I finally started my pond

[bindian]

Brandi, the size of fuse is more often controlled by the gage of the wire leaving the fuse box, going to the receptacle. 15 amps is the normal size for a 14 gage wire. 20 amp is normal for a 12 gage wire. Protection for individual loads is normally done by a circuit breaker installed in the load circuits. So, your pump would work fine with the 14 ga/15 amp feed wire and it should have an internal breaker or motor overload protection built in.

How do you plan on controlling the pump? Are you plannng to use the breaker as a switch or put in a dedicated switch and/or receptacle? I recommend a motor control switch rather than a normal light switch. A circuit breaker is not a good choice for a switch because they are not designed to be switched off/on on a regular basis. A light switch may fail often due to the inductive load of the pump's motor. The best circuit would be to put in a motor control switch and a GFCI receptacle at the location of your hookup.

EDIT: If your pump has a built-in switch, all you need is a GFCI receptacle, of course.

Thanks Jim. I have decided to move it out of the barn as it makes too much noise mounted on the barn wall. I will move it out to the pond dam bulkhead. I will make a fake rock out of chicken wire and mortar mix and bury the power wire to the house. I will research a motor on/off switch.

The wire I am going to use is 10 gauge wire that was used as temp wire to power my air compressor until I could put in the permanent 2 gauge wire. I buried 2 gauge for welders out in the barn. So the wire is way overkill for the vacuum pump/air compressor, which is why I wanted a lower rated breaker.

Oh yeah...I need to go get more white rocks from Welding Is Fun's place. A fake rock costs around $80. So I plan on making a fake rock for the pump from this link... How to Make Fake Rocks | eHow.com
hugs,. Brandi

 

[weldingisfun]

Oh yeah...I need to go get more white rocks from Welding Is Fun's place. A fake rock costs around $80. So I plan on making a fake rock for the pump from this link... How to Make Fake Rocks | eHow.com
hugs,. Brandi

Brandi, those rocks are still sitting where you saw them last. Anytime you are up this way drop on in and pick a few tons.

 

[jinman]

The wire I am going to use is 10 gauge wire that was used as temp wire to power my air compressor until I could put in the permanent 2 gauge wire. I buried 2 gauge for welders out in the barn. So the wire is way overkill for the vacuum pump/air compressor, which is why I wanted a lower rated breaker.

Well, nobody can ever fault you for putting in a breaker smaller than the maximum for the wire size. In a dedicated circuit, you can rate that breaker to protect your load. My aerobic septic system has a dedicated breaker box with two breakers and is fed from the main breaker box. One is for the aerator pump and the other is for clear water reservoir pump to my sprinkler heads. Except for overload protection in the motors, neither of these circuits has any other protection. Since the system is serviced only three times per year, those breakers also serve as switches. Three times per year is not an excessive amount of switching on a CB.

I'm going to search back to see if I can find a link to your pump. If you have a link, I'd like to have it. I'm also considering a aerator pump for my deep pond within a year or so. . . probably more so.

EDIT: I found your earlier link to the eBay site where he provided a link to Thomas. I've found technical information, but no wiring recommendations, so they may not exist on the manufacturer's site.

 

[EddieWalker]

The stumps that I can see in my pond that are exposed have caves dug under them. What I have noticed that the fish really like is the tangle or piled up trees. Seems like the bigger the mess, the more activity it gets. That's why I'm putting entire trees into my pond. This is something that I've just realized and decided on, so the timing is really bad now that I'm getting some small showers. It's steep getting out of my pond and the tractor is spinning it's tires.

With yours, I would put a dozen logs across the bottom. Some resting on the undereater island, and some going up to the shoreline and even poking up above where the water line will be when full. The best structure for the fish isn't the prettiest to look at, but it's what they want and use. I've come to think that seeing logs stick out of the water is a good thing. I especially like getting a picture of a bird or turtle on top of it.

As for fishing, I had some kids out here over the weekend, and they lost several of my hooks on my logs. It's just part of fishing, and I have plenty of hooks, so it's not that big of a deal.

Eddie

 

[bindian]

Brandi, those rocks are still sitting where you saw them last. Anytime you are up this way drop on in and pick a few tons.

Lee,
Thanks. Looks like the 1st or 2nd weekend of November. Tell Kay I for me.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Well, nobody can ever fault you for putting in a breaker smaller than the maximum for the wire size. In a dedicated circuit, you can rate that breaker to protect your load. My aerobic septic system has a dedicated breaker box with two breakers and is fed from the main breaker box. One is for the aerator pump and the other is for clear water reservoir pump to my sprinkler heads. Except for overload protection in the motors, neither of these circuits has any other protection. Since the system is serviced only three times per year, those breakers also serve as switches. Three times per year is not an excessive amount of switching on a CB.

I'm going to search back to see if I can find a link to your pump. If you have a link, I'd like to have it. I'm also considering a aerator pump for my deep pond within a year or so. . . probably more so.

EDIT: I found your earlier link to the eBay site where he provided a link to Thomas. I've found technical information, but no wiring recommendations, so they may not exist on the manufacturer's site.

Jim,
I bought a used oil less vacuum pump/ air compressor off of ebay for $68 plus shipping. I am trying to "cheap Charlie" it. But I might go ahead and buy this pump Pondmaster AP100 Linear Compressors @
Aeration Systems full line if the ebay vacuum pump doesn't work out long term.
This website is the best I have found of aerators and prices.
I also bought a rebuild kit for the vacuum pump for $20. It has not arrived yet.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

With yours, I would put a dozen logs across the bottom. Some resting on the undereater island, and some going up to the shoreline and even poking up above where the water line will be when full. The best structure for the fish isn't the prettiest to look at, but it's what they want and use. I've come to think that seeing logs stick out of the water is a good thing. I especially like getting a picture of a bird or turtle on top of it.
Eddie

Eddie,
As always, you have good ideas I never thought of. I like the idea of logs on and off the underwater island and a lot coming up out of the water. I will look into it the last weekend of the month. Thanks again.

FYI......I have been wanting to put some boards out to the island and check the deep at the deep end. The logs will help. Do you think pine logs about 10 inches in diameter will do? I have some pines that size I have been thinking about taking out. Or would you suggest oaks?
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie,
As always, you have good ideas I never thought of. I like the idea of logs on and off the underwater island and a lot coming up out of the water. I will look into it the last weekend of the month. Thanks again.

FYI......I have been wanting to put some boards out to the island and check the deep at the deep end. The logs will help. Do you think pine logs about 10 inches in diameter will do? I have some pines that size I have been thinking about taking out. Or would you suggest oaks?
hugs, Brandi

I worry that pine will rot out real fast. I know that pines under water have been known to last centuries, but they have to be a certain depth. I don't know about the ones close to the surface, and those that come out of the water.

Here in my area, pines where left standing when they built Lake *********, and decades later, the stumps are still sticking up out of the water, so maybe they will be fine?

Eddie

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Brandi, we pick up christmas trees for a donation for the swim team. We take lots, tie them together and sink them (use scrap web to make rock bags) in our favorite ice fishing spots and fishing has picked up immensely (for rainbows, dollie varden, and greyling) since we started doing it. A few pine or cedar trees sunk into your pond would make great habitat and you could grapple them out if you wanted to.

 

[bindian]

Brandi, we pick up christmas trees for a donation for the swim team. We take lots, tie them together and sink them (use scrap web to make rock bags) in our favorite ice fishing spots and fishing has picked up immensely (for rainbows, dollie varden, and greyling) since we started doing it. A few pine or cedar trees sunk into your pond would make great habitat and you could grapple them out if you wanted to.

Rick,
I am going to try the logs stacked up on the island. I can always toss some small ones in between the logs.
When will you be leaving your fish camp for the winter???
hugs, Brandi

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Unfortunatly only have a couple weeks more work to do and then off to the big city.

On the side tho 2 of the kids are coming to town for Thanksgiving.

Glad to see you back on here and that you are healing up ok. Are you getting any of the rain that has been hittin Texas??

 

[bindian]

Y'all, I have got it bad. I wanna dig another pond with a natural earth island in the center. I can do it over the Christmas holidays and in January. Our crew has about 12 days off then. It won't be deep and will take the rain run off from the far side of my road ditch and also the wet weather stream from my neighbors land. Lake Marie (the pond I have now) will overflow into it also.
I plan on digging this out with just my loader bucket, so it will be round instead of kindey shaped like Lake Marie. It will go alot faster than using the backhoe down in the basin and carry out spoils with the loader bucket. This one I will be able to doze out in all directions with two sides of it being dammed. To make it easier, I guess the island with be kinda oval shaped with two step sides and two gradual sloping ends. This island will be for ducks. Booger is not a water dog, so they should be safe there.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Unfortunatly only have a couple weeks more work to do and then off to the big city.

On the side tho 2 of the kids are coming to town for Thanksgiving.

Glad to see you back on here and that you are healing up ok. Are you getting any of the rain that has been hittin Texas??

Rick,
Glad to hear the kids will be in town for Turkey day. We got two drops of rain the other morning when the front came through.
hugs,

 

[EddieWalker]

Y'all, I have got it bad. I wanna dig another pond with a natural earth island in the center.

One is never enough!!! LOL

I dug a few before buying this land, and the first one that I dug here was all that I needed. I put an island on it, a small pier and stocked it with catfish, bluegill and minnows. It turned into a great catfish pond with the pond recored being over 13 pounds. It dried up on me and I've dug it out some and took out quite a few trees around the edge of it. It also has an island in it that I built for ducks, and also because I like islands. Whild cleaning it up, I made the island half the size that it was. There are half a dozen pine trees growning on it, and it's probbly still too big, but I like those trees and didn't want to take any of them out. My two ducks use it all the time, but they also really like to get under the shade trees along the shoreline.

My bigger pond became an obsession that lasted a couple of years and is my pride and joy. I didn't put an island in it, but my log and stump piles create multiple small islands. Birds and turtles use them all the time. They are small, nice looking and really something that I like a lot.

I've cleard an area to dig my third pond. It's in the flood plane, and at the very lowest part of my land. I dug a hole with the backhoe and it filled up with water. The table water is about four feet down, so this will be a dug out pond that should stay full year round. It will be about a quater acre in size, making it my smallest pond. It's also surrounded by trees and in my mind, it should be a very nice looking pond. My biggest concern is the flooding from the creek that happens once or twice a year. The sand and silt that is left behind might eventually fill up the pond. As it is, when the flood waters receded, I'm left with sand banks that I have to haul off. Usualy I can do it in half a dozen trips with the one yard bucket on the backhoe, so it's not that big of a deal, but if it goes into the pond, I won't be able to get it out as easily and it will just fill in over time. In ten years, I might not have a pond anymore.

Good luck with your next pond. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of it!!!

Eddie

 

[bindian]

What a difference two months can make. We have had lots of rain in the last few weeks and now Lake Marie is overflowing. Below's photos were taken on October 15th and today.

I also received an abandoned horse. Seems someone abandoned her by tying her up on an empty lot up the street. She was there a week. I have asked the nearby home owners and they don't know whose horse it is. Monday I will have to call Animal Control, as the horse can get hurt near the pond and house, where I have found steaming pies!

Booger is fully recovered from having Link Worms. He has filled back out handsomely.
Merry Christmas hugs, Brandi

 

[bullbreaker]

Ms.Brandi
Thanks again for post/pics !
Glad to see and hear my "bunkhouse" buddy(Booger) feeling and looking good !
So probably plans for re-stocking cats in pond when wheather warms up ?

Boone

 

[bindian]

Ms.Brandi
Thanks again for post/pics !
Glad to see and hear my "bunkhouse" buddy(Booger) feeling and looking good !
So probably plans for re-stocking cats in pond when wheather warms up ?

Boone

Boone,
I have been wanting to restock since Oct. But the only day I can pickup catfish is the 3rd Saturday and all of these Saturdays have been full. I will order cats in January for pickup on the 21st.
How does "Nellie Bell" look to you?
Merry Christmas hugs, Brandi

 

[bullbreaker]

Boone,
How does "Nellie Bell" look to you?
Merry Christmas hugs, Brandi

Nellie Bell looks good,in better shape than I expected.I'am sure you've had a lot to do with that in the last couple days.:thumbsup: She looks at peace there and happy.

Boone

 

[crbr]

Looking good.....

 

[tony Cecil]

It sure is nice for the drought to be over for all of us, so that is a blessing for the season Merry Christmas to you Tony