http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chlorine-Filter-Hose-Attachment-For-Ponds-and-Aquariums-i-b-font-color-red-FR-/190760089005?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6a2ff5ad
See if you can get this to open....it's an attachment for your hose that you use when you're going to top off your pond. The filter only lasts through so many, so don't water your lawn with it! :)
But DEFINITELY still get some anti-chlor to use even IF you use the filter.
I'm so sorry this happened again. I've done it too and now have an agreement with myself, that I won't even turn the hose on until I've already set the alarm on my phone.
I am in MOURNING!!!! Lost 21 kois!!
MM,
I thank you for the link. i just bought the chlorine filter.
Belle
We have something similar to that as well. Ours has filter that go into the unit that are changed every so often. It makes topping off the pond or water exchanges much simpler.
Great Belle! Let's hope this is the last time we hear of any more losses! :D (but we won't leak a word to your hubbie!)
MM,
DH is a perfectionist!! I am not allowed to make mistakes. LOL!!!
Belle
I've got a definition for perfectionist but I sure can't put it into print. LOL
Hey, we are all human and that gives an allowance for error now and then.
Bell,
Hope your remaining fish do well and glad you are back playing golf.
Bonnie
I'm a perfectionist that still screws up.....so I guess that makes me ...human?? :D
A friend, many years ago, told me if you screw up a recipe and burn it...you don't admit defeat and the fact that you did something wrong....you just rename it and move forward with the new "how it is".
I go with that.
We all make mistakes - if we didn't make mistakes we would never learn.
I've learned approximately 2,437 times with my pond. ;)
You're funny. You make me laugh.
People who don't make mistakes often times don't do anything.
You know my saying-nothing ventured--nothing gained.
I'm sure Merry Mary and I are both adventurous so we should be champions of mistakes and accomplishments.
Got to get work and do something even if its wrong.
I'm loving this beautiful weather.
Bonnie
Send the weather this way. It is snow again! Ughh!!!
Supposed to go dowh to 39 here tonight. Don't think it will hurt most of my plants. Rest of the week supposed to be in the 70's.
My husb. says anything below 70 is freezing. Now you know why we live in Fl. He hats cold weather.
This time ofyear I keep close check on the weather. I have seen 26 more than once. We used to have large groves all around Clermont but 1983 freeze started killing them. 3 bad freezes back to back did them in. Our grove died a few years later. I still miss them. Now we grow cows instead of oranges. Made more $$ with the oranges but thats life.
Stay warm up north all.
Bonnie
Bonnie
I agree with your husband. I can tell when it hits 68 degrees as I get cold around that point. Not happy to see the thermometer at 17 degrees this morning. Ughh!!!
Cold AND it just started raining too....blah....it was 84 just the other day! That's winter in Florida!
Bonnie...I too miss the groves that used to be all over central Florida. My favorite smell is orange blossoms blooming all around town.
My little 3 branched 3 foot citrus tree has buds on it, so I don't want it to get cold enough to freeze them off before they get to open. My plan is to have my morning coffee with my face buried in the open blooms savoring the smell! What a great way to start a morning! I'll take the rain...but cold weather, PLEASE go away!
It is an easy winter with no fish in my little pond.. not having to worry about keeping the ice open for them.. but I miss them! That forgetting to turn the water off is a mistake so often made! This last time was a stuck valve .. now I can't trust the valve and will be back to turning water off and on .... when I get fish in the spring.
Sorry for your loss.
Come spring time it looks like a lot of people are going to be buying fish.
I can understand. If I lost all of mine I would replace them even tho it would takea while.
To all who lost fish THINK SPRING and new fishies swimming aorund for your viewing enjoyment.
Bonnie
I would hate to have an empty pond. I think spring anyway, but I would definitely be planning my fishing expedition. DH and I used to go every spring to the fish farm and we would make a day of it - we would figure out where we would stop and have a nice lunch on the way and what kind of fish we were going to buy. Of course we bought more than we always planned to buy - but it was always great fun.
Carolyn,
There are so many places to buy fish here you would go bonkers. Because we like the folks that run it we go to Sandy Acres fish farm. It's all on 2 acres, not huge but quite a bit to choose from. They keep their own large breeders plus pond plants for sale. Never bought any plants cause really don't know how to raise them plus all my water is really moving and i'm sure they would like still water.
Got a ton of broadleaf fern a friend wanted to get rid of so thats my job for today planting them. Plants in front of my angel died out so time for some new ones and can't beat free but digging them was difficult. Just hope they all root.
Fish are all happy right now. I've been feeding them fish food and cherrios for desert. They love them. New little ones in old pond are doing good. Haven't lost not 1 yet. Blue shubunkins with yellow heads are about 4 inches. Zip around the pond like jets.
Bonnie
Bonnie
I am so envious.....
I have a screen saver on my desk top at work of my fish. I just love looking at them.
Bet your co-workers enjoy it to.
My son Jeff talks a blue streak about fish to anyone that will listen. His wife would like to tape his mouth. I just smile and listen and figure I'm glad thats his interest and not something bad. Fish and football with his boys are his life outside of work. One grandson is now 14 and we are all going to next koi show in March.
All the new shubunkins I bought at fish farm are doing well. Everything I put in old pond seem to be fine. 1 new butterfly in larger pond is also looking peppy. He is really ugly so I decided to name him UGLY. Jeff just says he is different. Has bright red lines just above his eyes reminds me of someone that went beserk with eye makeup. We just laugh at him.
Bonnie
Just found another place in Deland on Craigs list. 4 and 5 dollars for little ones 4-5 inches. Got some 1 ft. and larger for $50. I told Jeff and you know what he said "mom maybe we better check that out". I don't need anymore large fish but!!!!!!!
Bonnie,
The $4-5 is my price!! LOL!!! they grow fast.
Had you ever bought fish from Koi to the world? He sends me email when he has sales. He sells babies for for $200.00 and he said it's almost 250 count.
Carolyn,
I saw your name trying to order pond plants. i keep losing my water lillies, I think the kois unroot them.
It had been low twenties here but Phoenix and CA will be high 70's and 80's.
think spring!!!
Belle
Yep.. going to be high 70's here tomorrow, thursday.... I am really looking forward to it. Not going to last but the one day then a cold front is headed out way. Going to make the best of it. My little pond is going to get a good clean out before I get new fish this spring.
Belle - are your waterlilies Hardy or tropical? Also what are you using as a planting medium?
Llahsa - we have plenty of cold to share. I am encouraged to see my deicers are still working hard though.
My next pond will be stocked with $5 fish. No more spending a fortune on fish. There are too many that need a good home.
Between Merry Marys donations and others I have never spent $400. on fish I'm sure and I have plenty. Doubt I have that much in fish altogether.
Just spent hours on arbor & trellis forum. Shouldn't have gone there. Jeff and I have talked about arbor over pond with walkway under it. Have to talk to engineer (husb.) about specs. Nothing is impossible if you plan ahead and build right the first time.
Gardens are an ongoing project, never really finished. I am loving this cooler weather, gives me more pep than the summer heat.
Bonnie
Bonnie
I would love to be out in the garden. I'lll come down and weed for you! ^_^
Me too! shovel dirt, haul rock, you name it. Anything for sun and warmth -- mostly sun. I get really squirrely this time of year with lack of sun. It is 9am here and black as pitch; well not quite. I can actually see stuff but it is very dark. Maybe around 10 we may get some lightening on the horizon that really resembles sunrise. I think part of the problem today is the heavy overcast. But, 35F is holding. Just so it holds to about March or earlier then continues to go up. Got to pull out my seed packets and start to think about setting up the garage nursery. Well, around the middle of March, except for my begonias. They have to get started around the middle of February to have flowers before July.
Carolyn,
I think my waterlilies were hardy and I use walmart red kitty litter and pea gravel..
It is very cold here!!! Low teens!!!
Belle
Bonnie, I've purchased from Deland before. So far, nothing unhealthy. They get their main stock from Blackwater Creek. Good prices. Once I split my group in half, when the new pond gets up and running, you'll never want another fish again! I'm probably getting rid of more than you can handle, so will list some on Craigslist too. They're all big.
It is frigid here too, but next week we are supposed to be in the 40's with rain. I am looking forward to that.
Belle - the koi are after the clay in the kitty litter. Koi love clay. I bought clay to add to water and the koi swim right into it! I think you will be less apt to have a problem if you remove the litter and use just some prewashed pea gravel.
WELL,
If thats the case Mary I don't need a trip to Deland.
Charlie said you need these tangerines now. I can run them over to you Sat. if thats convenient. I don't want you to get gone by fruit.
I also have a couple of pieces of broadleaf fern if you want them. They are beautiful. Fronds are about 4 feet long now and they would look nice around your new pond. They spread over time and thats why my friend wanted to get rid of them.
I think they are beautiful. Let me know.
Carolyn beautiful lilly.
Bonnie
Carolyn and Oberon,
Sure would appreciate your help. There is always something that needs doing around here and now the weather is simply beautiful. I can't stand staying in the house now. I get up early do laundry or vacuum floors so I can be outside by sunup.
Would really love to have you visit anyhow. I'm a pretty good tour guide especially our state parks. Worked as district mgrs. sec. for 12 years and just loved it. They moved our office and that ended my wonderful career.
Carolyn you especially should come down to visit your relatives in Deland thats not far from me. The doors always open so come on down.
Bonnie
Bonnie, I will be gone until Monday late morning...this is my busiest work month. I'm going to try to head your way this week, one morning (I have to be at the school by 2:00 every day) I want to bring you your lotus before it gets too established here.
Bonnie
That would be soooo much fun! How much land do you have? Everytime you show us pictures, it looks like you have enough property so as not to have neighbors right on top of you. Something else I dream of.
I would give almost anything at this point to be out in the garden. Most everything was put on hold last July because of the health problems DH has been having. My gardens were such a mess.
Mary come anytime I'm home. I'll be working outside so I'll take cell with me. 353-223-1611.
Carolyn,
We have 15 acres only 5 miles fron town of Clermont which is perfect. Bigger city of Orlando is about 23 miles away.
Only go there if I have to. OK sun is up time to grab shovel and get rest of ferns planted and then on to other tasks.
Bonnie
Bonnie - 15 acres! I would love that. I am on 1/5 of an acre in town!
Only thing is by the time you retire you aren't always in good enough health to take care of land. The cows keep ours well mowed but fences have to be kept up etc. etc. My husb. tells me as long as he can drag himself out there to do the minumum work he is keeping his cows. With them we get ag exemption on our land taxes so they really help. One of our 5 acre pieces is taxed $15.00 as it is pasture and no house on it. We are thinking of giving that to Jeff to build a new house on. Other 10 acres can be sold and split between other 3 kids. Thats after we are gone. Might need it for nursing home expence who knows. Never know what tomorrow can bring.
Main problem with all our kids is there homes aren't worth what they once were so selling isn't really much help. We were talking about it today and he said he knew he would have to take a loss. His wife is a realtor.
We just take each day at a time.
I would like to see you have a little more land then you could build a large pond. LOL
Just value your and your husb. health. Thats what counts.
Take care and keep warm.
Hello All!!
We are now in Phoenix and it is unusually cold but i am packed for cold and warm weather,. So afr we had played 3 times and 2 more here in Phoenix.We are headed for Pal spring and San Diego. Scheduled to tour sedona and Grand Canyon this week end before heading to Palm spring. My ankle is holding with ultram.
My neighbor called the other day and there was a ice storm few days ago so my pond is frozen she can see the fish so i hope they are alive. Are they okay? i am worried. The dechlorinator that I purchased for $48.00 busted !! I told her to buy some tablets and I am so lucky to have good neighbors.
i do have a heater for the pond but with my husband insistence i did not set it in.
I am worried and I hope my babies are okay.
Accommodation is good!!
Belle
Tell your neighbors to get the pond heater in. If the ice stays for any length of time (don't know how long it would take) the gases cannot escape and could kill fish. Anyone else have a comment.