Hello from central Illinois

[Deadeye]

thanks for the extra pic, that must pull the solids out pretty well

[Roger R.]

thanks for the extra pic, that must pull the solids out pretty well

It may have been overkill but the bottom of the tank is as clean as the day I set it up.

[Roger R.]

Haven't posted anything since November, so time for a small update.

All the goldfish in the system were born and raised in our backyard pond. Last summer a local blue heron discovered the pond and I thought wiped them out but there were still 3 large and a bunch babies when they came out of hiding. They moved into this basement system in October and it's been a lot of fun feeding them and growing stuff all winter. Two weeks ago I moved six of them back to the pond with idea of adding a outside growbed, which I will do.

Anyway here's a pic of my hungry hippos in the basement. I haven't lost a single fish since moving them in.



I took the little swirl filter out. It didn't do that much and it started to leak some. The bucket is full of sliced up water bottles and has an air stone in the bottom. It seems to do more that the swirl filter did.



Time to harvest some more chard.



I had planned to shut this down for the summer and put the fish back outside but I like it so much I'll just let it run.

Still don't own a water test kit. I checked the Ph a couple times in the beginning with test strips for the spa. Haven't tested anything for months. Just feed 'em, add a little water when I hear the pump sucking air, and cut chard.

I'll get some pictures of the outdoor pond, the dirt garden and my start on the outside growbed this week.

[JCO]

Roger R,

Don't know how I missed your update but it was great to know all is doing well. I hope when you move them back to the yard, you put some bird netting over them to keep the herons out.

They sure have grown and your plants are looking great.

Have you started your outside growbeds yet. Keep us posted and by all means post lots of photos so we can keep up with your ingenious way of doing things.

[15mules]

Thanks for the pics. and the update. I look forward to seeing the pictures of your outside stuff. I had a bird getting my fish a few years ago. I cold not afford to cover my pond in netting, so I did the nest best thing.

No, need for netting when there is no bird!!

[Roger L.]

Original or extra crispy?

[15mules]

I was just looking at your pictures again. That fish tank water sure is clear, I can see the fish way down in there. That filter thing you have must really be taking a lot of the solid stuff out.

Roger, a little lead diplomacy can solve many of mans problems. Problem is, they are not enough Diplomatic Men left in this Country it seems.

[eddiemigue]

That tank is crystal clear! Very nice job and I wish you continued success.

[Aloha Don]

You used a sock to filter out dust/dirt from your media?
How well did that work for you?
Did you clean it first?
I'm trying to be lazy and if this works, then I wont have to clean my cinder...lol

[Roger R.]

You used a sock to filter out dust/dirt from your media?
How well did that work for you?
Did you clean it first?
I'm trying to be lazy and if this works, then I wont have to clean my cinder...lol

Did I clean the sock or the rock??
The sock was clean and I didn't wash the rock. The sock just kept the dust (mud) out of the fish tank. A lot of it settled in the sump and I did suck out the bottom of the sump a couple of times with the shop vac.