Mike's pond renovations

[mikebike]

Well now that the rain has stopped I am starting to dig.
this is last years pond:
http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/fish/Pond.html

This is the renovation in progress.
Very hard digging and no place to put the dirt!<P>
http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/fish/...-the-pond.html

[skabooya]

ooo someones going to need a back rub after all that. lol

[mikebike]

Yes I'm down to a hard-pan layer of clay that a pick will only go 2 inches into.
I got 20 buckets out on the weekend, but only could dig 4 today.

I'm guessing I need to move another 4 cubic feet to have the bottom the 48" deep and 5 ft diameter.

I plan on wrapping the 5ft pond form with 100ft of 3/4 inch polly pipe to run/pump water through to use as a ground source chiller.

I have to get it right I don't want to have to do it again.
Although I do plan on burying my 150 gallon agricultural tub after this pond is up and running.

[Ursus sapien]

ah, to be young again:-)

I've dug out a few ponds in my day, Mike. You and your back have my admiration!

[mikebike]

I feel like the broomstick the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" made in Disney's Fantasia.
But I think the broomstick had a better back than me<G>

Cheers
Mike

[gklaw]

Hey Mike. After you get your warm up, take a trike ride over here and help me dig my 1500 gallon hole

JK. To save my old back, I think I am only going 20" deep, the rest of the 4 feet will be above ground.

[mikebike]

CIL makes a very good pond digger.
(remember Crocodile Dundee's fishing technique<G>

But not good in residential areas.

But in reality C4 is much more effective, but much harder to get.

Yes if you have the room it is much easier to raise the pond sides up with he excavated material.

I'm limited in room due to my cementing in the post 8 foot appart for the fence/now glass to keep critters out.

I caught a rat in my live trap yesterday that had chewed off the new bamboo shoot at 3 feet up and 5/8" diameter on Saturday. (RIP not)

On Sunday it had chewed almost through the stem at a node 2 foot up 3/4" diameter so it was just holding by a thread.

If it is not the raccoons eating fish or the cats dumping in my dirt life would be so simple<G>

[g_spyder91]

Look forward to seeing your progress. On a side note, what do you guys do in the winter when everything starts to freeze over? relocate your fish? I've never known anyone with a pond so i've always wondered.

[mikebike]

I mooved my pnd fish into a 175 gallon rubermaid agricultrual tub with a 150 watt heaer and airstone for the winter.