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We have purchased a fiberglass l000 gallon pond with pump and filter that was used in a previous home. The hole has been dug the water lines have been placed in the ground inside PVC the electric pvc pipes have been laid under 18 inches under the ground (no electricity attached yet.) There is an existing shut off valve for t he water near the water outlet pipe. The pump and filter are set beneath the ground setting on slate. The boulders for the not yet built waterfall and many other rocks are in my driveway. Now we are at a stand still the pond has been set in the ground and it is kidney shaped and the edges have been filled back in withdirt. we have one red eared slider that is about 6 inches big waiting to go in and two baby 8months old hatchlings in an aquarium also waiting to go in. No lighting has been set although only has lighting for the ground area no lighting inside the water or under the waterfall. Don't know what to do next. How to make sure the quality of water is Ok how to start the waterfall building. how to heat the pond in the winter months. So many questions so much time and effort has been put into this project want to make sure it fullfills our dreams and is healthy for turtles. Would also like to add Koi if possible. Any suggestions. Unfortunately missed out on your seminar on the 8th. Was hoping there was another one close by real soon.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Redearedsliders3,

Sounds to me like you have a fun project on your hands. I have a handful of questions to ask regarding your pond and some suggestions, too.

Are there any penetrations in your fiberglass pond for the plumbing?

Are you planning on using a submersible pump or an external pump.

Can you tell me about the filter you have below the ground on the slate.

Did the filter and the pump come with the fiberglass pond, did you already have it or did you purchase it after you got your hands on the pond?

As far as heating the pond, tell me about what kind of winters you experience.

Do you get snow?

What is the coldest you get?

How tall do you want your waterfall?

Are you making the waterfall out of concrete and the rocks in your driveway or do you have a waterfall box and some liner?

Pictures of projects like this are always a big help. You know pictures tell a thousand words. Sometimes, I see things in the photos that I can make suggestions on that you might not ever ask.

Lighting will be low voltage so there is no need to go to elaborate measures setting up electrical now.

As far as your sliders, unless you live in a wonderful climate like San Diego, California, I would suggest that you keep them indoors over the winter because they are so young. Of course in the wild those little guys can handle some harsh winters but 99% of the ornamental ponds are not the best situation for hibernation.

Additionally, they will be very easy prey for predators at that tender young age. Keep them indoors. Let's get your pond ready and maturing over the winter and then introduce those little guys into your pond next spring.

I will look forward to your reply.

The Pond Digger

Here are the specs on our 1000 gallon kidney shaped fiberglass pond.

l. We have a HAYWARD VARI FLOW XL VALVE 75BPM/284LPM
50 PS/3-5 BAR SERIAL #120000E31 NSF LISTED FOR SWIMMING
POOL USE.

2. AQUA FLO FLO MASTER XP2
MODEL 3 06098616-1

HI AGAIN,

THANKS SO MUCH FOR GETTING BACK TO ME REGARDING MY POND PROJECT. I WILL TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS I CAN REGARDING THE POND SPECS.

1. I HAVE SENT A REPLY OF THE SPECS ON THE FILTER AND THE PUMP
BASICALLY WE HAVE A HAYWARD VARI FLOW XL VALVE. 75 GPM/284 LPM 50PS/3-5 BAR SERIAL #120E31 NSF LISTED FOR SWIMMING POOL USE
ALSO HAVE A AQUA FLO FLO MASTER XP2 MODEL #06098616-1

2. YOU ASKED ABOUT ANY PENETRATIONS IN THE TUB WHICH I BELIEVE IS FOR THE WATER AND WE HAVE ONE OUTLET VALVE THAT HAS ITS OWN SHUT OFF VALVE. OUR PUMP AND FILTER ARE EXTERNAL AND PLACE DOWN IN THE GROUND TO CUT DOWN ON THE NOISE

3. YOU ASKED IF WE PURCHASED THE PUMP AND FILTER SERPERATLY AND WE DID NOT IT WAS A PACKAGE DEAL WITH THE POND

3. HEATING THE POND. ALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN COSTA MESA CA AND THE WEATHER IS FAIRLY NICE ALL YEAR ROUND OUR SIX INCH SLIDER AS WELL AS OUR BABIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KEPT NICE AND COZY WITH HEATER AND WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO DIE WITHOUT THE SAME
TEMPERATURE THEY ARE USED TO.

4. NOT SURE HOW THE TURTLES HIBERNATE OR WHAT IS NEEDED TO FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO. OUR 3 TURTLES HAVE STAYED NEVER HIBERNATED THAT I KNOW OF.

5. THE AREA FOR THE FALLS IS 7'8" TALL WHERE THE CONCRETE WALL IS STANDING TO SEPERATE THE PROPERTY LINE. THERE WAS AN EXISTING 3' TALL CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND DUG UP SO THE POND COULD BE LAID IT THE GROUND. THERE IS STILL THE EXISTING CONCRETE AROUND WHERE THE POND WAS NOT SET IN SO THERE IS A BASE OF SOME SORT WHERE THE WATER FALL IS GOING TO BE BUILT. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE WATERFALL BUILT AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE. WITH A SHEETING EFFECT THAT WE MAY POSSIBLY GET FROM ADDING SLATE. THE AREA IS APPROXIMATIELY 5' X 4' IN SOME PLACES AND 3' IN OTHERS WAS TOLD TO USE SOME KIND OF FOAM FOR HOLDING IT IN PLACE WE HAVE LARGE BOULDERS AND SOME MEDIUM STONE AND LOTS OF LITTLE STONES PLANNING TO GATHER SOME SLATE AS WELL.

6. NOT CLEAR ON ELECTRICAL SET UP FOR THE PUMPS AND FILTERS AND LIGHTING.

7. ONLY LIGHTING IS WIRED LIGHTING LOW VOLTAGE ABOUT 18 LAMPS AND A FEW SOLAR POWERED . lOVE HOW YOU GUYS PUT THE LIGHTING RIGHT INSIDE THE WATERFALL . WHAT A GREAT EFFECT.

8. HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA AND AS SOON AS I FIGURE OUT HOW TO SEND THE PHOTOS THRU THE COMPUTER TO YOU WILL DO SO.

9. ALSO WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR LANDSCAPING TIPS AROUND THE POND. WE HAVE SOME ROCKS THAT WE HAVE GATHERED THROUGHOUT OUR TRAVELS. WE HAVE A LARGE SANDSTONE TABLE TOP WE THOUGHT MIGHT WORK GOOD FOR THE TURTLES TO BE ABLE TO STEP OUT OF THE WATER COMPLETELY AND BASK ON THE EARTH INSTEAD OF JUST A ROCK ADJUSTED ABOVE THE WATER OUR LARGER TURTLE LOVES TO CRUSIE AROUND ON THE GRASS WHILE WE CLEAN HIS AQUARIUM.

10 . WHAT TYPE OF PLANTS SHOULD WE USE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WATER TO BE RIGHT FOR THE TURTLES AND POSSIBLY SOME KOI

11. SHOULD WE PUT SAND OR PEBBLES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POND?
12. WE DONT EXACTLY HAVE A DRAIN PER SAY. UNLESS YOU CONSIDER THE WATER OUTLET VALVE A DRAIN OF SORTS.

13 UNDER THE LIP OF THE FIBERGLASS TUP WE HAVE DUG THE DIRT BACK OUT ALONG THE UNDERNEATH SO THAT WE CAN PLACE BRICK OR SOMETHING UNDER THE LIP SO THAT IS WONT CONCAVE WITHT HE FIRST HEAVY RAIN.

14. NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF LINER YOU MEAN WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT THE LINER FOR THE WATERFALL. WE HAVE A 90 GALLON PREFORMED TUB THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO USE FOR A POND ( WAY TO SMALL) WOULD THAT WORK AS A "lINER"?

MY QUESTIONS ARE ENDLESS AND I CANT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR GUYS FOR HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROJECT. I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT AND $$ IT WAS GOING TO BE WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS POND. THAT IS WHY I CONTACTED YOU. WITH ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM DOING THE RIGHT THING THE CORRECT WAY AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES I CAN COUNT ON THE DIRECT ME IN THAT DIRECTION. LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.


THANKS AGAIN,

RESPECTFULLY YOURS,

RES3

JUST A FEW MORE QUESTI0N FOR YOU SO THAT MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THEM ALL IN THE SAME REPLY.

THE WATER QUALITY TO ME NEEDS TO BE EXCEPTIONAL. NOT SURE WERE TO BEGIN . DO NOT LIKE THE LILLY PAD EFFECT COVERING THE ENITIRE POND WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE

Hey there,

I just wanted to check in with you. I am on a business trip and need a few days to answer all of your questions. I am at the 2nd Annual Kodama Koi Farm Expo! Check out our Photo Gallary on the main page of our website to see the photos we took last year! Look at the Kodama Koi Farm Link.

There is so much to cover, I want to be sure we nail all the details down for you. I hope that doesn't toss your plans around too much. In the meantime, if you can take the time to post a few pictures of the project, that would help, quite a bit.

One thing I do need to know is; How many inches BELOW water level is the valve (penetration) in the fiberglass pond?

The Pond Digger

Hi,

Thanks so much for touching base with me even though you are on your trip. I have been checking my account anxiously every day for your reply. I will try my best to get some photos to you today. I am sure it is very hard to imagine my situation right now without photos. Look forward to hearing from you when you return from your trip. My turtle charlie the biggest one will be most excitied to see the pond finished and let him swim around all he wants. He sits in an aquarium outside on our patio and watches our slow progress day after day. can't wait for the day to let him swim in his new home.

Thanks again,




deb
RED EAREDSLIDERS 3

P.S. Enjoy you trip!
And have a safe return trip.

I am back and playing a bit of catch up. I will get you some detailed replies to your questions by the weekend. Thank you in advance for your patience and interest!

The Pond Digger

Okay I can breathe now just in time for a busy week before Turkey Day, so let me tackle these topics!


1.  I HAVE SENT A REPLY OF THE SPECS ON THE FILTER AND THE PUMP
    BASICALLY WE HAVE  A HAYWARD VARI FLOW XL VALVE. 75 GPM/284 LPM   50PS/3-5 BAR  SERIAL #120E31    NSF LISTED FOR SWIMMING POOL USE
      ALSO HAVE A AQUA FLO  FLO MASTER XP2 MODEL #06098616-1

Swimming pool filtration has never done the trick on a living eco-system.  Okay, I shouldn't say never.  99% of the time swimming pool filter technology is way off track in a living eco-system.

Swimming pool filter technology relies on fine micron style mechanical filters to pull fine particulate out of the water and typically use high volumne energy consuming pumps to drive the water thru the filters.

A turtle pond will have plenty of LARGE solids that will plug up swimming pool filters very quickly.  This means HIGH MAINTENANCE will be required to keep the filters clean.    SORRY.

2.  YOU ASKED ABOUT ANY PENETRATIONS IN THE TUB WHICH I BELIEVE IS FOR THE WATER  AND WE HAVE ONE OUTLET VALVE THAT HAS ITS OWN SHUT OFF VALVE.   OUR PUMP AND FILTER ARE EXTERNAL  AND PLACE DOWN IN THE GROUND TO CUT DOWN ON THE NOISE  

Without seeing pictures it sounds to me like you will be able to install the filter and pump in a flooded suction environment BELOW water level.  If this is infact the case you will have the freedom to upgrade your pump and filter in the future when the time is right to a pump that will be SUPER ENERGY EFFICIENT.  

The pump that I speak of is practically silent so noise factor will not be an issue but does infact benefit from being installed below water level.  

3.  YOU ASKED IF WE PURCHASED THE PUMP AND FILTER SERPERATLY AND WE DID NOT IT WAS A PACKAGE DEAL WITH THE POND

My next request would be to tell me about the particulars of the pond prior to you purchasing the system and was it infact used as a pond prior to you purchasing the system?

3.  HEATING THE POND.  ALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN COSTA MESA CA AND THE WEATHER IS FAIRLY NICE ALL YEAR ROUND  OUR SIX INCH SLIDER AS WELL AS OUR BABIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KEPT NICE AND COZY WITH HEATER  AND WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO DIE WITHOUT THE SAME
TEMPERATURE THEY ARE USED TO.

We have dozens of Southern California pond owners that keep red eared sliders out doors year round, without any water heating provisions.  I can assure you that if you put the sliders out in the pond late spring and give them the summer months to acclimize to the out door living the transfer into the winter will be a dream.  Especially in Costa Mesa!  Some of the pond owners that I speak of live in Southern California communities that get much colder than Costa Mesa.  Upland, Riverside, Jurupa, Beaumont, Redlands, Yucaipa, and the list of cities goes on.  Rest easy, we wouldn't want to jeopardize you little guys.

4.  NOT SURE HOW THE TURTLES HIBERNATE OR WHAT IS NEEDED TO FOR THEM TO  BE ABLE TO.  OUR 3 TURTLES HAVE STAYED NEVER HIBERNATED THAT I KNOW OF.  

We suggest plenty of nice planters next to the pond filled with terrestrial plants and good soil.  We have even installed ponds with a sandy soil around the perimeters of the ponds where the little guys can burrow.

5. THE AREA FOR THE FALLS IS 7'8" TALL WHERE THE CONCRETE WALL IS STANDING TO SEPERATE THE PROPERTY LINE.  THERE WAS AN EXISTING 3' TALL CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND DUG UP SO THE POND COULD BE LAID IT THE GROUND.  THERE IS STILL THE EXISTING CONCRETE AROUND WHERE THE POND WAS NOT SET IN SO THERE IS A BASE OF SOME SORT WHERE THE WATER FALL IS GOING TO BE BUILT.  WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE WATERFALL BUILT AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE. WITH A SHEETING EFFECT THAT WE MAY POSSIBLY GET FROM ADDING  SLATE.  THE AREA IS APPROXIMATIELY 5' X 4' IN SOME PLACES AND 3' IN OTHERS  WAS TOLD TO USE SOME KIND OF FOAM FOR HOLDING IT IN PLACE   WE HAVE LARGE BOULDERS AND SOME MEDIUM STONE  AND LOTS OF LITTLE STONES  PLANNING TO GATHER SOME SLATE AS WELL.  

A photo of this would speak a thousand words to me and enable me to advise you more specifically.  I will cross my fingers that you will get me a photo.

6.  NOT CLEAR ON ELECTRICAL SET UP FOR THE PUMPS AND FILTERS AND LIGHTING.

7.  ONLY LIGHTING IS WIRED LIGHTING LOW VOLTAGE ABOUT 18 LAMPS AND A FEW SOLAR POWERED .  lOVE HOW  YOU GUYS PUT THE LIGHTING RIGHT INSIDE THE WATERFALL .  WHAT A GREAT EFFECT.

We will be sure to make provisions in your waterfall for the same.  All low voltage and very easy to install!

8.  HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA AND AS SOON AS I FIGURE OUT HOW TO SEND THE PHOTOS THRU THE COMPUTER TO YOU WILL DO SO.

I am tapping my foot.  

9. ALSO WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR LANDSCAPING TIPS AROUND THE POND.  WE HAVE SOME ROCKS THAT WE HAVE GATHERED THROUGHOUT OUR TRAVELS.  WE HAVE A LARGE SANDSTONE TABLE TOP WE THOUGHT MIGHT WORK GOOD FOR THE TURTLES TO BE ABLE TO STEP OUT OF THE WATER COMPLETELY AND BASK ON THE EARTH INSTEAD OF JUST A ROCK ADJUSTED ABOVE THE WATER  OUR LARGER TURTLE LOVES TO CRUSIE AROUND ON THE GRASS WHILE WE CLEAN HIS AQUARIUM. 

My best suggestion is to incorporate some driftwood for the sliders to climb on for basking in the sun.  It's a mandatory feature in my book when it comes to semi-aquatic turtles.   

10  .  WHAT TYPE OF  PLANTS SHOULD WE USE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WATER TO BE RIGHT FOR THE TURTLES AND POSSIBLY SOME KOI

You will want a handful of hardy marginals.  Some floating plants may work for you until you turtles get bigger.  Water lilies will most likely not work for you.  It seems the turtles really do a number on the new leaves of water lilies.  At the Jurupa Mt. Cultural Center in Riverside they have a turtle pond that does well with a couple water iris's and cannas.

11.  SHOULD WE PUT SAND OR PEBBLES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POND?

If you DO NOT have a bottom drain, I would definatly suggest putting some pebbles across the bottom of the pond. Use a mixture of 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" ornamental gravel, no deeper than a one inch or 1 1/2" layer. You will be adding beneficial bacteria to help you keep the gravel clean and healthy.

12.  WE DONT EXACTLY HAVE  A DRAIN PER SAY.  UNLESS YOU CONSIDER THE WATER OUTLET VALVE A DRAIN OF SORTS.

I would say you don't but a photo would help clarify.

13  UNDER THE LIP OF THE FIBERGLASS TUP WE HAVE DUG THE DIRT BACK OUT ALONG THE UNDERNEATH SO THAT WE CAN PLACE BRICK OR SOMETHING UNDER THE LIP SO THAT IS WONT CONCAVE WITHT HE FIRST HEAVY RAIN.

Sounds like good planning. How wide is the lip around the pond?

14. NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF LINER YOU MEAN WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT THE LINER FOR THE WATERFALL.  WE HAVE A 90 GALLON PREFORMED TUB THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO USE FOR A POND ( WAY TO SMALL) WOULD THAT WORK AS A "lINER"?

That tub will not work here. I will wait for the photo to advise you here.

MY QUESTIONS ARE ENDLESS AND I CANT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR GUYS FOR HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROJECT.  I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT AND $$ IT WAS GOING TO BE WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS POND.  THAT IS WHY I CONTACTED YOU.  WITH ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM DOING THE RIGHT THING THE CORRECT WAY AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT  YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES I CAN COUNT ON THE DIRECT ME IN THAT DIRECTION.  LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.  

That's what we're here for!


The Pond Digger

[attachment=201]Still more pics!