It's summer down there.

So, it's time to give my fishes their summer camp ! :bounce:

This year, I had the opportunity to find a mega container for the fishes. I mean a pool. I could have it for 70% off, that is to say about 40 € (eq 70 NZ$). So I didn't hesitate for a long time... I dreamt about that kind of project for years.

So, it's a galvanized metal frame and a pvc/polyester liner.

230 x 160 x 45 cm

1200 liters.

Here it is (no water inside yet)

The same, few weeks later.

For the scale, the diameter of the pistia, down right is 30 cm.

So how do you catch all the fish when it get cold again?

That's the only problem of this amazonian stuff lol !

Most of the plants are in pots (furtive thinking to Phoenix, the PotzMaster... ) So I could get them out easily. I also placed some flat stones in order to get in the pond and fish the inhabitants with a landing net.

And I'm sure it's gonna be a real headache in september ! :lol:

There's another solution : built a tropical greenhouse all around the pond, standing it against the house. Add an amazonian room inside, with a completly covered wall with epiphyte plants like bromelias, orchids, tillandsias, ferns... Hey... That's sounds real good mates. But I am NOT gonna do this lol.

I mean...

Not now.

:lol:

Hygrophila stricta and oak leaves bed.

Lilaeopsis cuttings that start to grow.

I'm surprised how the water is clear.

There's no filter in this pond, just a stream pump.

The purification station power !

Plants...

... and porous gravel for bacterias (on the right)

Black stones and pebbles are also used for heating.

Is that water hyacinth?

And salvinia I think. Both get maf and erma into a sweat over here---they are unwanted organisms (but very good at stripping nutrient).

Is that water hyacinth?

Yes it is.

Very invasive. But they don't resist to below zero temperatures (here, it's -5 / -12 °C during winter). When they are much too numerous, I use them for vegetables, as organic fertilizer by composting. Fishes like those plants because they can hide and eat plankton inside their roots. I often place some pistias from the pond in my tanks. Schrimps and fishes are fond of all the things they're able to find inside.

But don't forget I'm in France.

If they're not allowed in NZ, you can remplace them by any plants which grow fast.

Is the same thing for juncus, carex and cyperus (about biosecurity)?

They are very efficients to strip nutrients, heavy metal too.

That's awesome! It looks like a real stream rather than a PVC pool

nice work, great skills.

As for catching the fish, it's easy when there is alot less water in there so draining most of the water will make it easier.

wow, hard to bileve it started as a swimming pool

They were used extensively wordwide because of the root system which was ideal for spawnig goldfish. We are in the south Island where we get good frosts also but there are thermal pools and streams in the North Island where it would thrive.

we have native juncas and carex in nz so our varieties would be fine they are widespread and easy to grow . they are common plants i use for revegetation in gullys to reduce sediment flowing down waterways

Thanks for your comments and informations

Today was a rainy day.

Heavy rain with thunderstorm. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The roof has got a leak and then, 2 cm of water inside. No damages fortunatly.

My ponds have got a heavy water change too.

We got our own fiordland down here

Such a cool idea!! I've been thinking about doing something like this. If we ever get sick of our pool I could always turn it into a pond

Awesome.

Not much else I can say. Truly, awesome.