ebinmaine 68,452 #51 Posted January 3, 2022 Well folks, I'm impressed!! The excavator machine showed up this morning!! Timing is excellent because I have the day off. The operator and I spoke afew times today. Worked out perfect. Here's a few pics and videos of the process throughout the day: 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oldskool 6,653 #52 Posted January 3, 2022 You just gotta love it when the big guns show up and BAMM, it's done. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #53 Posted January 3, 2022 Definitely brought the right tool for the job! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #54 Posted January 3, 2022 Just now, Handy Don said: Definitely brought the right tool for the job! Yeah they sure did. The company has four sizes of excavators. This is next to largest. We were going to go with the smaller one so the woods path wouldn't need to be so big but that'll just end up being a bonus later. Once things dry up, if I'm really careful I might be able to drive the pickup truck down there... The machine used today gets a LOT of time and usage because of having the thumb and a good heavy capability without quite being too cumbersome. The operator seems to think the weight is somewhere around 35,000, 40,000 lb. There was one rock that was too big to move and there was one rock that was able to be picked up but not fully extended. That one is in the base of the pond now. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,973 #55 Posted January 3, 2022 Nice job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #56 Posted January 5, 2022 Here's the pond water level after 24 hours. I'd estimate about 2 ft deep. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #57 Posted January 5, 2022 Very nice. A simple solar-powered pump and tag-sale hoses may give you a way to water your crops. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #58 Posted January 5, 2022 5 hours ago, Handy Don said: solar-powered pump Have to check into that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #59 Posted January 5, 2022 Not flowing out the other side yet. All but the top row is underwater. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,973 #60 Posted January 5, 2022 17 hours ago, Handy Don said: Very nice. A simple solar-powered pump and tag-sale hoses may give you a way to water your crops. Or, a hooked up to a stationary pump… off the pto… Kinda like this only belt drive off engine pto… 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #61 Posted January 5, 2022 Was thinking solar to leave in place (except to re-direct the flow) and to eliminate need for fuel. I'd set it up similar to a rain barrel. Put a barrel on a base near the water source and make the pump's job simply to fill the barrel so it can have a low head (5' or so?) and be low wattage (30 watts?). Pump can run whenever there is sufficient water in the pond, there is sun, and the tank is not full (pond and tank levels via simple float switches). Distribution is by gravity through garden hoses attached to tap(s) into the bottom of the tank arranged to flow "downhill" from the the tank in all directions--move hoses (or use valves) to where watering is needed and allow slow soak along "irrigation" trench. No need for high pressure pump for tank fill or for distribution. The cost is pretty directly related to the the "lift height" (pump head) needed so it'll pay to have a good survey of the land heights and layout the garden/hoses accordingly. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #62 Posted January 5, 2022 19 minutes ago, Handy Don said: cost is pretty directly related to the the "lift height" (pump head) needed How does one search for this pump? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,973 #63 Posted January 5, 2022 I would think “Solar Garden pond pumps…” 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #64 Posted January 5, 2022 I started with Ms giggle and then followed my mouse in different directions. Once you know lift needed (and maybe an idea of volume in gallons per hour) you start looking for pumps. (Watch out, the markets are flooded with cheapie "fountain" pumps that do nothing but put a small geyser in your pond or birdbath!) I'm guessing you'd need no more than hundred or so gallons per hour and likely less. Pumps are often 12, 24, 36 and 120v. Panels generate similar voltages so you choose panels to go with the pump. It's best to have a simple controller between the panels and pump--it prevents the pump trying to run when available power is too low or too high. Some controllers come with battery backup and special regulators--these are intended for rural emergency backup for domestic water supply during power outages--you don't need a battery or fancy regulator. I first ran into this idea in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN8_MIauQZk This setup is on the larger end but is a good introduction to the process. Hey @JCM, care to join this conversation? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #65 Posted January 6, 2022 Oh boy!!! My local Photography Department took this picture standing inside the fence. The stream on the left hand side is the outlet and it's now running!!! We're going to need to find a specific direction for that runoff to continue past the Z bend that the excavator operator installed, come spring, and put a small bridge over it.. I've been wanting to put a pond out there for a good strong 15 years. I might be slightly excited. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #66 Posted January 7, 2022 Little kids and water are and irresistible attraction to each other. Sounds like fun to me! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #67 Posted January 7, 2022 1 minute ago, Handy Don said: Little kids and water are and irresistible attraction to each other. Sounds like fun to me! Well that pretty much perfectly describes me an BBT. Head on up Don! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,471 #68 Posted January 7, 2022 6 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Well that pretty much perfectly describes me an BBT. Head on up Don! I know. Part of your appeal. You're on my list next time I get up that way. I'll bring my pail of "beach construction" toys to share. BTW, my tent came back last week and its got fancy new reflective guy ropes and zipper pulls on it! Whoo hoo! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #69 Posted January 7, 2022 8 hours ago, Handy Don said: I know. Part of your appeal. You're on my list next time I get up that way. I'll bring my pail of "beach construction" toys to share. BTW, my tent came back last week and its got fancy new reflective guy ropes and zipper pulls on it! Whoo hoo! Beach toys??!!?? Oh YYEESS. So now you can see the tent when roaming around in the dark! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6wheeler 603 #70 Posted January 23, 2022 Looking real good. A neat trick for your pond? Put some water plants like Water Hyacinths in it . Then you can put a few goldfish in it. They will eat the mosquito larvae. Plus? They will keep the plant roots trimmed. You can even set a Lilly Pad plant in there for effect. We had a small fountain in our small pond too. You can use water from the pond on the garden. It will have nutrients from the fish excrement and plant matter. A good product of fish waste is Nitrogen. And? To passively deter deer and other critters? I use stakes app. 48" tall with 2' strips of 2" wide mylar tape with a holographic design. Any kind of light shining on it in the evening and night makes it flash a lot. My yard light does the trick. Good Luck.. Pat 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #71 Posted January 23, 2022 1 hour ago, 6wheeler said: Looking real good. A neat trick for your pond? Put some water plants like Water Hyacinths in it . Then you can put a few goldfish in it. They will eat the mosquito larvae. Plus? They will keep the plant roots trimmed. You can even set a Lilly Pad plant in there for effect. We had a small fountain in our small pond too. You can use water from the pond on the garden. It will have nutrients from the fish excrement and plant matter. A good product of fish waste is Nitrogen. And? To passively deter deer and other critters? I use stakes app. 48" tall with 2' strips of 2" wide mylar tape with a holographic design. Any kind of light shining on it in the evening and night makes it flash a lot. My yard light does the trick. Good Luck.. Pat I appreciate the advice Pat and please keep it up. We've done some research about having fish because I really want to add some. The primary focus of the small pond is to raise frogs and toads. Turns out the fish eat polliwogs and tadpoles so unfortunately there'll be no fish... For now. Excellent idea on the Mylar/stakes. Trina appreciates that. We've considered the fountain idea as well. May use that to keep the water open during cold season. Trina's been planning on using the water all along (I didn't even know that). The pump for the fountain may be combined with the water pump. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6wheeler 603 #72 Posted January 23, 2022 28 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: I appreciate the advice Pat and please keep it up. We've done some research about having fish because I really want to add some. The primary focus of the small pond is to raise frogs and toads. Turns out the fish eat polliwogs and tadpoles so unfortunately there'll be no fish... For now. Excellent idea on the Mylar/stakes. Trina appreciates that. We've considered the fountain idea as well. May use that to keep the water open during cold season. Trina's been planning on using the water all along (I didn't even know that). The pump for the fountain may be combined with the water pump. That is why I recommend regular Goldfish. The will survive quite well. And? Are too small for the tadpoles. When they are small. You DO NOT feed them. Only the roots and larvae are all they can eat. There is not going to be enough prey for them to grow large in your small area. But? You have to be ready to replace them every year. Our only problem with the fish was? Restocking after the Raccoons would get them. Because? Even in Maine? I would bet. Late in the Fall? Your pond will be raided. But? Here? It was always late in the summer when the last ones would disappear. But? Since our pond isn't a winter pond? We have to bring the plants inside over winter. They will not survive at -20 to-35 below zero here in the frozen wasteland. And? the fish wouldn't either. Great thinking on your wife's part. You will be surprised what it will do. Fish poo and plant matter decay fast in a vernal pond. Good luck with that new adventure. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,407 #73 Posted February 5, 2022 On 1/22/2022 at 6:16 PM, ebinmaine said: The primary focus of the small pond is to raise frogs and toads You want toads, stop by this Spring, you can have as many as you can catch. I know one thing, when they hear the 48'' SD deck coming they run like they are in the Boston marathon. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,452 #74 Posted February 5, 2022 @JCM So maybe Joan Benoit could help us catch em. ....? Need us some tree frogs too. Peepers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,407 #75 Posted February 5, 2022 Has to be thousands of Peepers too. When we first moved here it took a while to fall asleep in the summer with the windows open. Now that old age, tinnitus and other associated hearing issues from jackhammers and compressors inside of industrial buildings, I think the Peepers have all moved out. I'll send them North for you. Would you like a side order of coyotes to go with that, packs of them here too. how about bobcats, bears and an occasional moose ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
