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| I was able to work on the pond this weekend. I have had my waterfall running by bypassing the filter and settlement pond. This weekend I was able to drain the settlement pond and clean it out. Guess I cleaned it out too well last fall because the five tadpoles I had last summer didn't make it. Other than lots of algae and leaves it didn't take me as long as other years. When I searched through the little bit of mulm for tadpoles and dragonfly larvae there weren't any. :[ Guess there are pros and cons of keeping your pond too clean. This is the first season I cleaned the settlement pond in the fall. In the past I had tadpoles and dragonfly larvae that made it through the winter. I still have a lot of 5-6 inch koi in the pond from last years mating, and I wanted to be sure the pond was able to handle lots many fish over the winter. I didn't lose a fish, but my tadpoles and dragonflies paid for it. On a more positive note I have one koi that is (IMO) very beautiful. It has the flourescent orange head and the body is pale orange ginrin scaled. It is definitely a keeper. Once the ground dries out my plan is to drain the pond to remove last year's koi fry. Some of the ones remaining are so pretty. Most of them are long finned with gin rin scales. I have a pet store that has a 2 acre farm pond that are going to take them off my hands. I just have to coordinate draining and capturing the koi with them being able to drive them to the farm pond. Hopefully I can do this in June. My koi are at it again, but I have a school of bluegill to help me out. Hope they earn their keep.
This is the first year I have toads!!!!! I am so happy!!!! Lisa (Goodkarma) gave me toadpoles two years in a row and they finally took. Here is a pic of one of them.
Ponders, start your pumps!!!! Let the 2011 ponding season begin. Jenny |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by catherinet z5 (My Page) on Wed, May 11, 11 at 16:09
| Its nice to finally have some nice weather......but its gone from the 40's to the upper 80's here! That's TOO nice...hahaha The tree frogs were singing their hearts out last night. It was great! |
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| We've already gotten close to the 100 degree mark. I am rebuilding my waterfall and must try to foam this weekend. I will have the falls turned off so that I can work on it and am hoping the temps will be cooler. I've been sung to by the frogs and toads. So far I have spotted Northern Leopard frogs, Gray Tree frogs, American Toads, and several small frogs that I not yet been able to identify. I have frog AND toad tadpoles now. The toads laid strands into my lotus pot and frogs laid them in the pond itself. Have been working on planting in the pond. As soon as I am done with the waterfall rebuild, I am going to try to work on landscaping the OUTSIDE of the pond. I love ponding. It is a very rewarding hobby. |
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- Posted by goodkarma_ 5b (My Page) on Thu, May 12, 11 at 2:08
| Oh how cute is that toad! Glad you had a nice day when you worked on the pond Jenny. Today I planted annuals in the front yard and maybe if the rain holds off I will clean the veggie filter tomorrow. I just started it last week but already sludge has settled to the bottom. I used to put filter pads on the bottom but decided it would be easier to clean if I just opened the drainage valve every so often. My Koi that took a winter beating looks a little better every day. Really hoping she recovers again. That poor girl has such a hard time every winter and early spring. She is feisty though! Toads and more toads. Got a kick out of taking them out of the skimmer for little Noah to see. He was afraid to touch them. lol Also got some impatients for the floating islands. Maybe tomorrow I make some new ones. Loved the weather today. Hear we are in for rain for the next few days. A shocker I know. lol Lisa |
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