Comment by Robert Jango on June 23, 2012 at 3:35pm

Yeah, it was kind of a dumb question, but you never know what answers people will come up with. I think I'll wedge an intake between some stones about a foot above the bottom and make the water flow week to avoid sucking up all kinds of stuff. As long as there's some circulation, I'm good. The intake will be unscreened to help prevent clogging - and if baby fish want a free ride on the waterfall they can knock themselves out - not literally I hope. I'll be sure to set the intake and waterfall at separate ends of the pond to cover the whole area. I like the look of Dustin's pond with the rocks and all. If you have a picture of your waterfall or any ideas I'm happy to listen, but no big emergency; the pond is doing fine and if the waterfall doesn't get done till next year, or even in two years, that's ok.

I don't mind leaves and stuff at the bottom of my pond. The water Lilies and Giant Sagittaria love it. They're at the bottom in pots, but their roots have long since jumped the pots and are  spreading throughout the bottom. I have plants on the shelves doing the same thing. Plants love mud. Incredibly ammonia and nitrates measure 0.

Interesting about the Mollies... how cold does your water get in the winter? By the way my lfs guy complained that he used to get 5" Sailfin Mollies but not anymore. Whenever I turn in my 3" Black Mollies he snaps them up. Mollies and Guppies are always in demand and they can be beautiful fish.

Water Mocassins... that's nasty! We have Garter Snakes but I haven't seen any. And Dustin with the Storks!  We have Storks but I think the pond is too deep for them or maybe they feel claustrophobic in my yard which is enclosed by trees. They nest high in the trees on the edge of a large shallow lake about a mile away. I know for a fact that they will attack fish in shallow ornamental ponds around here - I've seen articles in the local newspapers about it.

Comment by Sidney Hornsby on June 23, 2012 at 5:30pm

well that sound like a good plan ill upload some pics of my ponds and waterfalls for you tomorrow. And to the mollies winter temp question I can answer for sure but i know most of them live through the winters. We would only have 1 or 2 days where the top of the water would freeze. but they survive somehow. probably through the years the ones that survive reproduce to make stronger more hardier babies. We have had problems with storks here and there but we always just make some gun fire around the yard to scare them off. the netting doesnt hold up too great to them.

Comment by Robert Jango on June 23, 2012 at 8:58pm

That's funny about the Storks. Animals learn quickly. When my uncle took me hunting in Maine the deer would flee if they smelled a gun - and they could smell one 100 yards away if the wind was right. In suburban DC (Maryland), where its illegal to hunt deer, they practically walk up to you.

I'm not surprised at all that some Mollies survived. You can read as many fish guidebooks as you want, but, like I said, in natural settings all bets are off. I put my baby bettas in the pond in April  and, even though the surface temperature dropped to 52F, they survived. I'm sure it was well into the 40s at the lower depths.

Thanks in advance for the uploads. I've been outside today trying to picture how it might look. I'm still working on some Discus questions but I want them to be succinct and organized - something you can run thru in 5-10 minutes. Discus are evolving as we speak; what was true 10 years ago may not be true now. Guidebooks are invaluable but there's no substitute for first-hand accounts.  

 

Comment by Sidney Hornsby on June 23, 2012 at 10:29pm

lol down here if a deer sees you it runs and doesnt look back even if you raise it from a baby.

very true with bettas i through my female bettas in my goldfish pond when i need to make room in the house and they do perfectly fine.

your very welcome on the uploads. Oh and im ready to see what questions you have for me. lol

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