Let's recycle

[Merlin]

Hi all, I have been recycling and thought you might like to see what I have been doing.

So Ok what do you see in the first photo :confused: if all you see is a wooden pallet, you have no imagination.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/Pallet.jpg

Ok lets make it easier, add a few more pallets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/PalletBox.jpg


Then add some tounge and groove .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/Palletbox2.jpg


Got the full picture now :)

It is not finished yet, but those pallets that normaly get dumped are now the shell of my new QT tank. The inner part of the pallet will be filled with insulation , then the top part of other palllets will be used to form the inner lining. ( 1/2 " marine ply.) I will be adding a box liner to the project, installing a drainage outlet at the botom left, filter and UV . hey presto one large QT tank on the cheap. :)

[Terri]

Cool! Our pallets don't look quite like that,... but you've certianly put your's to good use.

How about some more detail about it's construction? What did you used to hold the pallets together? Screws? Lags? How did you do the base?

[Jackie Ramo]

Those are nice looking pallets certainly nicer than any I've seen around here. Ours have big gaps and would have to be taken apart to be useful.

[Merlin]

As I work in the computer transport industry this type of pallet are the norm. The top is 1/2 marine ply. I have used three full pallets to form the base ( rested on concrete blocks), they are in turn bolted to the pallets used on the side walls. I have lined the outer surface with thick polythene then added standard tounge and groove to finish it off. This in turn will be stained and varnished. As mentioned the inner wall cavity will them be packed with insulation material before the inner wall is attached.

I was planning on using a submergable pump linked to a UV and mechanical filter, fed back to the QT through a sprinkler type pipe system, but am now considering an extenal pump, bottom drain and a TT tower, I will keep you informed on which way I go. So far the above build has cost me just £20 :) . Ok the box liner is £172 but at least I have saved money on the shell. :)

[Busy B]

Oh sure! Make yours prettier than mine! :grin:

Looks awesome Merlin...nice addition to the patio.

[Merlin]

Thats the BBQ area at the back of the garden, :) I have a week of work at the end of August when I am planning to cover my main patio 21' x 11' , with twin wall perspex, I love to be able to sit in the garden without worying about getting wet . :)

[Jackie Ramo]

We love the covered patio!! Ours is next to the pond so we can sit and watch the rain drops on the water and be dry.

[Dave in Innisfil]

First of all, kudo's on recycling. One man's garbage is another man's gold, as Tina can attest. In our neighborhood, it's common to see "good stuff" curbside with "Free" signs. I once built a 6' X 8' ice fishing shanty from a packing crate used to ship an electrostatic wide format printer.

We have a retractable awning over half our deck, and with the No Smoking in the House policy with certain visitors, sure makes a nice alternative to hiding in the garage. Our by-laws require building permits for any permanently attached structures such as an enclosed deck. The previous owner built one, only to receive formal notice to either tear it down or face a substantial fine and increase in property taxes based on the added square footage of usable space. He chose to tear it down, leaving us with the joist hangers and header board, unsightly, but still in place should we decide to pursue the B & A of having a blueprint drawn up by engineers, securing a permit, and having a building inspector periodically inspect to make sure it's a sound structure.

We'll stick with the retractable awning for a while....... LOL

[Merlin]

Crikey Dave I do feel sorry for you :( the laws over here are not so strict. Providing the structure could not be considered as permanent eg made of brick, no planning permision is required. As to the pond no requirements needed for that either as there is nothing in the rule book about building a pond in the garden. :wink: .

I have always been the type of person that can find a cheaper way around doing something, the new patio covering will be built of recycled timber ( ex roof rafters from buildings that have been demolished .) a lot cheaper than buying new. !dude

[Jackie Ramo]

Yes, the building codes here a pretty strict but we were fortunate in that the patio was existing so when we rebuilt it we didn't need permits... not that I think the first one had any...

[ozzyrockman]

Nicely done Merlin, that will make a nice tank for holding your little rascals. Can I make a suggestion? Instead of furring out the verticals run a 1X6 from top to bottom, put some 3/4 cdx plywood between the liner and the pallets and insulate the heck out of it with styrofoam and fiberglass insulation.

Is anything "Permanent"? I can assure you that as fare as residential houses are concerned nothing is "permanent". :twisted: code enforcers. Sorry I gotta vent after dealing with them as long as I have, it doesn't matter if it's done right or not they just want their money. Allen

[Merlin]

Sadly that is all that goverments think about, what is is and can we tax it :-x .

Ok due to the other project i am working on coming in way over budget, I have to make some cut backs on the QT tank :(. I have got to go with a straight forward linner, creases included. The box liner was coming in at around £172, fiberglass around the same , a 5ml liner £50 .

The bottom drain will still be installed and fed to a shut off valve ( external pump to be fited at a later date). The sides have now been reinforsed with 2 x 4 timber, now all I have to do is pack out the inside of the pallets with insulation before the inner wall goes on.

The outside that I covered with tounge and groove will now NOT be seen !wow! . Tracey has come up with the idea of covering the outside with some of the 50 12" x 12" blue wishy washy blue floor tiles that we were given by a friend. Ok I got to admit they do give the apearance of a watery effect ( Just wish she had thought of it earlier :frisbee: . A small added expense is the Koi tiles that I have seen somewhere ( hope I can remember where ) that will be mixed with them .

I still have to work on a trickle tower design that will not look out of place in the garden. Will post more pics as I go.

[Dave in Innisfil]

It's funny how our different municipalities view different things. A "permanent" inground or above ground pool requires a fence of a certain height and hole size, but no by-laws (yet) regarding the proliferation of inflatable pools or ponds.

Here, for about $80, you can get an 800 gallon inflatable pool, with filter. As the swimming season is drawing to a close, I'm wondering about double-dutying ours as a QT, after replacing the chlorined water with well water, of course. The sides are too high for the racoons and I can cover it with leaf netting. I doubt I will have need for a permanent QT other than our aquarium, but am watching your design for consideration as a filter tank. With plans of adding more koi, improved filtration is once again on my mind.

Yes, Ian, I'm kicking myself again for not installing a bottom drain while I had the chance...LOL With 4' visability, those unsightly liner folds may be my excuse for draining the main pond in the future.

[Jackie Ramo]

Dave I have one of those swimming pools for emergencies. Haven't used it yet... hope it doesn't leak but it was only 39.99 at the end of season at Loblaws last year, then Zellers had them for 19.99....without the filter, but I'd not rely on that filter with fish anyway

[Dave in Innisfil]

I've probably spent 20 bucks on aquarium silicone trying to fix the damn leaks...LOL. Anyways, judging the way the coons tore apart my iris last night, I think if they wanted to get to fish in an inflatable pool, chewing thru or ripping the sides might be a definite possibility.

Feeling guilty about not providing adequate filtration for my QT, I've started some modifications to my work-in-progress DIY water softener-based filter. I've got the water path and pump situation figured out, now I just have to come up with some sort of filter media.

[Merlin]

Those inflatable pools are handy for a quick time fix, but the longer the fish are in it, the harder they are to clean when you no longer need it. I had to use a presure washer on mine when I had finished using it. :(

[Dave in Innisfil]

Thanks, Merlin......that's all the incentive I needed NOT to use Sonny's inflatable pool. I put a 2000 psi power washer on my list to Santa last year, and all I got was a package of SOS pads and some Absorbine Sr.

[Merlin]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Is someone trying to tell you somethindg Dave .

[Merlin]

You know it is amazing that when you start a project it never ends up the way you first planned :wink: . Ok bought a standard butyl liner 4mt x 4mt £48, the more I thought about all those creases and fixing the bottom drain in place , the more I thought this is not a good idea. Went searching again, have now located a firm that will suppy and deliver a box liner to my measurments for £116, ( first quote if you recall £172) so box liner it is , my sister can have the other one for when she changes her goldies pond.:)

The outside of the QT that I covered with tounge and groove wood, will now be coverd again with blue wishy washy floor tiles ( 50 donated from a friend ) and either tiles with Koi on mingled with them, or it will have Koi painted on to the existing tiles. :). Will post photos as it happens.

[Jackie Ramo]

Its going to be great Merlin. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Busy B]

Going to be cool Merlin!

How's it coming along?

[Merlin]

Hi all sorry for being awol . Ok this was the week that I took off to cover the patio, I prayed for dry weather what I did not expect was temps in the 90's :shock: it has been hard going . We are now at the 95% stage, the roof is complete and all I have to do now, is lay 20 patio slabs and add the electrics. ( and the mirror ball for when we have a party :grin: ).

The QT has been on the back burner this week as I am awating the box liner . The front feature has now changed, no longer will it be a tile with a Koi painted on to it, but an 18" Koi mosaic made out of itsy bits of tiles. !strut . We went to a Koi show last week and DW fell in love with it. ( Hmmm the tile was £12, this was £50 :shock: ) now I know never to take the DW to another Koi show .

will post pics asap .

[Terri]

Can't wait to see pics :grin: sounds like everything is going great.

[Merlin]

Terri even though I say so myself , I am over the moon in what we have achieved this week :wink: , as you will see when I post the pics. My thanks go out to one of my brothers and his wife, when I re-built the pond he took a week off work to help me . When I mentioned I was going to cover the patio, he and his wife took a weeks holiday to help. As niether of them would accept any payment for their help, we took them out for a meal last night, and even then I had to fight them because they wanted to pay half the bill. :frisbee:.

[Merlin]

Ok I know this has nothing to do with Koi or ponds , but this is why I have been so busy the last couple of weeks . We have an L shaped patio, a year ago we purchased a car port to cover the patio as I needed somewhere to build our xmas display, where I would not get wet if it rained. Ok the car port did the job as a temporary measure, but has now been replaced .

First Pic said car port .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/DSCF0003.jpg

Car port removed and first posts lined up for the replacement structure .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/NewGardenProject008.jpg

95% finished , just got to add some more patio slabs to the right hand side .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/NewGardenProject038.jpg

Side view

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/PB2.jpg

Last one , the view from my computer desk :) with the pond included . So what do you think ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/PB3.jpg

[Terri]

Now THAT is what I call a "home improvement" job! :grin: Well Done Merlin (and helpers), what a lovely spot you've created... nothing like outdoor living! I really like the colour scheme too.

[Dave in Innisfil]

Bet you don't have trouble getting another couple to spend an evening playing cards in that beautiful setting?

Take satisfaction in a job very very well done.

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin is is wonderful. What a difference, it really opens up the space and makes it so inviting - tapping foot waiting for invitation :grin: -

What wonderful family you have to give so much, but knowing your generousity I am sure you are there to help them whether they want it or not!! :smile:

[Busy B]

That looks really nice Merlin! You should be proud of a job well done! And the gardner in me noticed your cool hanging planters...:grin:

[Merlin]

Busy B we have a very small garden to those we have seen on other forums, Tracy and I love plants. We are trying to add as much as we can without going overboard. I must admit my feelings on the new area are focused on the entertaining side, lights and space. Tracey is looking at the garden as a whole , what ever I do has to fit in to the theme . !bonk it is a good job that we have been together for 30 years, and we have learned to compromise . :lol:I just recon that you women want it all your own way. ( I will deny saying this if Tracey reads this post ). :roll:

[Jackie Ramo]

Silly man, of course we want it all our own way - 30 years and you haven't learned that yet !bonk

I will say as much as we love the space we have in our garden there are many days I miss the small one we had before.. so much easier to care for. Besides it was finished so all the hard work was done. This one may never reach that stage...

[Merlin]

:wave: Guesse what arived this morning :-)

Slightly larger than the measurements I gave them, bt what the hell it looks ok . :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/BoxLiner1.jpg

2" Bottom drain in place leading to a shut of valve at present , slightly off center to help with the plumbing ( would have had to cut through too many beams). Still an hour to go before the epoxy glue hardens before I can add some water. !dude

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/BottomDrain.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Another step forward!!!

[Busy B]

I'm going to wish I would of done that!

Now go get some water in there! :lol:

[Merlin]

Ok sorted out the leaky valve :wink: 6" of water and no leaks so far, gonna half fill it tonight and check it in the morning. :) If all Ok I can finish the top on Saturday and start on building the filtration in to the set up. On Sunday ( Hopefuly ) if all is Ok the tiles can go on. I am keeping everything crossed :) .

[Jackie Ramo]

Be sure to post the filtration system. I'm looking to update mine on the inside pond. Has 11 babies there now and 2 pumps but no filter.

[Dave in Innisfil]

I didn't know you could order preformed liner to specific shape and dimensions. Someone I know wanted to make a water garden out of an old boat, but we couldn't come up with a good plan for holding the water in without huge folds in a rectangular piece of liner.

[Merlin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/Picture354.gif

Ok checked on the original 6", no leaks so filled to half way. Checked again this morning no loss at all :-) now filled to within 6" from the top ,will check again in the morning. No sign of any bowing to the larger sides :-).

[Merlin]

Jackie the filtration will be nothing special at this time, as I want to update all my filtration requirments next year . So just going to use old filter as a temp measure for now, plus I need to obtain an external pump. :-)

[Jackie Ramo]

Seems I will have to update all my filtration next year as well. But right now need to fit in a box filter for the greenhouse... limited space under the shelf.

[Busy B]

What about a tote filter Jackie, like Greg has on his CD..or Terri has one on her home page?

WTG Merlin! Let there be water! And no leaks...definate plus :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Thanks for the reminders. All this techy stuff gets to me. Terri had a look at my ball valve configuration and failed it...this after spending a hour with the guy at home depot :lol:

[Merlin]

OK as mentioned old filter, needed some way of hiding it and the UV and power point, so knocked this up, it is bulky as it is suprising how heavy that filter is when it is full.
I still have the back / lift off lid and door to make ( tomorrow) but I am getting there. I have cut a piece of pipe to the lengh of the QT and drilled lots of holes all the way along so I get a nice spray as a return to the QT, this should help put a little more oxygen in to the water.

Once I get an external pump, I will run it to a trickle tower. ( design yet to be thought out ) :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/Filterbox.jpg

[Merlin]

Merlin goes in search of Gregs CD , :frisbee: :-)

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin goes in search of Gregs CD , :frisbee: :-)
:lol: Me too, I know is in this mess of a desk somewhere!!!

[Merlin]

Getting there :-) .

Electrics all in place, just the tiling to complete, but at least I have now got a reasonable QT tank. ( keeping fingers crossed that I will not need to use it :grin: ).http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/filterhousingconnected.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/Filtercomplete1.jpg

Ok gonna change the spray bar for a black tube , as white stands out like a sore thumb. :) . The QT will now be kept running 24/7 , I have added bio start and will be adding a few carp from the front pond, in order to get the filter working . Is there anyhing else I need to do ?. Once I manage to sort out an external pump, a trickle tower will replace the bar.

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin it looks great. Nothing else that I can think of... well yes one thing... enjoy!!! A job well done.

Too bad you changed you idea of the hand painted koi tiles... maybe one in the middle?

[Merlin]

Jackie I will let you in to a little secret !dude the blue tiles have yet to be added and in the middle of them will be a Koi :) He cost me £50 but with the two lots of Japanese writing I have ( one for either side ), I think it will set the whole thing off. :)

It is a tiled Koi measuring around 24".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/KoiTile.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

He'll make a lovely addition to the pond. Nice movement to him

That's about $120.00 Cdn. I can see I should raise my prices :lol:

[Merlin]

I am tempted to have a go at it myself, I have been told that my drawings are quite good, all I need to know is where to purchase the equipment and the tiles !dude. You should put your prices up, I have seen some of your work and am quite impressed. :)

[Busy B]

Way to go Merlin!

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin, the tiles you can buy at any tile store or even hardware store, that and a pair of nippers and a drawing to lay the pieces out on. I do it the easy way, roll out the clay, draw on the clay, cut out the pieces and fire them, then glaze them then put them back together. The trick is to number the pieces!!!

[Merlin]

Jackie I think I might prefer the easy way, buy the tiles already cut and glazed and then file them to fit the pic :) . The ones on the Koi pic are aprox 1/4 square,coloered . All I would need to do is file them to the shape of the pic. :-) .
OK I will be honest I don't have a clue !rofl but I intend to look in to it .

[Jackie Ramo]

You don't file them you nip them into shape and then file off any rough bits. It can be a lot of fun. We saw a cottage where the owners had made a huge dragonfly out of some old winebottles over their kitchen entrance.

[Terri]

Way cool! :cool:

[Busy B]

So if it's done, where are the pic's???:frisbee:

[Merlin]

Hi Busy yes we are done ( well nearly), the Koi tile went on this afternoon, got to wait till the morning to scrape the paper off, then I will post a photo. It has it's first guest today, A ghost carp that is being collected tomorrow ( maybe, maybe not as I am a bit worried, as I am sure it's right side looks swollen) I will have a good look at it tomorow when I have an extra pair of hands avaiable.

(As long as the rain has stopped):(

The electrics on the pergola were finished today, all the tools are finally back in the shed, so DW is happy :) . I must have forgotten to tell her they are coming back out next week for the next project, which is to build a trailer . .

Then there is the xmas display to design and build !wow! .

Boy am I looking forward to retirement , only another 17 years to go :(.

[Jackie Ramo]

Retirement... isn't that when the real work begins :lol:

[Merlin]

No Jackie, that is the time when I have the pond just how it should be, and I can sit back and watch the world go by. ( I hope) :lol:

[Busy B]

I want to do that..like yesterday...watch the world...maybe a little participation :wink:

[Jackie Ramo]

Keep dreaming, that's what keeps us going :lol:

[Merlin]

Thats all we can do Jackie :( .

Anyway the QT is finished, I had one major problem with the Koi mosaic, it poured down with rain the during the night after I attached it to the qt, rain must have got behind it as I found it in pieces on the floor the next day :sad: . I managed to piece it all back together and re-attach it, just lost one of it's barbles. I am sorry I did not get a shot of the Mirror carp before Sue took it as it was pouring down with rain, but we did manage to get a good look at the injury spot , and I am pleased to say apart from a thine line scar it has perfectley healed. :) . ( I am going to visit her pond in a couple of weeks ,I will take my camera with me.

Anyway heres the QT . :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/QTfinished1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/Chateauwizard/QT2.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin, be proud it looks fantastic. Do you know what the writing means?

[Terri]

Ditto, it looks terrific!! Great job :grin: ... won't be able to stomach looking at our tanks now... me thinks Ian will have a winter project in the fish house LMAO :twisted:

[Merlin]

Hi Guys the one on the left is NO Fishing :lol: and the other Home Sweet Home :) . I am quite pleased with it, most of all because 90% of it is recycled. I know it is basic, but it will do the job and is far better than nothing at all. :)

[Dave in Innisfil]

Now that really is SOMETHING made from a bunch of nothings.

[Jackie Ramo]

A sum equal to more than it parts...or something like that :)

[Busy B]

What a nice addition to the yard Merlin! You are a wizard aren't you :lol:

I have a couple honey do lists...what you doing next week?

[Merlin]

Busy B all I can say is that I will be busy :) . My brother was so impressed with the pergola come lean too that I put up, I am over his place for the weekend to build him one. Then next weekend I start work on building a trailer ( tired of trying to cram stuff in to the car when I am DIY- ing.:( .

By the time that is finished it will be November and time to start building this years Xmas display :) . No rest for the wicked :lol: