New guy from northern New Mexico
- Thread starter Brian Rodgers
- Start date
Good morning.
I got so much done Tuesday, it amazed me.
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Is that blood on that big boy? Because one time when I hit it with the 10 pound sledge hammer, it threw hunk of rock at my knee. Of course I was wearing shorts; it hurt!
This rock is tougher than his cousins. It isn't giving up, nor am I.
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I've put a dozen wheelbarrow loads of hard-earned rock and dirt on the area where I will install the re-purposed spa to Koi pond. In order to move the spa I needed to cut the pile of four foot lengths of logs. Most of the logs are green thanks to Jason who has been doing most of the forest work on the ranch. Lifting green wood isn't something I ought to be doing at 62, but I did it anyway.
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July-20th-2016-Wood-bucked-area-for-Koi-pond-cleared.jpg [ 117.6 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Now the path is clear, all I need is to get the spa up the hill a little further.
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July-20th-2016-Wood-bucked-area-for-Koi-pond-cleared-2.jpg [ 136.69 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Once I had that situation sorted the way I wanted, I came in the greenhouse to check on the lettuce seeding project Nell and I have redone in a second attempt to get seedlings going for the Deep water culture project.
This time the seeds are in peat-moss in four inch pots. The first attempt we had drainage issues and the seedlings didn't grow.
While in the greenhouse the sun was setting and even though I was ready to the couch, I checked the flow from the Fluvial filter in the Koi tank, yikes, it had all but stopped. I just cleaned it last weekend! We desperately need to get the Koi out of the 55 gallon aquarium and into the spa.
I needed to make certain I had the flows right before I reassembled the filter since we're pushing the limits of the Fluvial filter with four large Koi in the tank.
Attachment:
Akvariefilter.jpg [ 79.94 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Yes I had them correct!
After cleaning the filters, it was still barely flowing. I pulled the hoses apart and found green slime algae clogging the lines. One more thing and I can head to the couch...
_________________
Brian's Build: Earth-sheltered Greenhouse. Steadily decreasing from 45 Brook Trout as we harvest one a week!
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23206
I got so much done Tuesday, it amazed me.
Attachment:
July-20th-2016-My-Current-Opponent-It-is-hard-to-say-who-will-win.jpg [ 91.79 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Is that blood on that big boy? Because one time when I hit it with the 10 pound sledge hammer, it threw hunk of rock at my knee. Of course I was wearing shorts; it hurt!
This rock is tougher than his cousins. It isn't giving up, nor am I.
Attachment:
July-20th-2016-My-to-do-list-got-murdered-this-weekend.jpg [ 161.06 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
I've put a dozen wheelbarrow loads of hard-earned rock and dirt on the area where I will install the re-purposed spa to Koi pond. In order to move the spa I needed to cut the pile of four foot lengths of logs. Most of the logs are green thanks to Jason who has been doing most of the forest work on the ranch. Lifting green wood isn't something I ought to be doing at 62, but I did it anyway.
Attachment:
July-20th-2016-Wood-bucked-area-for-Koi-pond-cleared.jpg [ 117.6 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Now the path is clear, all I need is to get the spa up the hill a little further.
Attachment:
July-20th-2016-Wood-bucked-area-for-Koi-pond-cleared-2.jpg [ 136.69 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Once I had that situation sorted the way I wanted, I came in the greenhouse to check on the lettuce seeding project Nell and I have redone in a second attempt to get seedlings going for the Deep water culture project.
This time the seeds are in peat-moss in four inch pots. The first attempt we had drainage issues and the seedlings didn't grow.
While in the greenhouse the sun was setting and even though I was ready to the couch, I checked the flow from the Fluvial filter in the Koi tank, yikes, it had all but stopped. I just cleaned it last weekend! We desperately need to get the Koi out of the 55 gallon aquarium and into the spa.
I needed to make certain I had the flows right before I reassembled the filter since we're pushing the limits of the Fluvial filter with four large Koi in the tank.
Attachment:
Akvariefilter.jpg [ 79.94 KiB | Viewed 11 times ]
Yes I had them correct!
After cleaning the filters, it was still barely flowing. I pulled the hoses apart and found green slime algae clogging the lines. One more thing and I can head to the couch...
_________________
Brian's Build: Earth-sheltered Greenhouse. Steadily decreasing from 45 Brook Trout as we harvest one a week!
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23206
Through the use of log rollers and levers I got the spa up the hill, rotated and flipped over and in place.
I saw on youtube one time a guy was moving massive concrete blocks he'd got from the Highway department all by him self, using levers and rollers. This was my inspiration!
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July-23rd-2016-Koi-pond-project-rollers-and-levers-transported-ready-to-be-flipped.jpg [ 161.16 KiB | Not viewed yet ]
once it was up one more level I was able to flip it with Nell's help. Thank you honey.
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July-23rd-2016-Koi-pond-project-rollers-and-levers-transported-flipped.jpg [ 159.89 KiB | Not viewed yet ]
There it is flipped. Now to level it. Leveling and supporting the spa took all day using treated blocks and excavation fill we removed from the bedroom project.
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July-23rd-2016-Koi-pond-project-rollers-and-levers-finished-with-the-basics.jpg [ 113.94 KiB | Not viewed yet ]
Bare minimum was done to get this pond ready. All the pipes were left the way they were. A few pipes were capped off. One leak back in the far corner, which I converted into a surface skimmer.
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July-23rd-2016-Koi-pond-project-rollers-and-levers-lilies-rocks.jpg [ 109.03 KiB | Not viewed yet ]
I transplanted one of the new lilies to this pond. It went into one of the indentations which must have been a seat. Perfect for a planter. We want to get some reeds or some type of water plants in the other seat indentation.
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July-23rd-2016-Koi-pond-project-rollers-and-levers-lilies-rocks-rain.jpg [ 145.83 KiB | Not viewed yet ]
We're super happy with this. I said to Nell, "Can I get one of the Koi and bring it out and show him his new home?"
Too bad we've got to wait for the water temperature to get up to 70°F (21.1°C.) It ought to climb up to that temperature today pretty quickly.
I'm considering building a small insulated building on the lower side for the filters, sump and pump. For now, I need to get back to the bedroom project. I'll refill the Koi pond from the hose and do water changes into the garden to keep it clean. We'll need a cover to keep the pine needles out. Already I saw little birds checking it out. So something somewhat open for bees and birds to use it. I hope it fits in with nature well. As we remove material for the bedroom project, we'll build up the ground around the spa until it is sitting at ground level.
Thanks Coach, for the idea.
_________________
Brian's Build: Earth-sheltered Greenhouse. Steadily decreasing from 45 Brook Trout as we harvest one a week!
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23206
Now that the Koi are out of the 55 gallon aquarium, I'm considering attempting my first salt water tank. Any advice?
From what I'm reading, most of the tangs, trigger fish, Emperator Angelfish. Is my 55 gallon tank small for a saltwater setup for the type of fish I prefer?
Emporators eventually grow too big for your 55 but you could possibly house some of the smaller angel,tang and trigger species.I like the dwarf angel fish like Potters angel.
I looked for Lionfish from Petco because we live pretty far out in a remote part of New Mexico. I gather there are breeders here.
