So yesterday was Spring clean out day for the Koi Pond. Each year, we have to cut back all the dead sticks and grassy stuff from the plants, drain the pond which gets all green and yucky over the winter, and Power Wash the rocks and slime off. Maybe we don't have to, but we like the water to be clear and not green.
Here's a couple pics and short drone video. The camera compressed view doesn't quite do it justice, it's actually about 6.5-7 feet deep in the big part.
There are three water falls, two small double/triple falls up top, that then flows down the little river, under the rock bridge, and then over the big falls into the large pool.
Follow and check back in next month to see how nice it greens up and how different it looks. Almost all the greenery comes back by itself which is nice.
Wow cool pond .. do you lose many fish over the winter?
Well not this time. It was the first time out of two other tries that they lived thru the summer. We weren't ready to brave the winter yet, so bought a big aquarium and brought all 13 inside. I've got more insight now, so we plan to move half of them back outside and see how they do this summer/winter. Just have to wait a few weeks or so for the water to "cycle" and weather warm up a bit to be ready for them.
Supposedly, they go into a form of hibernation when the water gets really cold, and just have to put a small surface heater on top to keep a small circle of water open to the air so that the nitrogen can escape. We'll try it with some this winter and see what happens.
A lot goes into replicating nature but end product worth it.. 😊
Yes, we really enjoy it. The waterfalls make some awesome sound. It's cool to walk around it and listen to the different tones in different areas.
How do you empty it? Does it have a drain or do you just pump it out? I guess a drain considering how difficult it would be to pump out an uneven surface. I was also surprised at how deep it actually is.
We got an electric pump with a 1 1/2" output hose. Just toss it in (on a rope) and it pumps it out in a couple hours. Next year I'll get pictures of us standing in it for scale. I didn't think of that until after we filled it.
Did you build it yourself or have someone do it? It's a pretty large pond really, certainly in depth. Must have taken some building.
I did some, but brought in a lot of help especially for the initial dig and plumbing. We had most of the small/medium rocks in the yard, they brought in a few of the big ones and the flat ones for the walkway/bridge.
They did not put in the filter and UV light on initial install, it took us a year and a half to figure out that was the only way to keep it from going completely green with the floating type algae. Much better with the light than the chemicals anyway! Highly recommended if you have a pond that gets even half day of sun.
You've put a lot of work and effort in for sure. Must be rewarding to sit there, all peaceful like and enjoy that hard work huh?
Yes indeed. The current stay at home model is our normal routine, and we quite enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, my wife loves to travel and we try to take at least one vacation away from home each year, but I'm quite happy to just be here and turn all the distractions off for a bit! I'm a recovering workaholic, and quite nice to just go right outside into a bit of the wild after a 12-14 hour (or longer) day, or take a nice break outside on the weekends while working. I did 89 hours WFH last week with all the Covid stuff and then a ransomware attack on one of our business units. A few hours outside is all that kept me sane!
we are similar I think...We like home too generally although we go out a bit also, mainly outdoorsy-stuff rather than cities. We prefer our own company and the occasional company of good solid people at times too. We have a fire pit night planned for the weekend...If it stops raining.
Glad to hear you're starting to seek more balance...Working too much is...Well, let's just say life is precious. I worked a lot when in sales (commercial and residential property) and fortunately those days are over. 89 hours...Sounds familiar...But hope never to see that sort of week again! Lol.
How do you keep the critters from having fish for lunch? I remember my grandpa having trouble with neighborhood cats and raccoons eating his goldfish that were in his pond
It's deep enough that the cats don't seem to bother, and there's lots of hiding places in the rock gaps and under/behind the waterfall and plants. I've heard others having problems with herons, but we haven't seen any of those here. I do think the raccoons may have gotten a few last year, but they seem to be more interested in coming through the cat door on our back porch for cat food!
Coons are my nemesis! I wouldn't even mind the tons of bird seed they eat, but they wreck the feeders and tip over and break flower pots. Do they cause damage when they get into your house?
Exactly. They may look cute, but they are damaging pests. They do, we also use the back porch for some pantry storage on shelves and the raccoons will tear into stuff there as well. In a previous house, they chewed holes in the eaves, got into the attic and cause over $25K of damage. I actually built a trap for them in the back porch and will then dispose of them when caught. A high power PCP Pellet rifle can dispatch them humanely and quietly.
I had a sick one once that was out on my front steps and I called the sheriff, who came and shot it and disposed of it for me. And now I'm worrying about what's in my attic!
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