Tootfinder

I think I may have got this giant roll of 2” (I think) flexible pipe….. for free?
I don’t have a receipt for it. All I have is the tracking number. The Amazon order is cancelled so there is no info there. My credit card has two $0 transactions on the date it was ordered.
I was not expecting it to show up. I need to confirm that it is actually 2” but either way, I guess…
…umm… 🎁 🐴
#amazon #pondlife

Today's #poolpond progress building the inner rock wall. Rock stacking. 🪨 🪨 🪨
#diy #backyardProject #pondlife #rocks

pick up a rock
clean a rock
move a rock
place a rock
pick up a rock
clean a rock
move a rock
place a rock
#poolpond #diy #backyardProject #watergarden #pond #pondlife

2/2 Then it was time to decide exactly how to create the manifold to direct the return water back into the pond or into the filter. I decided that I wanted the manifold to be well within the pond liner in case anything was leaking so I cut the black tube and extended the PVC to meet it into the main area of the pond.
One valve goes to the bottom return sprayers. One valve goes to what will be sprayers along the long edge of the pond. And the last valve allows water to go into the filter.
Note to self: at least one of these valves must be open at all times if I don't want to blow up the pump :-)
#poolpond #diy #backyardProject #watergarden #pond #pondlife

Thank god it wasn't too hot today (only 27°C). It still felt like a million degrees in the hole as I pulled and shifted and adjusted the pond liner so it would lay flush against all the contours of the hole and gradually locked it in place with the gravel.
All the gravel bottom is in. The bottom plumbing fixtures are set. And I even managed to start playing with how the stairs might look/work.
I ran out of steam after shoveling/hauling/spreading the last load of gravel 🥵 🪏 🪨
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #pondlife

I think I moved about a yard of drain rock into the filter this morning, but I have stopped now due to the smoke rolling in. :(
Probably need 4-5 more cart loads before I switch to the top layer of pebble.
#pondlife #backyardpond #poolpond #bcwildfire #airquality #gardening #portalberni

managed to convince the little pump I am using to empty the ponds to get water all the way over to the 1000 L water tank to use for watering everything while we are on restrictions
Turned the big pump on low. It's now at 23 W at 35%. Stream still flows nicely.
#pondlife #poolPond #BackyardProject #water

#pondlife #poolpond #backyardPrpject #diy #rock #labour
The rock came!! At least the first load. Big stuff 4" . About 3 yards/3.5tonnes.
The rock place doesn't have a dumper truck small enough to make the turn into the backyard, so he had to dump it on the edge of the alley.
Then Son and I moved it.
2hrs in the sun. 🥵 But we got it done. 💪
Tomorrow at 8AM they will bring 3yards of drain rock and 3yards of pebble. We'll see how much we have to scoop out of the alley.

Put in an hour tonight... practicing my rock stacking technique. The easier one first, around the intake bay. The sides are mostly sloped and there is a terrace where we can plant stuff. Ill bring the rocks up to the terrace to act as a barrier for the pebble to plant in.
#pondlife #poolpond #backyardPrpject #diy #rock #labour

Progress.
Attachments and hose lengths made final for the second pump. Caps drilled with holes for each return bottom outlet. Three loads of gravel dumped into the #poolpond for the floor. Then I realized there was a section of the wall near the yellow crate that was not actually touching the inner wall, meaning there was a gap. Not good. But the sun has broken through the morning fog so it’s too hot in the hole now to fix it. Will have to wait until Labour Day!
This weekend is the 1 year anniversary of renting the digger to make the holes! I am about where I figured I would be one year later :)
#backyardProject #diy #pond #pondlife #gardenpond

the City just put in Stage 1 restrictions (we're very lucky here that we have abundant water resources, many places on Vancouver Island have restrictions almost immediately every summer)
So the clock is ticking! If we get to Stage 2 and I haven't filled the pond yet, I'll be prohibited from doing so until the rains come! We can only "top up" pools and ponds in Stage 2. And (god forbid) we get into Stage 3 or 4, the pond will have to be left to dry up. (at which point I would probably just use it as a watering source for the gardens)
I don't think we've ever reached Stage 3. The last time we got to Stage 2 was about 5 years ago I think, after the Heat Dome.
I would be surprised if we got to Stage 2 this year. It has been dry, but not excessively hot, so hopefully our resources can hold through August.
The good news is... I'm close to at least filling the intake bay and wetland filter.
Once the rest of the rock/pebble comes tomorrow I'll immediately start moving the rock into those two holes as quickly as I can, and once done, I'll start filling them with water so I can test out the pumps.
I might set up a temporary path for the water to recirculate through the intake bay and filter, avoiding the pond. That way those two parts can start to grow good-bacteria for the filter while I work on the big pond.
#pondlife #poolpond #backyardPrpject #diy #rock #labour

different flag today. 🇪🇸 #poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

and since it is a poolpond day surely that also means SANGRIA
#poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

The water is surprisingly chilly but on 35°C day, it is absolutely perfect.
SUCCESS
with: @…
#poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

The rock man came at 8:45 and we had the pile shifted from the alley by 10.
🪨 ☀️ 🥵 💪 🪏 🥵 ☀️ 🪨
PS. These tarps brought to you by #bclng #climatechange
#pondlife #poolpond #backyardPrpject #diy #rock #labour

Feels like a #poolpond day.
But first… need to get Sangria mixings!
#poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

#PondLife #PoolPond #Backyard #DIY #PortAlberni #Home
$CAD1100 is a lot to spend on just a couple items, but I guess in the grand scheme of making a pond/pool that will completely transform our backyard, it's not crazy. This about equals the amount spent ($1200 iirc) to rent the digger last Labour Day weekend. The liner and underlay fabric was another $3000. So we're looking at about $5500 so far for the project as a whole. Still better (including for the ecosystem!) than your average $50,000 in-ground pool install. ;=D
I realized last night that I bought the wrong pumps (DCT vs DCP argh). One of those “oh that's cheaper than I thought it would be” moments... followed by... “oh crap.”
I'll send the previous pumps back immediately upon arrival.
It's ok though, these will be two 20,000L/h variable pumps. The entire pond/pool system should be no more than 23,000L. My biggest rookie mistake with the #pandemicpond in the front yard was too small a pump. I rectified that when I added the bog filters there.
So I'm overbuilding this time. I should be able to run them at low-speed/power for the same amount of flow. Which will be better for pump longevity and power over time.
Also got main piping for the system: 50ft of 2" flexible PVC (Schedule 40). This will move water from the intake bay (behind the tree) to the bog filter (in front of the tree) and connect to smaller diameter piping/valves/fittings for sprayers in the pool.
This should be the end of the big-ticket items. The rest will be a LOT of little stuff: electrical, piping, and a lot of rock. Probably another $1000-$1500 to go, all should be local, and some of it can be put off until next year if needed.
It took a few tries on the Bezos Site, but I managed to find a supplier within Canada to avoid tariffs on any of it because Tariff-flation is definitely a thing! (American .com store essentially doubled the cost!)
So ya, you can hashtag this #tariffs #TariffLife #TheAmericanFascist and #TrumpTariffs