Arapaima Pond Build
- Thread starter Luc70
- Start date
Made a small modification with stunning results... 
The bog-filter that runs into the Koi/Turtle/Grow-out pond had a bit of stones added as a dam of sorts.
So the water is going through those stones instead as just flowing over it and into the pond.
Was done on Saturday and I came back this morning, the water is crystal clear, the liner is almost completely white again (sucker fish hard at work).
Mr. T. pops out beautifully against that clear back-ground and all the fish are just looking good.
Leaks all but solved, only have to heighten up a small part of the 2nd bog, because the backing up from the stones makes it level and seeping over at the sides.
That's easy solved, small piece of steel going under to heighten it up 2 inches and done.
Far less solids floating around..makes for nice view.
Curious this afternoon with the sun getting into it.
Had a nice weekend with my fish-tanks at home. Finally got around to getting my CO2 topped up, removed the fish, stirred up the sand-bed and cleaned it.
Installed a filter-sock and bought a bunch of plants and moss.
Got 3 LCD-floodlights over it and my neighbour gave me a nice piece of driftwood. Sunday all about planting, arranging and then seeing the water clear up.
No fish yet, generous on the CO2 and get the plants to take hold first. Then we'll go about choosing some fish for it.
Next project will be a DIY controller for temperature, Ph, lights..
Cheers,
Luc
The bog-filter that runs into the Koi/Turtle/Grow-out pond had a bit of stones added as a dam of sorts.
So the water is going through those stones instead as just flowing over it and into the pond.
Was done on Saturday and I came back this morning, the water is crystal clear, the liner is almost completely white again (sucker fish hard at work).
Mr. T. pops out beautifully against that clear back-ground and all the fish are just looking good.
Leaks all but solved, only have to heighten up a small part of the 2nd bog, because the backing up from the stones makes it level and seeping over at the sides.
That's easy solved, small piece of steel going under to heighten it up 2 inches and done.
Far less solids floating around..makes for nice view.
Curious this afternoon with the sun getting into it.
Had a nice weekend with my fish-tanks at home. Finally got around to getting my CO2 topped up, removed the fish, stirred up the sand-bed and cleaned it.
Installed a filter-sock and bought a bunch of plants and moss.
Got 3 LCD-floodlights over it and my neighbour gave me a nice piece of driftwood. Sunday all about planting, arranging and then seeing the water clear up.
No fish yet, generous on the CO2 and get the plants to take hold first. Then we'll go about choosing some fish for it.
Next project will be a DIY controller for temperature, Ph, lights..
Cheers,
Luc
Thanks Paco Mom, they are really sweet. Very gracious in the way they move about.
Small one is a bit shy, but at least he eats and moves around a bit.
Bigger one is just out and about all the time.
How is your Pacu-Home going? So long I never see any updates...
Luc
Well, all running smooth, water stays nicely level. As said before, made some small modifications that cleaned up the pond very well.
Side effect is of course that you have to clean that 'dam' of stones every now and then. The top of the dam is about level with the sides of the bog.
This morning, water started seeping at a few points into the lower ring. Removing a small bit of stones and it dropped instantly, so tomorrow or next week we'll take care of that.
Getting into the raining season again, finally, had only 1 rain-shower over the last 3.5 months. That means a full pond most of the time and a good refresh of water continuously without any extra cost.
Turtles are fully part of the family now. They are enjoying their big space and are happily snapping away pellets. Must be a joy for them to have about 10 Cubic Meters of space instead of the 100 Gallon tank they came from.
Changed a bit on the feeding for the Arapaima as well. Feeding him pellets results in him taking very very little. He swallows a fair bit, but then spills 3/4 of that back into the water. So I'm now soaking the pellets, making a soft, ping pong ball sized lump and same hand feeding as with prawns.
He's very much ok with that and at least, mixing it with Koi Food, he'll get plenty protein and other necessary food.
That way I can also use prawns as a real treat for him, saving a fair bit on the food bill.
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Side effect is of course that you have to clean that 'dam' of stones every now and then. The top of the dam is about level with the sides of the bog.
This morning, water started seeping at a few points into the lower ring. Removing a small bit of stones and it dropped instantly, so tomorrow or next week we'll take care of that.
Getting into the raining season again, finally, had only 1 rain-shower over the last 3.5 months. That means a full pond most of the time and a good refresh of water continuously without any extra cost.
Turtles are fully part of the family now. They are enjoying their big space and are happily snapping away pellets. Must be a joy for them to have about 10 Cubic Meters of space instead of the 100 Gallon tank they came from.
Changed a bit on the feeding for the Arapaima as well. Feeding him pellets results in him taking very very little. He swallows a fair bit, but then spills 3/4 of that back into the water. So I'm now soaking the pellets, making a soft, ping pong ball sized lump and same hand feeding as with prawns.
He's very much ok with that and at least, mixing it with Koi Food, he'll get plenty protein and other necessary food.
That way I can also use prawns as a real treat for him, saving a fair bit on the food bill.
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Among the six large predators, (Crystal Eye, 2x RTC, Arapaima, 2x P'Bass), they do catch a fair amount of fish.
My Koi stock in the pond is reduced to 5. Tilapia there's still about 20 or so, all too big to be in danger.
Then there's the mud-carp which used to be at least a hundred if not more. They've been reduced a fair bit, at least halved.
2 Oscars are doing well, still like to try and get more. They stand their ground and are a very nice addition to the pond.
Might add a couple of thousand small fish soon, just to keep the P'Bass, Oscars happy.
From the problems I had with they Koi in the grow-out, there's only a 6 left in there. After quarantine, I put some back into the grow-out, but the rest I put out into the big pond. Some where not lucky and fast enough to adapt, so they got snapped away.
Also suspecting that cats might have had a hand in it, but that's difficult to control. Nature at work I guess..
My Koi stock in the pond is reduced to 5. Tilapia there's still about 20 or so, all too big to be in danger.
Then there's the mud-carp which used to be at least a hundred if not more. They've been reduced a fair bit, at least halved.
2 Oscars are doing well, still like to try and get more. They stand their ground and are a very nice addition to the pond.
Might add a couple of thousand small fish soon, just to keep the P'Bass, Oscars happy.
From the problems I had with they Koi in the grow-out, there's only a 6 left in there. After quarantine, I put some back into the grow-out, but the rest I put out into the big pond. Some where not lucky and fast enough to adapt, so they got snapped away.
Also suspecting that cats might have had a hand in it, but that's difficult to control. Nature at work I guess..
Thanks Ben... Enjoying it every day...
I hope later this year I can start another project at home. That will not be a pond, but DIY large planted tank outside on the terrace. Will be an interesting one, large background rock/stone wall with only the lower half for fish. Stocking for that will be Amazon, but non-predator. More like neons, glass-cat, discus, etc.
This gets more amazing with every update you do!
Thanks, in large part due to Sunee, our house keeping lady. She is fantastic in taking care.
Water is really staying it, clear as a pool. Had only pellets this week, no prawns at all.
Turtles are the new cute-factor..lol..thinking about moving them into the 'real world' sometime soon. They eat pellets like crazy and are big enough to hold their ground.
Besides, they'd have real bright and large playground moving them.
Every morning when I get at work, throwing the first pellets in, they straight away go for it.
No hurry, might still take 2 months as New Year approaching soon.
Cheers,
Luc
