WhySoCRS Cherry Pond

[WhySoCRS]

Hi all, I was having a conversation with Ineke last night (has been a massive help) about shrimp and she mentioned that she was keeping Cherry Shrimp outdoors in a pond which got me thinking, why not?

I currently have a 150l tub dug into a raised garden bed which has been up and running for a little over a year I think? I got some cheap feeder fish which I put into it to control mozzies that are doing quite well, I was looking at them earlier and the water unfiltered, unheated is crystal clear to the point where I can see the bottom of the tub and the fry of the once feeder fish getting around.

So, today I went outside, looked at an old raised garden bed full of dead plant life and thought why not?!

Pulled all of the dead plant life out, levelled the surface out, went and purchased two 80l tubs from the local cheap shop ($15 each), dug two holes, placed the tubs in, filled around the tubs and then begun the planting process getting cuttings from around the yard and adding to the raised garden bed.

Doing this on a 41c day wasn't exactly the smartest thing I've ever done, where I got to the point where my eyes were blood shot and a little light headed, but most of the job got done, I filled the tubs up with rain water, got Amazon Frogtbit, Java Moss, Pennywort and Dwarf Baby Tears all from the 180l tub, this will obviously serve as a natural filter, which I know works seeing the 180l tub is crystal clear water still after all this time.

I'm going to let it all settle for a week or two, then look into adding a group of cheap Cherry Shrimp into the tub which is shaded most of the day, the way I see it that because it's in the ground the ground itself will work as insulation during the cooler months, getting sun during the day.

Questions, in regards to mozzies and dragon fly, should I add 2 or 3 Endler Guppies? Also, should I add some IAL or Mulberry Leaves? Should I add some driftwood? 

OK, so here are photos, not great quality as you see but you get the idea.

I still need to add some more plants to the garden bed, but other then that and getting some life into the tubs, it's done.

[jayc]

3 hours ago, WhySoCRS said:

Questions, in regards to mozzies and dragon fly, should I add 2 or 3 Endler Guppies?

I'd like know this as well @ineke

[WhySoCRS]

@jayc, heard back from Ineke and she didn't recommend it, haha.

Add a further 4 medium sized Agave plants earlier to cast some more shade over both tubs to help with temp on hot days also, added some more Frogbit and Java Moss as well.

[jayc]

7 minutes ago, WhySoCRS said:

didn't recommend it, haha.

Hmm, then how do we control the mozzies? My place in particular is mozzie infested.

Looks like an outdoor pond is out for me.

[WhySoCRS]

2 minutes ago, jayc said:

Hmm, then how do we control the mozzies? My place in particular is mozzie infested.

Looks like an outdoor pond is out for me.

She said that the covering of the surface of frogbit and other plants should be fine to keep mozzies out.

[jayc]

16 minutes ago, WhySoCRS said:

covering of the surface of frogbit and other plants should be fine to keep mozzies out.

Nah, I won't risk it. You haven't seen the mozzies I have at my house.

Bloody disease carrying, infectious, zombie bastards.

[Cesar]

Googling mozzies now...


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[jayc]

1 hour ago, cesar said:

mozzies

LOL! Mosquito for our 'Murican friends.

[WhySoCRS]

2 hours ago, cesar said:

Googling mozzies now...


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Mozzies are blood thirsty creatures that prey upon humans at dusk and during the dark hours, much like Drop Bears.

[Ishtarduzzie]

They really are.... Evil little buggers that I am semi allergic to (and live several hundred meters from a wetlands so summer means = thousands)

[jayc]

I live in the inner west near the bicentennial park wetlands.

The bites from the zombie mozzies here often leave you with an infection, and an itch ... oh boy, an itch that feels like you want to rip that limb off just to get some relief. 

Can you see why I describe them as zombies?

But that is the drawback of living in an area that is otherwise great, being so close to the park for bike riding.

Edited February 7, 2018 by jayc

[ineke]

Even before I had my ponds we never go out in the back yard at night to sit on our pergola- the mozzies are huge,. When I check my ponds during the day I never or very rarely see any wrigglers- even when I've done my yearly empty and clean up of the neo pond I haven't found any. Hubby has offered to make a screen with fly wire to go over the ponds but so far it doesn't seem to be necessary - he also offered to put kerosine on the top of the water- YEAH RIGHT!

 

[ineke]

If you don't mind losing a few shrimplets and have lots of plants and hiding places a few small fish would be ok I should think

[WhySoCRS]

Here’s an update on the ponds, decided against shrimp & went with Guppies & Golden Rosy Barbs, all doing really well, water is clear as & also managed to get all breeding.




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[jayc]

That's quite nice actually. Well done.

[WhySoCRS]

5 hours ago, jayc said:

That's quite nice actually. Well done.

Cheers @jayc, just needs a decent trim and take a little of the surface plants out.