Journal Freds new pond build

[frederick thompson]

Hi all. Just like to wish everyone a happy Christmas
And a happy new year.
All the best
Fred

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[foxfish]

Thanks Fred and the same to you,your family and your fish ...

 

[PARAGUAY]

Happy Christmas and new year Fred

 

[Gill]

Replaced a ball valve and glue welded some pressure pipe.
1st picture old valve
2nd picture new valve
Fred

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How do you find these Taps. I loath the EA ones as they become so Stiff. And the second can be hard for arthritic hands

 

[frederick thompson]

How do you find these Taps. I loath the EA ones as they become so Stiff. And the second can be hard for arthritic hands

I had ea ones on my old pond for 25 years
And never had to replace. They where good.
But the one in the photos only lasted 3 years. Also I found that on double union ball valves you can over tighten the threaded part. Which makes them stiff. To open.
When I put that new valve in. I took it apart and put lots of vaseline on the ball.

I have found that the blue handle valves are the best. More expensive

Red handled valves are as good. A little cheaper.

Yellow handled valves stay away from them. Cheap and stiff. I have broke to of them.

Slide valves don t last long in my opinion.

What I do now. Is once a year I take them apart and clean with vinegar to get the lime scale off. As I live in a very hard water area. I have a rubber boot on every line and cap the pipe with rubber caps. So I take valve out clean and vaseline them up.

Hope this helps mate.
Fred


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[frederick thompson]

Even though its Christmas pond maintenance still goes on. Nothing changes for me during winter. I still leave everything running. Air uv s pumps full flow.
And water changes the same. 20% once a week.
Plus I trickle in and out. Pond temps 8.8c
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Fish still active just been fed
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Covers are off. 2 days now. Brill spring is here. A nd the fish are loving seeing the daylight and sky again. Waiting to be fed.
Pond tempreture 10c. Enjoy your ponds lads and lasses.
Get in there
Fred.

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[frederick thompson]

Spent yesterday converting my main nexus line to 2 inch from 11/2 inch pipe work.
I want more flow and turn over on the pond.
I timed it yesterday before hand. With Mark's in my nexus for flow.
11/2 inch was timed at 2 minutes.
2 inch was timed at 1 minute 36 seconds
And I still have 4 meters of 11/2 inch to go to my top pond.
I thought it would be the same timing.
Scratching my napper Haha.
Don t get me wrong I am chuffed with this result.
1st photo 11/2 inch.
2nd photo 2 inch. Plus two new union ball valves 2 inch
Fred

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[PARAGUAY]

Looking forward to this over summer Fred. Have not got real space for a pond but might set up the half barrel

 

[frederick thompson]

Changed my mind on the pipework.
Still went 2 inch
But fixed pressure pipe and glue weld.
Had to many weeps.
So now solid pipe. Replaced the 2 inch ribbed hose.
No weeps or leaks now.
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Looking forward to this over summer Fred. Have not got real space for a pond but might set up the half barrel

Go for it mate. Take care
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

As a few know. I grow fish on. This lot where grown from 1 1/2 inch.
My mate from Durham I promised his little girl she could have 4 of the 11 I have.
They collected them 4 days ago.
I had to bring the tempreture down from 22c to 10c. To match his pond. So over a week. I dropped the tempreture 2 degrees at a time. To 10c.
Here they are. And in his pond. In the bowl for collection sushi. Ochiba. Bekko. And a tancho. But the tancho developed more orange and red. So not a tancho no more.
Just a mutt. He still wanted it.
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

There all roughly 10 inches the grow ons
My pond this morning with out covers
Tempreture of pond 10c.
Fred

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[mort]

Looking good Fred. Hope you're well. At least you have something beautiful to keep you occupied at the moment.

 

[frederick thompson]

Looking good Fred. Hope you're well. At least you have something beautiful to keep you occupied at the moment.

Hi Mort hope your well. With all this virus stuff going on.
This is where your glad you have a hobby in your back garden lol.
I still walk patch a lot. So yes mate. Well occupied.
He is coming along great. This is the time of year I love mate. With the water chemistry. And trying to get it right and spot on. Aeromonas alley. This is the worst time for koi. There imune system don t kick in until 12c to 13c. And the filters and pond bio. Does not speed up until then. tempreture s have to be about 14c.
So over the next month I have to keep a very good eye on things. Feed sparsely and build it up slowly.
Take care mate
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Hi all the tempreture are at 14.4c now. Fish very active. And feeding. Started of slow feeding once a day 2 weeks ago. To kick start the bio in the pond. After tests today I will now feed twice a day.
Some photos over the last week or so.
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Hi all the tempreture are at 14.4c now. Fish very active. And feeding. Started of slow feeding once a day 2 weeks ago. To kick start the bio in the pond. After tests today I will now feed twice a day.
Some photos over the last week or so.
Fred

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[frederick thompson]

Dont know what happened there done twice.
Filter cleaned yesterday

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[frederick thompson]

My grow on scin at grow on 500 gallon tank
Top pond.

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