Pond dreaming is over
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MadDogDriver
Gold Member
Now that's the way to get something done. Get paid and have someone else work. 
MadDogDriver
Gold Member
So Phil, what size excavator should I get to enlarge my pond?
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Phil,
Smart move. Did he ask for any more dirt?
My neighbor has a couple hundred thousand yards he's trying to sell, but nobody wants it. He keeps digging and the pile is gonna get too big for him to continue if he doesn't figure something out.
Thanks for the pics and update. It's all coming together for you!!!
Eddie
Smart move. Did he ask for any more dirt?
My neighbor has a couple hundred thousand yards he's trying to sell, but nobody wants it. He keeps digging and the pile is gonna get too big for him to continue if he doesn't figure something out.
Thanks for the pics and update. It's all coming together for you!!!
Eddie
MadDog,
That is beautiful!!! i would not pull that apart. Could that be a start of a man made stream leading to a pond? To answer your question the size of the excavator is in direct relation of the budget and space. I know that I could have dug the pond with my small BH. But 16hrs and $800.00 I dug a 1/2 acre and separated the top soil in hope of selling it. The first machine had a 26' reach
Eddie,
This guy took all he wanted. I will place an ad in the paper and continue to try and sell more.
By the way I seen your Lake creature pic's that is so cool.
I've been reading the post Clay,Clay, and more Clay and noticed that the advice is to add organic matter. I wonder if I would do that to my topsoil if it would lighten it up?
This is a picture of the pile before they started.
The plan for now is to finish my subframe so that I can use my Bh and chip away at the edges of the pond. Now it's just a labor of love.
That is beautiful!!! i would not pull that apart. Could that be a start of a man made stream leading to a pond? To answer your question the size of the excavator is in direct relation of the budget and space. I know that I could have dug the pond with my small BH. But 16hrs and $800.00 I dug a 1/2 acre and separated the top soil in hope of selling it. The first machine had a 26' reach
Eddie,
This guy took all he wanted. I will place an ad in the paper and continue to try and sell more.
By the way I seen your Lake creature pic's that is so cool.
I've been reading the post Clay,Clay, and more Clay and noticed that the advice is to add organic matter. I wonder if I would do that to my topsoil if it would lighten it up?
This is a picture of the pile before they started.
The plan for now is to finish my subframe so that I can use my Bh and chip away at the edges of the pond. Now it's just a labor of love.
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MadDogDriver
Gold Member
Thanks. My wife is the "Master Gardener" ...... I'm just IGOR the "Rock Picker"
I did expand it a little while ago. We were doing our "Spring cleaning" to get all the decomposed leaves, etc. out of the water and since it was all taken apart I decided I make it a little bigger with my new BH90-X. That way I could get some more seat time (need to get some pics of the revised "pond")
26' Excavator for $800 in 16hrs is a great deal IMO. The time savings alone was worth it let alone the ease. Our little BHs couldn't come close to doing what you did in probably 1/10 the time and I bet we'd consume a lot more diesel than your excavator did . Did the rental company require some proficiency demonstration from you before they let you loose with it?
I did expand it a little while ago. We were doing our "Spring cleaning" to get all the decomposed leaves, etc. out of the water and since it was all taken apart I decided I make it a little bigger with my new BH90-X. That way I could get some more seat time
(need to get some pics of the revised "pond")26' Excavator for $800 in 16hrs is a great deal IMO. The time savings alone was worth it let alone the ease. Our little BHs couldn't come close to doing what you did in probably 1/10 the time and I bet we'd consume a lot more diesel than your excavator did . Did the rental company require some proficiency demonstration from you before they let you loose with it?
MadDog,
No they did not. I rent from them allot at the sign company so that has never come up. I would think that seeing you have a BH they would rent to you. They wanted $300. more for the 50' reach and transport would have added $150.
Today I hope the fish hatchery calls so we could add another 50 rainbows and 75 Brooke's.
I need to ask them if they will spawn. One of my employees told me that the rainbows need running water. The pond is spring feed so no running water.
No they did not. I rent from them allot at the sign company so that has never come up. I would think that seeing you have a BH they would rent to you. They wanted $300. more for the 50' reach and transport would have added $150.
Today I hope the fish hatchery calls so we could add another 50 rainbows and 75 Brooke's.
I need to ask them if they will spawn. One of my employees told me that the rainbows need running water. The pond is spring feed so no running water.
MadDogDriver
Gold Member
I'm am very envious of your project Phil. It will give you endless hours of enjoyment not only once it's completed but I'm sure you can't wait to get back out there every free moment you get.
I'm assuming the Fish Hatchery is advising you on quantity and species to stock or are you using other resources? I would think it'd take some time for the pond to stabilize.
I'm assuming the Fish Hatchery is advising you on quantity and species to stock or are you using other resources? I would think it'd take some time for the pond to stabilize.
I decided to try and clear the pond. I now have added 680 lbs. of granulated gypsum in hopes of seeing some improvement. With less than 24 hrs from application we have been getting rain. So the waiting begins. I will wait for 2 weeks and if I don't see any improvement I will add another 600 lbs.
I also noticed some green scum on some of the edges I hope that it's just pollen.
I also called the state about getting a some neutered grass carp. They say that they are against the law. I would like some kind of bottom feeder that won't over populate the pond. the trout have been a great pleasure and I would like to see them grow. I added 50 more today so that puts me at 77 in the pond to date. Rainbow trout are bug eaters and don't need any other forage according to the hatchery guy. I hope they eat tad poles because I have seen a ton of them.
Do any of you have some suggestions for bottom feeders? This state thinks that the only fish types for Maine are trout and salmon.
MadDog,
The hatchery I use only raises rainbow trout. He seem like a nice guy but doesn't talk much. He did say the fish will do good through the winter with no work on my part. He said if there were allot of leaves in the pond then perhaps I would have a problem. There are no leaves because it was a fresh dig. I have been reading allot at pond boss as well.
Thanks again
Coopers, thank you
I also noticed some green scum on some of the edges I hope that it's just pollen.
I also called the state about getting a some neutered grass carp. They say that they are against the law. I would like some kind of bottom feeder that won't over populate the pond. the trout have been a great pleasure and I would like to see them grow. I added 50 more today so that puts me at 77 in the pond to date. Rainbow trout are bug eaters and don't need any other forage according to the hatchery guy. I hope they eat tad poles because I have seen a ton of them.
Do any of you have some suggestions for bottom feeders? This state thinks that the only fish types for Maine are trout and salmon.
MadDog,
The hatchery I use only raises rainbow trout. He seem like a nice guy but doesn't talk much. He did say the fish will do good through the winter with no work on my part. He said if there were allot of leaves in the pond then perhaps I would have a problem. There are no leaves because it was a fresh dig. I have been reading allot at pond boss as well.
Thanks again
Coopers, thank you