how is the waterfall going to filter?... When I set up my pond I put the filter and stream and warterfall above the pond, the pump in the pond sending water to filter...I built my own bio filters out pvc pipes, rubbermaid storage bins and plastic peanut bags and saved a lot money rather than buying pricey commercial filter systems...once or twice a year the water needed to exchanged/refreshed and i would drain 50% into my garden, the plants loved it...
algae eaters will be overwhelmed by a large outdoor pond, building the pond in partial shade near trees reduces algae, but the best algae control is aquatic plants, they can be kept in removable baskets to help harvesting fish when that time comes...Tilapia are a fast growing and tasty fish...
Where I live north of San Francisco, and we live on acreage, we are not allowed to create rain water retention ponds on our own property. Supposedly, the county and state calculate rain run off and it's effects on streams and rivers. We also have a winter creek running through the property, which creates a large pond, and we were told not to take any of this water due to fish habitats. What's interesting about this, is all of our rain water flows to a creek about 1/2 mile from the house, then it flows unimpeded about 2 miles to a larger river, which in another 10 miles 100% of the water flows out into the ocean. None of the water is maintained in reservoirs. We accept this but for me it is a story about how precious water has become and how it is accounted...
I can understand the logic behind it they can't make exceptions as it becomes a bureaucratic and logistic nightmare to police and enforce...but in your case you wouldn't be diverting/retaining the water just delaying it's progress to the stream/river/ocean...
If I use the water to irrigate then it is unlikely it will ever make it to the river/ocean. They also fear that farmers and those with acreage might collectively retain rain water or stream water significant to effect the rivers. For example right now in my area, many farmers to protect from frost damage will spray the plants with water, which fends off the frost or it freezes and protects from sub 32 degree damage, and whether they use water from the rivers or wells close to the rivers, the effect is to draw down the river levels which supposedly create problems for fish...so now they are banning frost protection use of the water because the rivers are already low. It is appearing to me that although no public statements about the critical nature of potable water, it is indeed becoming quite critical which explains all of these silly policies they have. IMO either the county and state desire to have the farming or they don't? If they do, then they must create more reservoirs and stop playing games with farmers. Drive through the Central Valley and see how many crops/orchards are now dead due to a lack of irrigation water...in the produce growing center of the USA it is unconscionable to me that governments allow water to become a critical issue...
I can see all the differing conflicting issues and it's a dilemma...the need for food, not enough water, damaging the environment, too many people, climate change...I'd give the environment priority, if that is irreparably damaged it will rebound and ultimately effect food and water supplies...
I have no problem protecting fish, or frogs, or a salamander, etc. and no problem with the water policies as they pertain to my property, but I have a huge problem when there's not enough water to run a business...in this case farming. And farming is a legitimate business just as an electronics company...both require uninterrupted water supply. Population growth and business development marches forward but increasing water supplies at equal rates is not accomplished. So each time we have a drought situation the pain is a little worse than the time before...
Actually the waterfall won't filter the water will go through the filter media before it reaches the waterfall. I am just going to have a chamber with filter media before it flows over the falls. Instead of putting the water in at the top and letting it filter down I am going fill the chamber from the bottom and let it overflow to the waterfall. It will filter as it rises to the waterfall. It will keep the filter media wet all the time. I am going to slope the concrete towards the drain and pull the water out of the drain through PVC pipes to the filter on the other end. I want the pump outside of the pond.
Yes, both these posts illustrate this point.. that 'religious & political bias' are used to make public policy, rather than REAL science. Now, sometimes they use 'scientific' words, as propaganda, to delude the simple minded, but many of these bureaucratic decisions have nothing to do with science, just a political agenda. And the hypocrisy comes in when they demand unquestioned submission to their dubious assertions, & hide behind dogma to support their position. It is tyranny.. intellectual vandalism.. faux intellectualism.. using lies, half truths, & innuendo to forge public policy, while they rule by smug decree, throwing out 'Science!' if anyone dares question them. And the irony is unavoidable.. they promote policies that will only WORSEN the real problems of energy shortages, dwindling food production, & over population.
It will be a while till it's done. The concrete alone has to cure 30 days. I am going to use a pool plaster instead of a liner and go over that with duralock or something like it. I want the inside blue.
well I need to consider his right to privacy he may not want share with everyone or any one(me)of us...
Yes...but...tens of millions of Americans are in the areas you mention, they are voters, and government is going to listen to them. Pandering for votes seems to trump things which are in the best interest of the nation...
food and drinking water vs lawns and swimming pools should a no brainer...tax the hell out of pool and lawn owners would be good incentive, as well increase the price of water, it's our most valuable resource charge people a price that reflects its true worth...
It depends on how it turns out. If it turns out to be a disaster I won't post anywhere. But I'm hoping it will turn out well. Right now I almost have the first layer of block down and am trying to come up with a decent solar pump that will pump enough water. I am doing it in my spare time...and trying to research ahead of possible problems....like algae in this Alabama sun.
Something I just read today...just one man's opinion; http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/mar/01/scienceofclimatechange.climatechange Politicians cannot apply what they perceive as harsh conditions on Americans...like the price of water or energy...they will lose votes! Since the US economy teeters on the brink, and a boatload of Americans live from no-check to no-check or pay-check to pay-check, this leaves little room for politicians to crack down on our excesses. It's like we have become too big to not fail...
you'll do great I have confidence in you, just don't give up you're building an ecosystem....it's a learning process things will invariably go wrong you just need to adapt, it took me more than a few efforts before I got my home made filtration system to work properly... some commercial operations have fixed translucent shades/roof to reduce light, a movable screen that can unfold and be rolled over part of the pool might help...plants will definitely cut down algae but will interfere with harvesting fish if that's your intention...if there's a single plant in the pond that's where the little buggers will hide under...
gotta have cover for them.. i lost koi to cranes, herons & storks.. long legged birds who stand in the water & eat the fish. Eagles will also get them. I've watched eagles here swoop down & grab a big fish from a pond & fly off with it wriggling in its talons..
if the pond is deep enough wading birds aren't a problem, loses to eagles/osprey will minimal and if there is a good covering of water lilies an hyacinths even less...a fine mesh screen will stop eagles/osprey and diving birds like kingfishers... But ya, completely enclosing the pond will solve all those problems too...it just wont look pretty...
The problem right now is finding a solar pump. Most of the ones on the market just don't pull enough water. I want at least 900 gph. So I am thinking about a deep cycle battery and a 12 volt water pump. Two batteries...one for charging and one for running....maybe... As far as shade for the water, I am thinking about duckweed. I know duckweed can be invasive but I can use it for chicken and pig food. It will also help feed the fish. I am trying to consider all the problems ahead of time. I have been fooling with freshwater tropical fish since I was a kid and I know you can worry them to death.
duckweed I tried that, it multiplies nicely in an aquarium so i thought it would work great for shade/algae control in an outdoor pond, but the koi ate it all...only thing they didnt eat were the larger plants with tougher leaves...instead of expensive dedicated "koi" food I fed them commercial trout food and they thrived...900gph, two pumps? Wind turbine?
