#poolpond — Public Fediverse posts

Finally managed to weed eat and cut the lawn today and got the last of the gravel moved so that we can get a bobcat in here to level the yard!! Yaaayy!!

Also did some cleaning out on the pond. Turns out the moss is great… until it REALLY latches in and makes space for grass. There was so much into the stream that it was backing up into the top pond, causing it to overflow, and the whole system lose water!

When I pulled up the moss, it pulled much of the gravel with it! So lesson learned. Very light on the moss, no more gravel in the stream, keep things neat and tidy!

In all though, the pond cleared up fast thanks to the barrel filters and all is good!

#pandemicpond #gardening #pondlife #spring #portalberni #backyardPond #PoolPond

Went to the grocery store. Managed to get most everything for under $200. Came home. Bent over to start putting everything away and my back was like noooooooooope. 🤕

Gingerly put everything away.
Now flat on couch.
No more yard work this weekend 😂

I wish ibuprofen worked on grocery bill inflation too.

#poolpond #home #life #backpain #inflation #affordability

back and muscles say i am done for now but I made a good dent in the gravel. Managed to get all the gravel off the black fabric so that can be stored away. Just a two or three cart loads left but I don't want any nasty back surprises!

Maybe I can look up some folks with a bobcat and book a date for levelling! 🙌 🚜

emptying the poolpond of icky water.
and rhubarb!!

time for tylenol and a snack

/end

#poolpond #backyard #home #gardening #BackyardProject #pandemicpond

4 inch rock moved to new spot. And new gravel spot ready,#poolpond #backyard #home #gardening #BackyardProject #pandemicpond

two loads in the cart. One load left on the ground of the 1 inch rocks then it's into the gravel

don't be fooled by what you can see. The black fabric is actually concealing, almost half of the pile of gravel lol
#poolpond #backyard #home #gardening #BackyardProject #pandemicpond

it's time to move the last of this rock out of this back part of the yard to somewhere else so that the mountain of dirt can be flattened and spread out and ready for planting and other things.

The clay is already hardening up!

#poolpond #backyard #home #gardening #BackyardProject #pandemicpond

I'm getting hyped up to shovel rocks into our new garden cart tomorrow.

No really, i think it’ll be kinda therapeutic, even if it hurts a lot afterward. lol

It's been hard to even think about the #poolpond and the next steps for it, let alone do anything. So I really want to try to get some stuff done on Saturday.

#gardening #shovelTheStressAway #backpain

I don't think I have twisted off the cap for the cleanout since I bought the whole assembly... 5months? I only slid the end into the pipe in August so hadn't needed to screw off the cap. It took some leverage/persuasion to turn it.

But I was successful, and now the big filter can be drained. The water was actually higher than the bottom of the cap but no big deal, it's not really under any pressure.

#poolpond #diy #backyardproject #portalberni #gardening #pondlife

emptied the pond overnight. We have had so much rain this past month! All are full. I am going to drain it all and keep it drained until I get the pumps wired and can habe them installed and running. Don't want the water to get stale and unhealthy.

I think I might hire a stone mason to build the wall.

moving the pump into the intake bay now. It should be empty by the time I am back from the day's ceremonies.

#poolpond #diy #backyardproject #portalberni #gardening #pondlife

some closeups provided by my lovely partner-in-crime.

We made a gap for the arbutus tree to grow into :)

New fence posts always remind me of soldiers when they have the supports holding them up.

#PoolPond #Fence #BackyardProject

There be posts!
They're going to reuse part of the back fence and both gates there since they are still in good shape. The bare posts look so gigantic. lol. The finished fence will be 6.5-7ft... but who wouldn't want a 10ft wall of wire lol

Looks like the pond gained about 12 inches of water over the past few days of rain. I had mostly emptied it on Sunday.
#PoolPond #Fence #BackyardProject

Had to detach some of the existing fencing from the posts so we can keep it without losing any of the greenery already establsihed.

Now that that is done. BASEBALL ⚾️

go Jays!!

and as I type... GRAND SLAM
#poolpond i #grandslam #mlb #bluejays #toronto #canada

A little rearranging in the backyard to get stuff away from the fence lines. Builders coming on Wednesday for our new 6.5ft fence and gates!!! Eeee!!

(must keep kids out per-water-bylaw, and also discourage the munchy deer friends!)

A little rainy while I worked but it was nice. :)

Also took out the top of the tall white pipe. The joint is only 2 inches below the rocks. No one will melt having to unscrew the top with their hand in water. :+)
#DIY #PoolPond #BackyardProject #Home #Today

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

All rocks that are to be moved today have been moved. There are still more but that will be for another day.

Almost got the back wall and stairs done!
#poolpond #diy #backyardProject #watergarden #pond #pondlife

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

1/2 It feels like forever since I was working on the pond, even though it's only been a week.

The bottom plumbing is now officially done. I drilled holes into the intake pipe for the main pond return pump.

Then I used some 3-D printed replicas of the fittings to go onto the pump to hook it up.

#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

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

Now that we have had our brief bit of fun with the #poolpond, it’s time to drain it so work on completing it can continue! It took just over 12 hours for my little spare pond pump to empty the main pond of about 80% of its water.

It will be empty by morning. I will empty the filter and intake bay as well just to clean everything out. The movement of the past couple weeks through the system will have loosened up a bunch of the gunk still on the various rocks in the filter so a full pump out should remove all that.

I will then concentrate on finishing the piping in the bottom of the main pond for the intake for the second pond and the “periscope” for the bottom returns.

Then I can work on building the rock wall to line the inside of the pond. Or at least experimenting to see if it will work at all!

If it *does* work and I have enough rock to at least start on the bottom layers of the inside wall, then I’ll be able to achieve another milestone: placing the final pebble on the bottom. Important, because that will prevent any groundwater from infiltrating and causing the rubber liner to bubble out.

Really really want to get past that mark before the autumn rains come! For obvious reasons! ☔️

Other jobs that need to be done before winter:

- finish the manifold for the second pump to distribute water to the sprayers and filter and figure out how and where to house and conceal it.

- Dig the electrical trench from the house all the way around the long side of the pond to the back tool shed so we can start wiring it in.

- Clipping the wires on the pumps and adding extension wire to them so they can reach said electrical supplies.

- permanently shore up/modify the borders of the ponds where they were found to be low.

- make a few other minor terraforming modifications for the stream and some of the edges so the water goes a little more where I want it to and a little less where I don’t.
#poolpond #backyardProject #portalberni #ponds #watergarden

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

The water is surprisingly chilly but on 35°C day, it is absolutely perfect.

SUCCESS

with: @Jade

#poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

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

Feels like a #poolpond day.

But first… need to get Sangria mixings!

#poolpond #backyardproject #pondlife #portalberni #hot #summer

This is the manifold typt thing that I am currently roughing together for the 2nd pump from the main pond.

The through pipe will go to the filter and the two offshoots will go to the bottom returns and side sorayers which are both meant to keep the water in the pond moving toward the pump bay and discourage settling on the bottom

#poolpond #diy #backyardproject

plumbing adjustments

I tried every combination of elbow and T junction with the pump flowing at low and high speed to figure out which way looked best and directed the most water down to the bottom of the filter.

The conclusion was that there didn't seem to be much difference at all as far as water going down instead of spilling out the top unless I extend the breather pipe about 30cm over the water surface.

So aesthetics win. The pump hoses will lie as flat as possible into the filter and the breather is just above the water surface.

One hose is from the main pump in the pump bay. The other hose is from the pump in the pool pond that will draw water from the bottom of the pond and direct it to either the filter or the bottom sprayers/circulators or both.

I think that's all I will do today. I thought I might talk with some of the plumbing for the sprayers, but I don't feel like it lol.

This rubber mallet has saved me so much grunting and pulling lol. Highly recommend.

The ratchet pipe cutter is pretty awesome too. Worth every penny.

#poolpond #diy #backyardproject

we are now on Stage 3 water restrictions! No fill *or* topping up of ponds or pools! So that definitely captures the #poolpond ;)

I'm going to go get an adapter for my little pond pump hose so it can hook up to a regular garden hose and we'll use all the #pool water for watering the gardens over the next few weeks until the rains truly return.

#Fire #PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #Water #ClimateChange #Drought #DIY #BackyardProject
https://socialbc.ca/@alberniweather/115036554816818531

The rain has topped up the pool pond! 🙏 🌧️

It is overflowing at the overflow and only at the overflow, that I can tell :). I powered the pump up from its 40% (34W) to 75% (120W) to get things moving in the filter while we have the rain.

I might as well use it to allow it to clean the gunk out of the system naturally!

Still feels like I got rushed into filling it, but it is really satisfying nonetheless to see it functioning as designed in my head! lol

#poolpond #diy #backyardproject

Water off. Level is not 100% full but close enough that the pump can just run. We are expecting rain tonight that might be enough to completely fill it.

No leaks detected.

I’ll leave the pump at 100%/180W for a couple hours just to give it a good run. Then I will turn down to minimum tonight.

#poolpond #diy #portalberni #backyardproject

The main pond is basically full now. I have been gradually increased the power of the pump. Now 100% at 160W. I won't normally have it at full power but this is good for testing.

I am basically patrolling the edge of the ponds looking for low points. Have shored up a few but nothing serious. The first round of tests with the filter addressed most of them.

When the holes filled over the winter I actually shored up the edges of the main pond then, so there isn't much to do there.

Just waiting for the pump bay to fill up completely now. It'll probably be about an hour. (the water hose has not been on full blast this whole time, only about 1/4)

Then we will see the full level of the entire system.

The Finger of water closest to me in this picture is the overflow that goes into the storm/sewer system. That is the final arbiter of the fill point of the pond.

#poolpond #diy #portalberni #backyardproject

I think we are very near critical mass. The pump bay is only barely emptying itself
now. And the pond is gradually overtopping the main part of the weir.

Now to line the top edge of the pond so surface debris only goes through the little inlet.
#poolpond #diy #portalberni #backyardproject

Last load came just before 11.

2 hours of hot shovelling later, and the gate can close. The deed is done. I go die now...

Hopefully this is all the rock I will need!!

#bclng #climatechange #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 https://bclngburns.ca
😝

#bclng #climatechange

#pondlife #poolpond #backyardPrpject #diy #rock #labour

Looks like up to two pumps will fit nicely in the bin... this is good. Ill make holes in the bin for the pipes to exit one end.

The bin will be installed in the intake bay of the pond to draw/skim water from the surface.

These are skookum pumps. 💪

At full power (180W each) together they will move 40,000L/hr (666L or 175gal/min). That's almost twice the pool volume of 21,000L.

But I should not need to move that much through the bog. One pump will be dedicated to the bog filter while the other will go to both the bog and/or the sprayers in the pool.

That said, if I do need a third pump there will be room in the bin for three.

I may put one pump in the far corner of the pool itself with an inlet hose to reach the bottom of the pool to really ensure there is good circulation of the water. We'll see.

#poolpond #diy #pondProject #Backyard #unbox

The pumps came!

#poolpond #diy #pondProject #Backyard #unbox

Big thanks to @RandomCanuck for finding a CO2 answer!

This document (https://epdmroofs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08-ERA-Technical-Bulletin-Overview-of-EPDM-design-option-3.pdf) says standard 60mil* EPDM roofing membrane embodies 6.93kg of CO2/sqft.

So 45mil (1.143mm thick) will be 25% less:
6.93-25% = 5.198 kgCO2/sqft.

I bought a 70ft x 30ft section.
So 2100sqft x 5.198 = 10,915.8 kgC02**

That is equivalent to flying from #YVR to #HKG roundtrip, 13 times. Oooooff. That's a bit of a shocker. 🫢😐

OK, I guess I have some work to do to offset/capture some carbon in this here little pond/pool! The good news is, it will not feature any fish so I am hopeful that it will be, eventually, a carbon-negative operation as long as I plant it chock-full and periodically remove/sequester the compost to avoid methane emissions from decomposition.

*WHAT A STUPID MEASUREMENT lol “60mil” = 0.060in or 1.524mm thickness

** Holy heck I love the built-in math in the latest macOS/iOS update!!
#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Big thanks to @RandomCanuck for finding a CO2 answer!

This document (https://epdmroofs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08-ERA-Technical-Bulletin-Overview-of-EPDM-design-option-3.pdf) says standard 60mil* EPDM roofing membrane embodies 6.93kg of CO2/sqft.

So 45mil (1.143mm thick) will be 25% less:
6.93-25% = 5.198 kgCO2/sqft.

I bought a 70ft x 30ft section.
So 2100sqft x 5.198 = 10,915.8 kgC02**

That is equivalent to flying from #YVR to #HKG roundtrip, 13 times. Oooooff. That's a bit of a shocker. 🫢😐

OK, I guess I have some work to do to offset/capture some carbon in this here little pond/pool! The good news is, it will not feature any fish so I am hopeful that it will be, eventually, a carbon-negative operation as long as I plant it chock-full and periodically remove/sequester the compost to avoid methane emissions from decomposition.

*WHAT A STUPID MEASUREMENT lol “60mil” = 0.060in or 1.524mm thickness

** Holy heck I love the built-in math in the latest macOS/iOS update!!
#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Big thanks to @RandomCanuck for finding a CO2 answer!

This document (https://epdmroofs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08-ERA-Technical-Bulletin-Overview-of-EPDM-design-option-3.pdf) says standard 60mil* EPDM roofing membrane embodies 6.93kg of CO2/sqft.

So 45mil (1.143mm thick) will be 25% less:
6.93-25% = 5.198 kgCO2/sqft.

I bought a 70ft x 30ft section.
So 2100sqft x 5.198 = 10,915.8 kgC02**

That is equivalent to flying from #YVR to #HKG roundtrip, 13 times. Oooooff. That's a bit of a shocker. 🫢😐

OK, I guess I have some work to do to offset/capture some carbon in this here little pond/pool! The good news is, it will not feature any fish so I am hopeful that it will be, eventually, a carbon-negative operation as long as I plant it chock-full and periodically remove/sequester the compost to avoid methane emissions from decomposition.

*WHAT A STUPID MEASUREMENT lol “60mil” = 0.060in or 1.524mm thickness

** Holy heck I love the built-in math in the latest macOS/iOS update!!
#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Big thanks to @RandomCanuck for finding a CO2 answer!

This document (https://epdmroofs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08-ERA-Technical-Bulletin-Overview-of-EPDM-design-option-3.pdf) says standard 60mil* EPDM roofing membrane embodies 6.93kg of CO2/sqft.

So 45mil (1.143mm thick) will be 25% less:
6.93-25% = 5.198 kgCO2/sqft.

I bought a 70ft x 30ft section.
So 2100sqft x 5.198 = 10,915.8 kgC02**

That is equivalent to flying from #YVR to #HKG roundtrip, 13 times. Oooooff. That's a bit of a shocker. 🫢😐

OK, I guess I have some work to do to offset/capture some carbon in this here little pond/pool! The good news is, it will not feature any fish so I am hopeful that it will be, eventually, a carbon-negative operation as long as I plant it chock-full and periodically remove/sequester the compost to avoid methane emissions from decomposition.

*WHAT A STUPID MEASUREMENT lol “60mil” = 0.060in or 1.524mm thickness

** Holy heck I love the built-in math in the latest macOS/iOS update!!
#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Here's some info I found from Dow on a new process they say *reduces* various polluting factors by ____% but of course they don't give absolute numbers because then we would have actual information. 🙄

https://www.dow.com/en-us/document-viewer.html?randomVar=5770251429220267360&docPath=/content/dam/dcc/documents/265/265-15001-01-rubber-industry-trends-poster.pdf

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Here's some info I found from Dow on a new process they say *reduces* various polluting factors by ____% but of course they don't give absolute numbers because then we would have actual information. 🙄

https://www.dow.com/en-us/document-viewer.html?randomVar=5770251429220267360&docPath=/content/dam/dcc/documents/265/265-15001-01-rubber-industry-trends-poster.pdf

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Here's some info I found from Dow on a new process they say *reduces* various polluting factors by ____% but of course they don't give absolute numbers because then we would have actual information. 🙄

https://www.dow.com/en-us/document-viewer.html?randomVar=5770251429220267360&docPath=/content/dam/dcc/documents/265/265-15001-01-rubber-industry-trends-poster.pdf

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Here's some info I found from Dow on a new process they say *reduces* various polluting factors by ____% but of course they don't give absolute numbers because then we would have actual information. 🙄

https://www.dow.com/en-us/document-viewer.html?randomVar=5770251429220267360&docPath=/content/dam/dcc/documents/265/265-15001-01-rubber-industry-trends-poster.pdf

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond

Just bought a lot of rubber….

Technically... I guess this is the largest carbon-purchase I've made in a few years, at least since I last flew a long distance. Now I'm curious on the carbon footprint of EPDM rubber materials. I'll have to go googling for the embedded carbon in rubber later.

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond
https://pondsonline.ca/firestone-pondgard-45-mil-1-14-mm-epdm-pond-liner-shipping-extra.html

Just bought a lot of rubber….

Technically... I guess this is the largest carbon-purchase I've made in a few years, at least since I last flew a long distance. Now I'm curious on the carbon footprint of EPDM rubber materials. I'll have to go googling for the embedded carbon in rubber later.

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond
https://pondsonline.ca/firestone-pondgard-45-mil-1-14-mm-epdm-pond-liner-shipping-extra.html

Just bought a lot of rubber….

Technically... I guess this is the largest carbon-purchase I've made in a few years, at least since I last flew a long distance. Now I'm curious on the carbon footprint of EPDM rubber materials. I'll have to go googling for the embedded carbon in rubber later.

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond
https://pondsonline.ca/firestone-pondgard-45-mil-1-14-mm-epdm-pond-liner-shipping-extra.html

Just bought a lot of rubber….

Technically... I guess this is the largest carbon-purchase I've made in a few years, at least since I last flew a long distance. Now I'm curious on the carbon footprint of EPDM rubber materials. I'll have to go googling for the embedded carbon in rubber later.

#Ponds #Liner #CarbonFootprint #Rubber #BackyardProject #PoolPond
https://pondsonline.ca/firestone-pondgard-45-mil-1-14-mm-epdm-pond-liner-shipping-extra.html

Soil testing today! Evaluating the soil I dug for the #poolPond for potential use for rammed earth floor and/or fence. The narrow mouth mason jar is soil from the smaller hole. The wide mouth mason (🎸 ) is from the large pile.
#naturalBuilding
#backyardProject #rammedEarth #PortAlberni Also yes, #atlas reminded me it was #caturday He says hello, and "why is this jar on my table meow?" #catsodon