Arapaima Pond Build

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Started with the mid level drain as well, almost finished.
3" pipe, epoxy and still need some threaded elbows, male female to screw a dinner plate on top to cover the hole with only 1" clearance around it.


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After 4 days, in full sun and wind, the water dropped 1cm. That's not much in terms of evaporation and certainly there's no leak in the bottom-drain.
Tomorrow is Saturday, but no people available so only small things to do.
- paint the drain-cover.
- pump out the water.
- install the airline to the dome-diffuser.
- measurements for things to be done next week.
- finish the mid-level and skimmer drains for next week installation.
- start building supports for the pump that will feed the bog-area.
- clean the area around the pond so next week can move fast without anything lying around.

The whole next week is full again, so it will be fast getting to Saturday.
I'm very anxious to get at least the pond shape dug out and the liner in place.
Then the days after that slowly fill it and get the liner properly done.
If possible, Mr. T. going in his new home asap, but got some good backup plans forming.

Cheers,
Luc
 
On the way for a days work.
Emptying the pond now...will take half an hour I guess.
Painted the first layer for the dome.
Will start measuring the size of the pipe to go through once the dome is on top of the drain.
Once the dome is on top, I'll straighten out the liner somewhat.
Then measure the height of front, side and back walls to start making them level next week.

Changed plans again of the move..Most probably take the whole pond liner out and put on the concrete before digging out the rest of the pond, then start rolling out the rest of the liner.
This will give me some time for installing the 2 other drains and properly straighten out the liner.

Lets see how far we get this week and next week.
Pictures later.
Luc
 
It's bloody hot again...but finished the dome and the air-line that goes through it.
Now waiting a bit to dry, then carry it into the pond and fix.
Gives a bit more safety as well, since it will hold down the liner around the bottom-drain.
Maybe first weigh it. Curious how heavy that beast is.
For sure it will need 10 Oscars to move it if it would move at all.

Checked the sides and backside, not bad, about 5 to 10cm more sand to add, which I will do with sand that comes from the sandbag-pond where Mr. T has his current home.
Clean, very small grit sand, so ideal to fill the last bits and pieces.
That's for later.

cheers,
Luc
 
Did weigh the dome... 33kg...that's heavy enough to keep it down.
Still looking at the schedule, Thai New Year, Songkran is on the 12th of April.
Pond needs to be basic up and running by then but next Saturday is a pickup at one of our customers...
Need to check who can be here from the guys to move Mr. T.'s pond out of the way and start digging for the rest of the pond. Going to be a long day, I sure want to get the liner done and fix the mid-level drain.
Skimmer can be done later, with the pond 3/4 full.

Will make some pictures soon for the dome and post them.
 
Thanks Darius...here's some updates for today.
The painted dome, installed dome, Mr. T. while cleaning his pond.
We managed to clean out the area in front of the pond today, gives a good idea of the size.
On the left, there's still about 1 meter extra.

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Did some more work today.
Finished the ducts for the mid level and skimmer drain.
Mid level gets a dinner plate screwed on top so only 1" clearance all around.
For the skimmer I am still thinking. Most likely going to use an old bucket, cut slits in the top rim and then epoxy a 3 inch elbow through the bottom of the bucket, with a piece of 3" PVC pipe that slides into the liner opening duct.

The bottom drain proved me that cutting the liner can be done relatively easy, so cutting 2 more should be no problem.
 
Figured out the auto-fill.
Since I want to make sure that the pump will not run dry, I need to keep a certain level in the settling tank.

Just replaced an old toilet assembly at my house. Plan to use that.
If I put that one at my desired water level, then connect it to the city water, I should be done.
Just a matter of some brackets, water pipe and fittings.
 
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