This is the hoops up on the second pond. I already did one pond before I thought to have some pictures. The hoops are 3/4 PVC over 1/2" rebar stuck in the ground. Since my plastic roll is only 20 feet wide ($10 at a garage sale for 100'), I trimmed a foot of each 10' piece.The Dwarf Papyrus in the center was higher than the hoops. I trimmed it back but am going to have to wait for spring to cut the root mass out. Way too heavy to lift.
This is the other, slightly larger pond. Same basic arrangement for the hoops, but since I built a deck around this one, I also had to make a bottom frame to stick the pipes into. These are "T"s joined by 3' segments, anchored to the deck by conduit straps. This arrangement is nicer because I can put a board along the plastic and screw it to the deck vice having to anchor with rocks. The whole thing is just stuck together so I can dismantle it easier. Have to see how it holds up in the wind. Had a thunderstorm pass through this afternoon while I was finishing the second one and they both survived the first test!
This is the zipper I attached on each end to make getting in and out easier. Thanks go to Jan for mentioning it. Just attach, open, and cut. Instant (almost) door!
This is inside the house looking at the gravel filter I built inside the pond from an article in Watergardens mag. There is water over the gravel but I think next spring I will fill it all the way above water level and see how that works out. All the plants are in the filter.
These are the fish I keep in this pond. All were given to me by a friend. There are 5 koi and 5 GF. You can see how clear the water is from using the filter. It has been this way since one day after putting the filter in service in the spring.
This is another shot of the fish showing how clear the water is with the filter. I don't really like the pump I am using because I haven't figured out a real good suction filter for it. Probably have to put it back in a box with some furnace filters. This pond is under a tree (bad location, I know) so the hoop house is very important to me for keeping it clean. All kinds of stuff falls out of the trees around here.
Another shot showing all the fish in the pond. I have had racoons and cats show up but haven't lost one of these yet. I don't feed them near the edges.
This is another shot of the filter from inside the hoop house. Everything grew real well this year. All plants started out small.
Come Back Soon!