Tootfinder

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

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

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

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

#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

Another step in the #PoolPond today. Bought the 2 pumps. They are high-efficiency, DC variable speed/power up to 15000L/hr (4000gal/hr) and 105W.
One will be to take water from the pond to the bog filter, and one will do double duty going to the bog filter or to sprayers/jets inside the pond (both decorative and for circulation)
I might get a 3rd pump in time if I find the extra capacity is needed.
#DIY #PondLife #PortAlberni #Pool #Pond #Natural
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CLB7SJ4Q?psc=1&smid=A7SIQ2Y2T11UM&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

Refreshed my memory and calculations for the full volume of the three holes in our backyard. The next large purchase is going to be the pump. So I need to know how much water it needs to move in order to be a healthy ecosystem.
The full volume of all three holes combined is about 38,000L before rock/medium additions.
The larger bog filter should reduce the need for a larger pump by comparison with our smaller pond. But it still won’t be small.
#pump #pond #pondlife #backyard #diy

#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.

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

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

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

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