and pull on it, this could damage the wire plug for the
pumps,also decided to put switches for the UV lights so they can be
turned off when needed. The reason the shed is to the right of the patio
doors is because a few years ago the neighbor hired a contractor to take
care of their lawn, sprayed and the kois started dying, took a few for Jim
at Vandermeres to check and found no bugs eventually the dying slowed
and stopped, so now the shed is on their side and the liner goes from the
shed to the end of the fence at the back, the height of the liner is
approximately 4 feet high and screwed on at the bottom to prevent
things from blowing into my pond. I used the fence to install the return
pipes with insulation behind the pipes with intention to form a box in
order to keep some of the cold out. Now that this is done the waterfall
is next, I had built a three sided wall some years ago but did not have
the heart to tear it down so used it as the back for the waterfall, laid
down a flat base slab rock 4"-5" thick and built it up from there, had to
do it 3 times to get the right look, stepped the wall down on the left side
and will continue around about 6" off the ground around the pond, will
use the back wall behind the fall That's built up about 2' above the
ground and will be insulated to plant a Japanese cut leaf waterfall
maple everyone should have one. We started to putting the flagstone
down boy is it heavy brining all that stuff from the front yard as the
delivery people will not drive up anywhere near your yard, after carrying
in 6 yards of screening, 5 tons of flagstone, {1} 8 to 9 hundred lbs rock
for the waterfall base, 2 tons of 8" x 8" cascading rock, 1 ton 5"
cascading rock, 3 tons of 3/4 inch river rock, after laying it all down.
I planted some trees and grasses could not wait till spring as you can
see not too bad for a summers work and that's between a cruise to the
southern Caribbean and 5 weddings of course I worked my butt off as a
contractor would have taken the skin off my back for payment. It's
getting quite cool now so it's time to work on things not done inside the
house the MRS. said. Will have to wait till spring to finish off the rest
and tweak a few things to work better. See who said you can't do 8
years work in one summer, well almost. Now I have all winter to save for
some nice fishies!!!!!! :lol:

Philip.

[Jackie Ramo]

You sure have done a load of work this summer. Looking good and I am sure the fish appreciate it. Nice shed. Is the rubber liner along the fence of the spraying neighbour??

[philly]

Yes, but never complained about what damaged was caused, trying not to be a pest as I have 5 houses that we share the fences. All seems well last few years so next year the mutts will start coming out and better ones will replace them, the only ones staying is the ones from Terri, the pond two grandfathers from the 1st year, a couple of my babies that was born in the pond and of course my pretty butterflys you can never have enough of them :yup: .

[philly]

Yeah!!!! forgot to to say all these years the pond was in the MRS. never ever came outside except this summer around 5 times, I guess she was checking on me and cracking the whip. Don't stop what's holding you back you seem to not have done a lot since the last time I looked, boy what a slave driver if I got paid by the hour I'd be richhhhh from all the hours I'have put in.

[Terri]

Phil, I think it's coming along very nicely ... and you should be quite proud of yourself for all your hard work :grin:

It will be interesting to know at the end of this winter how well leaving the bottom drain circuit goes for your pond & fish.... ? ? ? Don't forget to let us know ;)

[philly]

Will do that Terri.
I was outside this morning boy it's cold, saw some ice forming at the sides of the waterfall none in the pond as yet, forgot to tell Jackie the water flowing down from the waterfall goes on to the bubble rap I installed at the bottom and the return pipe water shoots across the top of the bubble rap, the kois were moving around a little, seems the larger ones are at the deepest end and the baby ones about 2'-3' at the middle of the pond schooled together.

[Terri]

You should take a few pictures of what you're describing ;) (I'll post them for you)

Our Ponds are all shut down for winter, all of them are covered with ice. Our Reba, the twit, walked across the plant pond and her foot went through the ice (in the middle)... hopefully she will stay off now (but I doubt it :rolleyes: )

[philly]

OK, I will put one together and take a few pictures then a photo of the one inside the pond. Then send it over to you.

[Jackie Ramo]

Great pictures explain things best.

[philly]

Jackie you are quite welcome anytime to come over and have a look, that is sometime a lot better than looking at photos, because seeing how things are set up with an explanation is a lot easier on site than trying to figure out in your mind what's the system is doing.

[Peg]

Hi philly,
Welcome to the board. Looks like you have quite the set-up going on. I would get confused with all those ball valves as to which one does what :doh: . I am so jealous of Jackie nd Terri they get all the neighbors with Koi ponds and I can’t find any in my neck of the woods. How sad is that ?? Glad I got all of you.

[carcha koi]

Peg
I started with one pond. I was the only one in the area. Now there are atleast 5 neigbours with ponds that I can see from my yard. Once people see the ponds and feel that natural, relaxed feeling that only a water feature brings, they get one. ( or 2 or 3) :lol:

Phil
The pond looks great. How deep is it?
Lots of filtration. Glad you joined us.

[philly]

Hi Peg / Chris Thanks for the welcome,

Peg the bank of valves only 2 are used at the moment 1 for the waterfall 1 for the return under the waterfall in the spring hope to install 2 more return in the pond with jets for cicurlation and the 1 for spare until the bog get's done later on. the 2 gate valves on the right before the bank of valves are for the sand filter return on the top, the bottom one is from the bead filter on the right side of the shed, on the left side below the banks valves is a 2" ball valve for the bead filter on the left side, there are 3 gate valves for the blower motor so I can free up the sand & beads for back flushing. There are 3 more ball valves 2 for the UV lights going in and out and 1 to bypass the UV when turned off. Chris the pond is 5' on the waterfall side the opposite end is 6' 5" where the bottom drain is.

[marla]

You've done a good job, I can see myself sitting out on that patio area relaxing in the summer. I like the idea of the liner to block any excess spray. On that same side you have grasses there, is that a bog area, or am I just imagining it looks like that. Looks like you deserve a rest this winter, maybe next year you will have a few less weddings to contend with and be able to finish everything else you want to accomplish.

[philly]

Marla,

No such luck, already have 3 weddings to go to, the MRS. also want to go to Vegas for the Christmas holidays and a Cruise the third week in February already booked. And it is a bog have to redo it next year, will be asking you girls for some expert advise as I can see from the photos posted all of you have done an amazing job on the ones you have. For mine it's a little harder as it is all flagstone around the pond did not want any grass to cut, so do not have a lot of soil to work with, might have to build a few planters to soften up the look, of course some of us guys aren't very good in that department and I'm also color blind well a little bit..

[Jackie Ramo]

Philly I look forward to coming and seeing your pond as soon as it warms up again. I will probably have plants to share at that time.

[philly]

Thanks for the plants offer Jackie, you're welcome anytime to visit my pond. If you are not busy in the next week or so I'm going up to Terri's place for a visit let me know and we can make some arrangements if you want to go, did a water change yesterday boy was it cold thank goodness there's no ice on top of the pond yet, noticed after the water change that my pump was a little bit noisy hope it holds out till spring time would hate to mess with it in this cold weather, keeping my fingers crossed.

[Jackie Ramo]

Thanks for the offer Phil, let me know when you are going and I will check my schedule. Things are a bit crazy around here right now.

[Marg]

Hi Phil,
I am a newbie as in just put in the pond. You are new to the site but sure have put a lot into your pond and all. I have no where near the mechanics and drains etc.
I can't imagine figuring out all the plumbing and wiring you have installed.Hope simple works out for me.
Nice pond. I am sure you enjoy the falls.
Marg

[Jackie Ramo]

Marg, don't worry I am a luddite when it comes to pumps and drains and things like that. Some ponds are very high tech and some are simple and there is everything inbetween. Depends on what the final goal of the pond is.

Show us some pics.

[philly]

Marg, Thanks very much for the complement. :yup:

Marg / Jackie,

Electrical and plumbing is very easy you just need a little Patience and be very careful, never ever rush things if in doubt double check again and again. I am in no way a professional but can sure hold my own end down, couldn't afford to pay someone to do the work for me so if things don't look 100% i have tried my very best after all it's free did not cost anything but time. If you ever need a hand will be glad to offer my help if you trust me to do it :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Becareful what you offer... Ian and Terri have given up on me I assure you. We are not handy folk for sure.

[Marg]

"If you ever need a hand will be glad to offer my help if you trust me to do it "
Thanks Phil. I will keep that in mind.
......Now as for helping with plantings outside your pond...I can always spend someone else's $ quite happily! :lol:
Inside the pond? I am on a trial basis this winter. This is new to me.
:greatday:

[philly]

My dad will be 91 years young and mom is 80 years young, I take them both shopping at least once a week or two weeks if I'm working that should qualify me for being patient don't you think. I am not the fastest guy but picky i sure am, you can ask anyone that works with me cause i drive them crazy, when i was installing the pipe work for the pond my brother-in-law wanted to smack me as there were no blue print or drawings just what's was in my head, I told him on several occasions this is what will be done the next day it was entirely different so he gave up on what was planned as there is always some modification to whatever was mentioned. I am the kind of person while working if it makes sense and will work better i will change on the fly of course if I'm helping someone i will discuss it with them first as it's not mine and some people like things done according to what they like.

[philly]

Spending someone Else's money is always easy if you are not the one paying. I'm good at that too, you can ask my other brother-in-law.

[Jackie Ramo]

I can spend money, mine someone else's spend until the moths are homeless.

[marla]

I can spend money, mine someone else's spend until the moths are homeless.
:HAHA: I never heard that one, me I'm cheap, your moths wouldn't get a home from me.

[philly]

Cheap who said we are cheap! In this hobby we spend enough, I should know, there is not a week that goes by that you don't get something for the pond and what follows that is work, from what i understand this was suppose to be relaxing but I seems to be more tired at the end of the day, maybe i can judge better next summer if i get a chance to take it easy, MAYBE!!!!!.

[marla]

may be a lot of work, but in a way it relaxes me so I don't mind it. When it becomes a Chore then I will fill it in. I try not to spend on the ponds, but then there is always that lily I want or some plant, or decoration...but I do it on the cheap, trades mostly.

[philly]

You are quite right, i over did it this year worked all night come home worked again get 1 to 3 hours sleep and back to work that what you get for procrastinating all those years then trying to make up all the time in 1 year, shame on me for thinking that but fill up the pond NO way!!!! even if i was on my hands and knees i won't let that happen.

[Jackie Ramo]

Must admit there have been days when the pond came close to being filled in but truly the garden would be less without it. Of course now we have 3 ponds.... what was I thinking????? :banghead:

[philly]

When we are exhausted and very tired we all think of silly things but come back to our senses, after all just looking at the kois swimming around nibbling here and there up and down can make you forget all your troubles, especially when I'm looking at my butterfly's how the fins flows behind them it's like the Chinese ribbon dance when they make a turn the ribbon just flows behind them in a circle.
:yup:

[Marg]

Beautiful thought, Phil. Very poetic. I like that picture. :yup:

[philly]

Yes Marg, we now have all the time to sit back and think but when spring comes we will all be scurrying around to get things done from last years projects or new ones we dreamed up in the winter months from browsing the threads in the forum. I have a few in mind but will leave them on the back burner for now till I finish what was started this year. :lol:

[marla]

Ahhhhh the things I can come up with over the winter. It's hardly begun and I'm brainstorming on reworking a few gardens and adding a few. Then there is the redo of the little pond to plan and oh yes DH said we should dig a lotus pond cause he is sick of hauling in the whiskey barrells in the fall. If we didn't have winter I would never have time to plan.

[philly]

A lotus pond that's not a bad thought, would be nice but don't have the room, remember we're city slickers not much room in the back yard complements of the GREEDY builders putting 3 houses in a 2 house lot. If you are going to make a lotus pond and a liner is used would it not kill the plant if the tips get caught in the creases or over lap of the liner, that's what the water garden staff told me about lotus plants. And I agree with DH hauling in the whiskey barrels in the fall is heavy work but I'm pretty sure you give him a little pampering after it was all done.
:-)

[Jackie Ramo]

Winter is definately time for planning. and around here house renovations. Finally decided on the paint colours for the downstairs. May get the fireplace painted this weekend. In March I will start planning the back garden bed we reclaimed from the weeds this year.

[philly]

We must be in the same boat as yesterday I was painting my dad's heat room and will be back today to finish up as he has just converted from an oil burner boiler to natural gas one, and what a pain in the #%@* waiting for Embridge to run the gas line talk about passing the buck everytime you call you get transfered from one department to another no wonder we get charged for services cause no one person know what the other is doing :flamer: . Well have to think about changing the pump as it's making a lot more noise now don't want it to quit when it's freezing cold.
:help:

[Jackie Ramo]

Rule number one, never ever deal with Enbridge or Direct Energy... they are more expensive than anyone else and do bad work to boot. Any of the furnace companies will run a gas line. Not sure if my guy does the west end or not but if you want I will give you his number. Cost is $225.00 plus whatever the lenght of hose to run. Its so much a foot. Neat work, shows up on time. Has done our gas stove and gas dryer.

Change the pump, or take it apart to find out why it is making a noise, they should not.

[philly]

Had NO CHOICE they were connecting to the main gas line ans shooting the line inwards to our outside wall and hook up the reading meter needless to say it cost us around $2,000.00 for around 55 meters, boy just think of the very nice kois that could have been in my pond now.
Will hook up another pump and send this one out for warranty my friend said he can do that for me, it's worth a try if I don't have to pay, well maybe shipping.
:yup:

[Jackie Ramo]

Too bad about the no choice with Enbridge. I've only used them once and was unhappy. They did rerun a gas line at a previous house and that went quite smoothly but again that was years ago before they were divided into know one knows who is doing what.