Saturday, April 5, 2003
Late Start Up
Start up was in the first week of April this year. This is the year I was in Red Creek and there was that horrible ice storm.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Shut down the pond today
Shut down the pond today. Brought in the pressure filters and put in the de icers.
Water temps - 36 degrees
Air Temp - 41 degrees.
March seems like a long way off.
Photo from 11/11/12.
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Sunday, November 11, 2012
Salt levels
Double checked and the meter did max out.
I thought when we added the salt, a fish jumped. Wondering if it was too much or if salt should have been mixed with water before adding.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Bog Plants
Happy Veteran's Day Uncle David!
Cut back bog plants today - water temps at 44 degrees. Air temps 66 degrees. A gorgeous day. Funny thing - even though the fish were at the bottom and somewhat dormant, they were still watching me cut the bog plants back.
So much for dormency!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Coffee out by the pond
Probably the last day of the year.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Salt levels
Dont know if I missed the reading or if it really is at the top. I know the tester will max out after it has done the reading and then drop to the bottom. Will check again.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Adding water
Need to add water today. Depth is down about 3"
Water temp today - 39 degrees.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Salt
Dave put in 13 boxes @ 4# each of pickling salt. Waiting for the water to warm up to get a reading.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Cut back Waterlilies
Gorgeous day today. Got to 74 degrees. We cut back all the waterlilies and vacuumed out the pond. Water temps 52 degrees.
Divided 2 waterlilies for Mike the furnace guy. I think I have a Black Princess, but not positive. I do know there was a Peach waterlily for him.
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Saturday, October 13, 2012
Hard Frost
Came home from the casino to 29 degrees. This was about 12:30 last night -
Had our first hard frost last night. We need to get the pond vacuumed and the waterlilies cut back. Still need to buy more salt - I only have 2 - 4# boxes.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Spring/Fall Food
Started Spring/Fall food.
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Saturday, September 22, 2012
Water temps
Water temps at 60 degrees
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Water temps
Water temps were 63 degrees tonight at 7 pm. It is early. I am thinking about starting the Spring/Fall food. Typically we start it in October.
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Monday, June 18, 2012
Spawning
Fish are spawning. It is so very early.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
Waterlilies
Fertilized waterlilies today. Only divided the special ones so Mike can have the divisions.
Couldnt' tell the Peach from the Black Princess.
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Ate Dinner at the Back Deck
This has to be the earliest. The water temperature was 53 degrees.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Started up the Pond today!
Started up the pond today - water temps at 44 degrees. So far, so good. Need to be able to check out all the fish.
Start up was not bad - put in 2 packages of microbelift spring start up.
Cooked out today - first day!
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Sunday, March 4, 2012
Fish
Fish definitely moving around. I saw them from out the back door when I was feeding the cats. Start up will be soon. Uv light bulbs ordered on 3/3. Will start up when bulbs arrive.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
FISH MOVING
when i left for work this morning, i saw some fish moving around. i would like the opportunity to check the water temperature.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Water temps
Water temp this morning - 39 degrees. I would love to start the pond early this year - still shooting for the first week in March.
Viewing Carolyn22's Garden Diary: Pond Journal 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Pond Heater died
Dave unplugged the one pond heater with the idea that the other pond heater would work. This was done to cut back on the electric bill. When I got up this morning, the entire pond was iced over. Figures when one was unplugged it was finally cold enough to ice the pond. The pond heater was replaced. Date of new heater recorded on top of heater.
Both pond heaters are now plugged in and working.
I am wondering if part of the increase in the electric bill was because the one heater was on it's way out....
Sunday, December 11, 2011
20 Degrees
20 degrees when I got up this morning. Looks like it was definitely time to shut down the pond. I miss sitting out there so much already....
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
Shut Down the Pond Today
Water temps were 38 degrees. The air temps were in the low 30's. I took a glass of coke out with me and it froze!
Dave put both heaters in the pond. Pumps, uv lights, etc all went into the cellar.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Coffee out by the pond
It was a bit on the breezy side, but very nice and warm with the sun out. The air temps topped out at 62 degrees. This is probably the last day for coffee outside until next spring.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
water temps
Water temps today 42 degrees. Seems warmer than previous years. Wonder if we will be shutting down later than in other years....
Sunday, November 13, 2011
water levels
Water levels seem to be dropping. Seems like this happened last fall and that we would wait until spring to see what happened as we thought there was a leak. Must be it is windier in the fall as there was no leaking last summer
We thought this because in 2010 I was in the bog digging out plants.
Noted for fall references.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Salt levels
meter is now showing 0 % again. does this mean it only takes a couple of days in the pond?
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
salt
topped out at 2.8%.
next year - add a total of 12 boxes of salt.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
salt
Dave put in 10 boxes @ 4# each of salt today.
Water temps 42 degrees, air temps @ 35 degrees at 10:45 am. Today's temps topped out at 48 degrees.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Cut Back Bog Plants
Water temps today were 52 degrees. All bogs were cut back, waterlilies were cut back and pond was vacuumed today. We just need to salt the pond now.
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Saturday, October 15, 2011
Water Temps
Water temperature today was 58 degrees. Air temps 60 and very windy. Have not had a frost yet. Yay!
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Saturday, October 1, 2011
Water temps
Water temperature today - 59.5
air temp - blustery and in the 50's today.
The weather report likened today to mid November and said that early October should still be sunny and warm- 70's
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Friday, September 23, 2011
The General died
The General looked like she was at the top of the water surface, trying to get air - however, not gasping.
Dave went to check and The General died. He thinks she had internal injuries from trying to catch her, which would back up the blood tinged water.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Quarantine
Dave was finally able to catch The General. She is in quarantine and getting dose daily with both pimafix and melafix
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The General
Started Medikoi food.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The General
Noticed The General has a spot that has moss growing and it looks like there is an ulcer starting.
Going to try the Medikoi food and a salt bath. Dave wants to try Pima and Melafix.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Water temps
71 degrees. Today was beautiful - low 80's high 70's
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
spawning
Koi seem to be spawning. Apparently it is early to mid August for spawning.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Red Asagi
Found the Red asagi in the skimmer. He finally died - poor thing. I do feel badly, however, he did live an entire year with the tumors before he died.
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Sunday, May 8, 2011
Dinner by the Pond
First night we have had dinner by the pond. It was a little chilly, but it was so nice to finaly be able to eat outside. It was a gorgeous day, starting with coffee by the pond. I believe this was only the 2nd or 3rd time we were able to have coffee out.
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Monday, April 11, 2011
Coffee
First morning we could have coffee out on the pond.
Monday, April 11, 2011
split and fertilized waterlilies
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Start up
Dave started up the main falls. The fish were all swimming around and kept coming to the edge of the pond to see me.
I was pleasantly surprised the Hi Asagi was still swimming about. We will see how the summer goes with him.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Fish
The fish are definitely moving around. I am hoping that we can get things started up in the next week or so. We will see what the weather brings.
I saw most of the fish. What I saw, all looked healthy. Need to see the rest. Wondering about the red asagi.
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Monday, March 7, 2011
Ugghhhh! 15 " of snow
When are we going to be finished with this?
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Monday, March 7, 2011
Pond Start Up
I think it is going to be awhile.
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Sunday, March 6, 2011
Seems like we will never start up...
Calling for 5-10" of snow. I am so tired of snow......I am hoping this is it for the snow and we can finally get the pond opened and start some Spring like weather....
UGH!
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Fish seem to be awakening
The fish are moving around. Looks like they are waking up. I thought I saw the Hi Asagi.....
Too cold to start up yet.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
filters and statuary brought in
Brought in the filter and the statuary for the winter
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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Vacuuming
vacuuming the pond today and adding 7 boxes of salt.....
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010
cut back pond plants
Dave cut back the pond plants today. Day was nice - air temps 72 degrees and the water was up to 58 degrees. The fish again greeted us at the side of the pond and seemed eager to eat....
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Salt
10 boxes of salt @ 4# each = salt @ 4%
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Water Clears in Fall
The pond always clears in the fall. Less water needs to be flushed from the pressure filters.
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Salt
Dave put in 10 boxes of salt @ 4# each. Have not taken salt reading yet.
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
Red Asagi
The red asagi has been growing and growing outwards. Inititally I thought it was eggs (back in July). But I don't think that anymore.
We pulled him out of the water today and he feels springy to the touch and no eggs would come out when light pressure was applied. I think there is some type of tumor or something growing in there. I would be surprised to see him alive in the Spring. Time will tell.
We measured him and he is 22 inches long.
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
Coffee by the Pond
Still enjoying coffee by the pond. This has been consistently every weekend all season long. Trying to figure out when this typically ends - not that our weather is ever typical any more.
Water temps - 57 degrees
Air temps - 80 degrees in the sun and on the thermometer on the back deck.
Evening temps last night were about 34 degrees.
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
Dinner
Had dinner out by the pond. What a surprise...
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
spawning
showa
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
spawning
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Koi Clay
Added koi clay - they swam right into it. Apparently they love it as much as I have heard.
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Saturday, June 19, 2010
Water Clearing
Dave has been cleaning the filters - 2-3 times a day. The water is clearing. If you put light colored object on the bottom of the pond in the deeper end, you can still make out the item. Hopefully soon, the water will be crystal clear. We feel the uv lights are doing their job as the murk in the water was brown.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Murky Water
Water has been murky since we got back from Boston this last time (5/18ish). Took readings:
ammonia 0 ppm
nitrites 0 ppm
nitrates 0 ppm
The fish are healthy and we had no problems with start up.
Water seems like it is just starting to clear. We think it is the pondzyme plus being added to the bog. Dave is going to go down to 10 scoops just into the bog (as opposed to the traditional 25 scoops). Everything will go into the bog.
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
First Waterlily to Bloom
The first waterlily bloomed today. It was a smaller one that was white with a yellow center.
Friday, April 30, 2010
First Night out by the Pond
It was a beautiful night and we were able to sit for quite some time.
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Saturday, March 27, 2010
Vacuumed pond
Vacuumed out the pond for spring clean up. Got a whole pail full of crud. Hoped to get the salt stirred up and mixed into the water. Would like the salt to help bridge us to a healthy spring for the fish.
Fertilized waterlilies
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Saturday, March 27, 2010
Fertilized Waterlilies
Fertilized all the waterlilies - they have gone into the cellar to be put into the pond tomorrow. Put wet newspaper and papertowels over them and then garbage bags over top to keep the moisture in. The pond was too dark, especially after stirring everything up by vacuuming to pu the waterlilies back in. Will put them back in tomorrow.
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Saturday, March 20, 2010
Coffee this Morning by the Pond
Coffee this morning by the pond. I don't think it has ever been this early. It was a beautiful day today. The water temps were 56.5 and the airtemps were in the low 70's. A gorgeous day today.
Fish seemed to be jumping. Not sure if that is a ph thing or what.
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Friday, March 19, 2010
Water is Clear
The water is crystal clear today! Yay!. Air temps were 71 degrees this afternoon on the thermometer in Ulster.
Don't know what the water temps are. The fish act like they are hungry and I am leary about feeding them. It seems so early.
Have noticed several of the fish flashing. Need to calibrate ph/temp gauge in order to check ph levels.
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Rest of the Pumps Up and Running Today
Dave called Foster & Smith - apparently the problem with the pressure filter is the O-Ring. Used vaseline on the O-Ring and it worked like a charm. The other 2 pumps are up and running now.
Pondzyme was added today as well.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
started up first pump
Started up the first pump. Having trouble with the pressure filter - can't get a good enough seal to keep it from leaking at the top.
Laid down on the deck and even though the water is a murky mess, the fish did come over to see me!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sat outside today!
Air temps today - 57 degrees, but it felt warmer in the sun.
Water parameters:
Ph 8.8+
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 0 ppm
Water temps 42.8 degrees
this picture was taken today. The fish were looking for algae to eat. Here is The General and you can still see the snow.
A week ago this past Thursday (2/25), we received 15 inches of snow on top of the 4" we already had.
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Saturday, March 6, 2010
Fish are waking up
Air temps today were 45-47 degrees. The fish were starting to wake up and we saw some of them slowly swimming around late this afternoon. There is still too much ice and snow to even think about starting up the main falls. The water is a murky greenish....
this picture is from April of 2009
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Sunday, December 6, 2009
First Snow on 12/5
First snow of the year.....
Last week, Dave changed the way the heaters were put into the pond. Turned on the heaters as ice is forming on the pond...
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Pond shut down
The uv lights and the pressure filter were cleaned and brought in today.
Trying a new set up with the heaters - they are lined up using a cord.
Water temp. 40.7
ph 8.6
air temps 45.7 @ 5:27 pm
Fish seem to be fine.
Temps are supposed to plunge tomorrow (Thursday)
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pump
Water temp: 48.2
Ph 8.3
Air temp 44.1
Took out main pump in order to go to Watertown for Thanksgiving....Bubbler is on and 2 waterfalls are still running.
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
Coffee this Morning by the Pond
I was surprised it was warm enough to have coffee this morning by the pond.....
Water temp: 49.6
ph 8.3
Today, the air temps got to 67, but it felt warmer than that.
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Saturday, November 14, 2009
Salt...
Apparently Dave had added another 6 boxes of salt that I did not know about. So the total was 36 boxes of salt at 4 lbs each. We did get a salt tester that worked at Petsmart and the percent worked out to be 3.8% which is far too much. Dave let out approximately 1400 gallons and now we are at 2.8%. We will keep it at the 2.8%, but would really prefer to have it at 2% for the winter.
Next year, we will start with 15 boxes and take a reading and then add another 5 boxes if necessary.
Salt tester - to have the PPT end up as a percent, add a 0.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
cut back plants in bog
Cut back all the remainder of the bog plants today. Today was gorgeous - air temps 70-75 degrees and the water temp this morning was 41. By the time it was late afternoon, the water temps were in the low 50's and the fish were moving around.
Put 14 more boxes of salt in. There is now a total of 28 boxes @ 4# each or a total of 112# of salt.
Need to pick up a drop tester for the salt......
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Coffee this Morning by the Pond
This was probably one of the latest mornings we have been able to have coffee by the pond. It was a beautiful day today and reached 68 degrees in the sun. The water temperature was 56.7 degrees.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fish this morning ..... the sun felt so good and it seemed the fish were happy to see us.
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Cataracts?
Looks like this guy has a cataract....he seems to be blind on this side. I am wondering what the odds are that he will not develop a cataract on the other side.....
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Friday, October 23, 2009
Salt...
Dave put in 14 boxes of salt at 4# per box or a total of 56# of salt. This put us at 0.5% so we need to add at least another 56# of salt.
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Saturday, October 10, 2009
Winding Down Soon
Water temps this morning: 59.7 - soon we will have to wind down the pond for the winter. I am sad about this. I miss sitting by the pond - especially when it is time to have our coffee in the morning.
This picture was taken of the fish on 10/3/09 - everybody seems very healthy. Need to start salting the pond.
Started with the Spring/Fall food this morning.
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
pond gallons
again measured to 4850
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Dumped & Vacuumed Pond
Came to the conclusion the pond needed to be dumped and we needed to vacuum the pond. We were going to do a partial water exchange, but didn't like the smell coming from the pond. When we dumped the pond, there really was not a lot of crud left in the pond, which tells us that the crud, for the most part, went with the water. Dave indicated that he was not using the Pondzyme this year and now we think the Pondzyme was doing more than we originally thought. Ordered 6 - 1# canisters of Pondzyme. There should be enough to take us through the remainder of this year and all of next year.
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Fish.....
Measured the fish while we were emptying the pond....
Kohaku - 23.5"
Hi Asagi - 21.5"
Asagi - 20.5"
Showa - 20"
Caramel and White - 19.5"
The General - 19"
Ki Utsuri - 19"
GinRin Yamabuki - 17"
Shishui - 17"
Matsuba - 17"
Kigoi - 16"
Bela - 15"
Orange and Black Doitsu (Ki Doitsu Matsuba) - 14.5"
Orange - 14"
Sanke - 9.5 - 10"
Baby Asagi - 8.5"
3 Babies @ 4" each
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Waterlilies
Cut back waterlilies. Covered waterlilies with newspaper and sprayed to keep them moist until we can put them back into the pond.
Marked Black Princess Waterlily with white electrical strapping
Marked Peach Waterlily with white electrical strapping and marked with blue marker...
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
New Pressure Filter Came today....
Hooked up to 2400 gallon pump. Guestimate the gph at the top of the falls to be 1800-1900 gph. The new pressure filter also has a 9 watt uv light in it. This is hooked up in tandem with an 18 watt uv light for more killing power....
Water clarity has been an issue all pond season..... Dr. Foster & Smith indicated the constant rain was a factor....
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
still having problems with clarity
Dave cleaned off the filters about every hour or so. We then found that the floating algae seems to be a symptom of high nitrates. I read this will also cause low oxygen problems. Turned on bubbler and immediately the fish seemed more active.
Went to Horseheads and bought new test kit. Tested:
Water temp: 70.9
ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0 or just over 0
Nitrite: 0
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Problems with clarity
Put in new UV light bulbs
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Dinner out by the pond
I think this is the earliest we have ever eaten dinner out by the pond. It really was wonderful. The night was like a hot humid July night.
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
pima
Last day of Pima fix. Added more melafix. Need to dose with Melafix until Thurs next week. Orange baby looks better already.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
water exchange
did a 1/5 water exchange. Fixed crumbling bog wall and started adding melafix and pima. Orange baby has fungus.
Dave gave me a paper on this with how many gallons were in the exchange - which I lost. I really need to do better! I think it said 1050 gallons.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Light & Cover on Bog
Today, the light went into the main waterfalls and the cover came off the main bog.
We sat outside today after work with our coffee. All the fish were swimming around - water temps 51.8F
Water in pond is crystal clear.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Fertilizer
Decided to try fertilizing the Waterlilies every other year. Not going to fertilize this year, will need to do it in 2010
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Waterlilies
Will need to fertilize Waterlilies this year.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
So far so good
they look good so far.
Air temp 50F
Water temp 46F
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
Started up the other 2 pumps
Started up the other 2 pumps and hooked up the other uv light. Fish seem active and tonight with the lights on the pond, I could see them eating algae over by the fence. Hopefully things will clear up soon so I can check everyone out to make sure they are all ok.
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
MicrobeLift
Put in first dose (2 bags) of Microbelift Spring/Summer start up. Will need to add each Saturday.
Air temp 50 degrees
water temp 43 degrees
Friday, March 6, 2009
Started 1 pump
Took off net and skimmed the algae. There was a lot of algae this year. The skimmer is frozen solid - trying to melt that so we can get that pump going.
Hooked up 1 pump and uv light.
Water temp - 42 degrees
Air temp 62.4 degrees
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Beautiful outside
5:30 pm. Sat outside. I don't ever remember sitting out this early. We had to wear jackets, but was still really nice.
Water temp 42.4F
Air temp 50F
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Water Iris
I knew water iris was a tough plant, but it's growing right through the ice........ If it was from last year, it would have been brown long before now.
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