Pond Skater
May 3rd 05, 09:24 PM
Some great ideas here - thank you all very much! Reel McKoi's double
planting basket concept sounds good - obviously my single planting
basket was not enough and I need two of them. David's concentric
spheres remind me too much of things that I studied too long ago to
remember.... but do let me know when you find a supplier! You could
make a fortune...
I think tomorrow I will be wiring up some baskets - a bit like locking
the stable door after the horse has bolted (or after the newt has been
minced) - but would hate my tadpoles to go the same way.
Thanks again for all your ideas - keep 'em coming! (And if anyone has
any spare newts in south-central UK, please let me know as I still
haven't told my kids...
David Wrote:
> On Tue, 3 May 2005 09:23:40 -0500, "Reel McKoi" invalid@invalid
> wrote:
> -
>
> "Pond Skater" wrote in message
> ...[color=green][i]
>
>
> =====================
> I use those black plastic pond plant pots wired together like
> clamshells.
> They make excellent intake (or pump) guards. So far only the smallest
> fish
> have gotten past this setup. Make sure you jam polyfilter around the
> hole
> where the intake enters your "basket" or whatever is on the end of the
> intake. Don't leave any openings large enough for small critters to
> get
> past.....-
>
> Hello PondSkater,
>
> I have been conceptually wrestling with this problem for about six
> months now, for a pond I am attempting to design for small tropical
> fish. The solution I have about settled on, (I think g), is
> something like Reel McKoi's above, except with concentric spherical
> screens. Maybe three of them. The outermost would (of course) be the
> largest diameter, and therefore would have the least suction per
> square inch. It would also have the largest grid size, to stop the
> largest debris, e.g., leaves. If trapped against the screen, small
> fish, newts, etc. should be able to swim back away because the suction
> per surface area will be minimal.
>
> The next inner spherical screen would be (of course) smaller diameter,
> and would have a smaller grid size, so smaller debris would be trapped
> against it. And even though the suction per area would be greater,
> any smaller fish that made it that far should still be able to swim
> back out.
>
> The next, and probably final spherical screen would be a smaller
> diameter yet,
> with a smaller grid size. This should trap the smallest
> debris. And any fish, etc., that are small enough to make it that
> far; well, life just isn't perfect...
>
> In that regard, depending on the expected critter size and the level
> of proprietor's worry, one could experiment with the spherical screen
> diameters, and with the grid sizes of each spherical screen. Maybe
> even add a fourth screen(?)
>
> Also, I suppose one could turn the pump off periodically to allow any
> stuck ones to escape. (I imagine that this would provide a real
> learning experience for anyone caught, and I doubt that they would be
> keen to repeat the adventure.) (And if they do, then maybe you don't
> want them to remain in your gene pool anyway. g)
>
> Since I haven't implemented this concept yet, I would be happy for any
> of you more knowledgeable folks to take potshots at it. One clear
> issue in my mind will be the complication of trapping and plugging
> with algae. However, that issue has to be faced anyway.
>
> Best regards, David
--
Pond Skater
planting basket concept sounds good - obviously my single planting
basket was not enough and I need two of them. David's concentric
spheres remind me too much of things that I studied too long ago to
remember.... but do let me know when you find a supplier! You could
make a fortune...
I think tomorrow I will be wiring up some baskets - a bit like locking
the stable door after the horse has bolted (or after the newt has been
minced) - but would hate my tadpoles to go the same way.
Thanks again for all your ideas - keep 'em coming! (And if anyone has
any spare newts in south-central UK, please let me know as I still
haven't told my kids...
David Wrote:
> On Tue, 3 May 2005 09:23:40 -0500, "Reel McKoi" invalid@invalid
> wrote:
> -
>
> "Pond Skater" wrote in message
> ...[color=green][i]
>
>
> =====================
> I use those black plastic pond plant pots wired together like
> clamshells.
> They make excellent intake (or pump) guards. So far only the smallest
> fish
> have gotten past this setup. Make sure you jam polyfilter around the
> hole
> where the intake enters your "basket" or whatever is on the end of the
> intake. Don't leave any openings large enough for small critters to
> get
> past.....-
>
> Hello PondSkater,
>
> I have been conceptually wrestling with this problem for about six
> months now, for a pond I am attempting to design for small tropical
> fish. The solution I have about settled on, (I think g), is
> something like Reel McKoi's above, except with concentric spherical
> screens. Maybe three of them. The outermost would (of course) be the
> largest diameter, and therefore would have the least suction per
> square inch. It would also have the largest grid size, to stop the
> largest debris, e.g., leaves. If trapped against the screen, small
> fish, newts, etc. should be able to swim back away because the suction
> per surface area will be minimal.
>
> The next inner spherical screen would be (of course) smaller diameter,
> and would have a smaller grid size, so smaller debris would be trapped
> against it. And even though the suction per area would be greater,
> any smaller fish that made it that far should still be able to swim
> back out.
>
> The next, and probably final spherical screen would be a smaller
> diameter yet,
> with a smaller grid size. This should trap the smallest
> debris. And any fish, etc., that are small enough to make it that
> far; well, life just isn't perfect...
>
> In that regard, depending on the expected critter size and the level
> of proprietor's worry, one could experiment with the spherical screen
> diameters, and with the grid sizes of each spherical screen. Maybe
> even add a fourth screen(?)
>
> Also, I suppose one could turn the pump off periodically to allow any
> stuck ones to escape. (I imagine that this would provide a real
> learning experience for anyone caught, and I doubt that they would be
> keen to repeat the adventure.) (And if they do, then maybe you don't
> want them to remain in your gene pool anyway. g)
>
> Since I haven't implemented this concept yet, I would be happy for any
> of you more knowledgeable folks to take potshots at it. One clear
> issue in my mind will be the complication of trapping and plugging
> with algae. However, that issue has to be faced anyway.
>
> Best regards, David
--
Pond Skater