Pond Build

[walker450]

Well, right now I suppose they are on a diet. My plan is to go get some minnows later today at a nearby bait shop.

I was told I can throw some dog food out as well, anyone have input on this? I don't want to commit to doing that on a regular basis so I wasn't sure if I should do it at all.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Dumping minnows in it is a good idea especially at first, insects and amphibian will eventually start using your pond so they will feed off them. I wouldn't be too worry about it if I where you worse case they will eat each other. Fish will eventually be introduce into it from fish eggs being stuck in birds feathers, life will prevail.

 

[EddieWalker]

When buying minnows, you need enough for them to be able to reproduce before the predators you put in there, eat all of them. When I stocked my pond, the Biologist that sold me the fish said to not put any predators in there until the minnows had spawned at least once. Just off of memory, which isn't very good, I think I put in something like ten pounds of minnows for every surface acre to get it started. I think each bag had five pounds of minnows in them, and the front of my truck was full of those bags!!! You also want the water to settle and algae to start growing, along with aquatic plant life, so the minnows will have something to eat. The fish you put in there will be dead in a few days. I put minnows and bluegill in my pond the first year, and the second year, I put in the bass.

 

[walker450]

So would it be too soon for minnows now? There's only a few spots with any vegetation at all, where some grass was growing before it filled up so now it's under water. A fish truck will be nearby this coming Thursday the 9th so that'll be a good opportunity to get minnows if you think they'll survive.

Today my boy and I worked on the dock some more. We poured a concrete transition wall/pad.

Video:

 

[walker450]

Started on the deck frame today, just have to put the angle brackets on connecting the wood to the metal and the 2x6s along the sides then on to decking.

 

[bindian]

I wanna run and jump in now.
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

So would it be too soon for minnows now? There's only a few spots with any vegetation at all, where some grass was growing before it filled up so now it's under water.

Yes, it's too soon. You want algae and plants growing before you put minnows in. They need to eat to survive. Water clarity will decide when this happens. Once you get your first aglea bloom, you should be fine putting minnows in there. You can add bluegill at the same time if they are really small. Mine where about the size of a nickel when I put them in.

Be very careful with a fish truck. They have a well deserved bad reputation of getting rid of stuff they don't want when delivering fish.

You need to find a Fishery that you can go to and buy your fish from. This is the only way you will know what you are getting. Anything else is a gamble. As an example, this is where I bought my fish from for both of my ponds. I know several guys from Pond Boss that also buy from there. https://tylerfishfarm.com/

 

[walker450]

Brandi, I'll post a video soon that you will like!

Thanks again Eddie, I'll hold off on the fish truck idea. I have a neighbor in my ear telling me not to miss the fish truck, maybe he gets a commission lol.

Had a light rain all morning, clearing up now, going to get going on the dock soon.

 

[walker450]

Video:

 

[walker450]

Almost half way done with the decking. This took just under 2 hours so not bad but slower than I expected. My brother came over to help as well so that was nice. We only put the vare minimum amount of screws and ill come.back later and finish the rest. Using used lumber means more shorter pieces so that slows it down.

 

[EddieWalker]

I really like the concrete curb between the dirt and the wood. This is going to be a great space!!!

 

[bindian]

Video:

AWESOME!
hugs, Brandi

 

[walker450]

All deck boards are now on, only have about half the screws in though, will finish tomorrow. Will have a time lapse video up soon.

Would have been so much easier to go buy 20' deck boards and cut each one once... but part of the point of this was to repurpose the old pool deck so lots of short pieces were used which called for a lot more cuts.

After all screws are in I'm going to make some sort of removable gate to keep kids off in case one wonders away from the house...

 

[Xfaxman]

 

[EddieWalker]

You really have me thinking about building a dock on my pond!!! That looks great.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I did mine about 12 years ago I concreted green treated 4x4 posts into clean 5 gallon pails.

Once set I placed the pails where needed and used my pressure washer to undermine until solid.

 

[walker450]

Thanks everyone! I uploaded a time lapse video. You'll have to provide your own soundtrack

Ultrarunner, that's a good idea using the pressure washer. Did your home water supply reach or did you use a water tank to supply the pressure washer?

I want to pressure wash the deck, let dry well, and seal it. I was thinking of using a water trough with a garden hose connection rigged up to the drain somehow.

 

[ultrarunner]

I used two 50' hoses from house water...

Enjoyed your build pictures.

 

[walker450]

All screws in, already in use by the kids!

To do: Build gate, pour transition wall off edges and then backfill dirt, cut grade down about 10" in front of dock so grass will be level.

 

[deezler]

So great. Very awesome that the kids are already bombing off the dock. Do they come out of the water with some orange tinge? What's the expected timeline for water clarity?