Well and water
- Thread starter OkeeDon
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This view is from the other side, towards the spot where the kids were playing. Our house will be on the right, facing the pond. The float valve is in the foreground, doing its thing. The PVC support is temporary while I establish the "right" level; it will be supported from underneath when complete.
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DAP
Veteran Member
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- Nov 28, 2001
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- 1,180
- Tractor
- JD LX288 and a B7800
Don ... I'd attach a pic of our pair of "quirks", but I don't have a pic handy. These dogs are the best kept secret in all of petland. Our Alice just turned 4 and Whisper turned 7 and I could fill a server disk with grey stories.
Special dogs with special needs. Hope that pond area is enclosed with some fencing. The leash rule stands.
Special dogs with special needs. Hope that pond area is enclosed with some fencing. The leash rule stands.
The leash rule stands...
Absolutely, although Rocky has learned a new trick -- and, after 64 years, taught my wife a new skill. She has never been good about closing things tight -- dresser drawers, bifold doors, etc., and she seldom checked to see if a door striker "clicked" shut. Because I'm fussy about such things, I like to think that she's not careless about shutting things completely, but is showing her love for me by deliberately leaving things for me to do.
But, Rocky has learned that he can "test" a door by shoving it -- and has "escaped" more than once. We currently live in a smaller, slower neighborhood of a larger city, and all our neighbors know Rocky from their frequent, leashed walks. Without exception, we get a call within a couple of minutes, usually before Betsy even knows he's gone, "We have Rocky..."
So, after all these years, the new dog has taught the old one (although Betsy's not a dog -- she gets better looking as she gets older) the new trick of making sure the door is latched.
But, back to the pond -- the first thing we did, within days of buying the property, was to have field fence installed around the entire perimeter. We didn't stop at our 5 acres; we had my daughter's adjacent 2.5 acres re-fenced at the same time. Now, the entire 7.5 acre compound is secure for all the dogs and my granddaughters. The greys could probably jump the fence if they were determined, but it's not in their natures -- I think a piece of string would serve as a sufficient fence -- the 4' high field fence stops them cold, and the 7.5 acres gives them plenty of room without the temptation of the outside world.
As you know, while greyhounds love to run. it's not something they do all the time. Our guys are content with maybe 5 minutes of joyful gamboling, then it's back to being couch potatoes. Our vet calls them "statues".
You're also absolutely correct about them being the best pets. We had gone through several disastrous dogs, to the point where I had sworn we'd never have another, before Betsy brought Grandy home 6 years ago. Now, we have two.
Grandy is timid and shy and it's hard to get a picture of her, but here's a shot of Rocky as the intrepid explorer.
Absolutely, although Rocky has learned a new trick -- and, after 64 years, taught my wife a new skill. She has never been good about closing things tight -- dresser drawers, bifold doors, etc., and she seldom checked to see if a door striker "clicked" shut. Because I'm fussy about such things, I like to think that she's not careless about shutting things completely, but is showing her love for me by deliberately leaving things for me to do.
But, Rocky has learned that he can "test" a door by shoving it -- and has "escaped" more than once. We currently live in a smaller, slower neighborhood of a larger city, and all our neighbors know Rocky from their frequent, leashed walks. Without exception, we get a call within a couple of minutes, usually before Betsy even knows he's gone, "We have Rocky..."
So, after all these years, the new dog has taught the old one (although Betsy's not a dog -- she gets better looking as she gets older) the new trick of making sure the door is latched.
But, back to the pond -- the first thing we did, within days of buying the property, was to have field fence installed around the entire perimeter. We didn't stop at our 5 acres; we had my daughter's adjacent 2.5 acres re-fenced at the same time. Now, the entire 7.5 acre compound is secure for all the dogs and my granddaughters. The greys could probably jump the fence if they were determined, but it's not in their natures -- I think a piece of string would serve as a sufficient fence -- the 4' high field fence stops them cold, and the 7.5 acres gives them plenty of room without the temptation of the outside world.
As you know, while greyhounds love to run. it's not something they do all the time. Our guys are content with maybe 5 minutes of joyful gamboling, then it's back to being couch potatoes. Our vet calls them "statues".
You're also absolutely correct about them being the best pets. We had gone through several disastrous dogs, to the point where I had sworn we'd never have another, before Betsy brought Grandy home 6 years ago. Now, we have two.
Grandy is timid and shy and it's hard to get a picture of her, but here's a shot of Rocky as the intrepid explorer.
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DAP
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
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- Tractor
- JD LX288 and a B7800
Great to hear. I hope the other TBN dog lovers read these coupla posts. The greys are magical. Who says ya can't get sumpin for nuthin. The best pets around and they can't GIVE em away fast enough.
Anyway .. hope you have a good vet. And remember, no barbituate based anestheisa for the grays. It can and has kill them - them being ex-racing animals. We have to go 60 miles into the big city to find a vet we trust with the greys.
An arrogant vet can kill a grey if they are not studious. Rocky is capital Gorgeous.
I'll bet you don't get much sleep either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Anyway .. hope you have a good vet. And remember, no barbituate based anestheisa for the grays. It can and has kill them - them being ex-racing animals. We have to go 60 miles into the big city to find a vet we trust with the greys.
An arrogant vet can kill a grey if they are not studious. Rocky is capital Gorgeous.
I'll bet you don't get much sleep either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
As always Mr. Don, I'm truly enjoying your posts and pictures.
My half acre pond is filling up from rain water and to maintain it I'll be bringing in water. My situation is a little different in that I have a small, year round creek in the bottom corner of my land about 850 feet from my pond and 40 feet lower. I will dam it up at a later date to create another pond, but for now I plan to devert some of that water to my front entrace pond.
I'm encouraged to see such dramatic results from your efforts and I'm enthused about my future project.
How are you planning to aerate your pond? Most of the floating pumps with nice patterns seem to start at $850 and up. To add lights is another $500.
I'm looking at buying a large submersable waterfall pump in the 2,400 g/h range and attach a nozzle to it and create my own spray pattern. Seems like I can save over $500.
Good luck,
Eddie
My half acre pond is filling up from rain water and to maintain it I'll be bringing in water. My situation is a little different in that I have a small, year round creek in the bottom corner of my land about 850 feet from my pond and 40 feet lower. I will dam it up at a later date to create another pond, but for now I plan to devert some of that water to my front entrace pond.
I'm encouraged to see such dramatic results from your efforts and I'm enthused about my future project.
How are you planning to aerate your pond? Most of the floating pumps with nice patterns seem to start at $850 and up. To add lights is another $500.
I'm looking at buying a large submersable waterfall pump in the 2,400 g/h range and attach a nozzle to it and create my own spray pattern. Seems like I can save over $500.
Good luck,
Eddie
We use a vet recommended by the local greyhound adoption service. We have an old friend who is a vet, a really caring guy and a fellow sports car nut, and it pained us to switch, but the new vet truly loves these dogs and has made them a specialty.
Rocky is very gorgeous, and has a special story. He was given to us directly off a truck transporting greys to the training facility. It's not often you can get a 14 month old greyhound. It was a chance meeting of the trainer at a fast food restaurant, and when he figured out that Betsy is a true greyhound lover, he said that he had a couple of dogs in the truck that were not going to be suitable racing material. Rocky's "problem" is that he is too darn friendly and enthusiastic, and I doubt he would have ever accommodated to the training. We entered the restaurant with one dog, and exited with two. We later checked the trainer, and he has a spotless reputation. He doesn't race the dogs himself, but trains them from about 14 months to about 2 years. He later called us to see how Rocky was doing. We took a bit of a risk taking a dog in that way, but we've had Rocky since last August, and it's worked out great!
Attached is the typical picture I get of Grandy...
BTW, the minivan is purely because of the dogs -- each gets their own bench seat.
Rocky is very gorgeous, and has a special story. He was given to us directly off a truck transporting greys to the training facility. It's not often you can get a 14 month old greyhound. It was a chance meeting of the trainer at a fast food restaurant, and when he figured out that Betsy is a true greyhound lover, he said that he had a couple of dogs in the truck that were not going to be suitable racing material. Rocky's "problem" is that he is too darn friendly and enthusiastic, and I doubt he would have ever accommodated to the training. We entered the restaurant with one dog, and exited with two. We later checked the trainer, and he has a spotless reputation. He doesn't race the dogs himself, but trains them from about 14 months to about 2 years. He later called us to see how Rocky was doing. We took a bit of a risk taking a dog in that way, but we've had Rocky since last August, and it's worked out great!
Attached is the typical picture I get of Grandy...
BTW, the minivan is purely because of the dogs -- each gets their own bench seat.
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I'm going to aerate with a fountain, although it will have to wait until I get power to the property in a few months. In the meantime, the Hudson float valve does a pretty good job of agitating the water (and introducing new water), but is isn't much good for destratifying. I thought about trying to make my own fountain to save a few bucks, and I haven't ruled it out, but, like many other things, there's more to it than initially meets the eye.
Frankly, the best and lowest price aeration seems to be an air stone, but Betsy said she really wants a fountain, with lights. Now, here's the secret to getting more toys for ourselves. I really want a fountain, too, but as soon as she mentioned it, I immediately got reluctant. I explained all about the air stone, how much less the compressor would be, etc. etc. Then, I heard the magic words, "I don't really care what it costs, I would really like a fountain." Wham! Now I can get a lift for my barn-to-be....
I think the key to using a fountain is to get one that has the water pickup deep enough to destratify. Many of the decorative fountains have the pickup with 3 feet of the surface, regardless of how deep the pond is. I have found a couple of setups that are designed for aeration (I'm sure there are many others), with only a 1/2 HP pump (for less expensive operation), and a spray pattern suitable for our smallish pond.
Frankly, the best and lowest price aeration seems to be an air stone, but Betsy said she really wants a fountain, with lights. Now, here's the secret to getting more toys for ourselves. I really want a fountain, too, but as soon as she mentioned it, I immediately got reluctant. I explained all about the air stone, how much less the compressor would be, etc. etc. Then, I heard the magic words, "I don't really care what it costs, I would really like a fountain." Wham! Now I can get a lift for my barn-to-be....
I think the key to using a fountain is to get one that has the water pickup deep enough to destratify. Many of the decorative fountains have the pickup with 3 feet of the surface, regardless of how deep the pond is. I have found a couple of setups that are designed for aeration (I'm sure there are many others), with only a 1/2 HP pump (for less expensive operation), and a spray pattern suitable for our smallish pond.
uhmgawa
Gold Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Wow, i thought we had to go deep at 197 feet.)</font>
Just yesterday I helped a friend pull up his pump which had failed.
It wouldn't have been bad if it had dawned on the 'licensed' installer
to use safety ropes, pipe centers, and polyethylene hose.
As it was the drop pipe consisted of 20' sections of schedule 21
(yes 21) 1" PVC connected via male/female adapters totaling about
300'. Each water-filled section faithfully flexed and broke at the joint
as we extracted the works. I still don't know how we lucked out and
did not lose the original pump.
Just yesterday I helped a friend pull up his pump which had failed.
It wouldn't have been bad if it had dawned on the 'licensed' installer
to use safety ropes, pipe centers, and polyethylene hose.
As it was the drop pipe consisted of 20' sections of schedule 21
(yes 21) 1" PVC connected via male/female adapters totaling about
300'. Each water-filled section faithfully flexed and broke at the joint
as we extracted the works. I still don't know how we lucked out and
did not lose the original pump.
