solar powered ponds?

[Brian]

Hi,
I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm going
to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't seen
others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems like
that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items, with
the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
using solar power and how they have things set up.

Thanks,
Brian

[BenignVanilla]

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.
<snip>

In short, yes. Solar power is still very expensive. To get the needed juice
for a typical pump, you would need a roof full of solar panels. Check out a
solar landscaping light sometime. I have two, and by morning, the lights are
out. Small panels just don't make enough juice.

BV.

P.S. I hope my explanation was over everyone's head. I know I used a bunch
of technical lingo.

[Iain Miller]

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
going
> to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
> off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
> Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
> appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.

The biggest issue would be how to store enough power during the day to run
your pumps overnight. Bio filters need a constant supply of oxygen rich
water or the the bacteria die off - worse still something like a sealed
filter can go Anaerobic (nasty!) in only two or three hours. I would guess
that if you went the veggie-filter route this wouldn't be such a problem.

Also, if your filters did go off overnight then you'd need to be careful
about stocking levels to make sure you avoided ammonia/nitrite spikes. These
would only become a problem if your stocking levels were "stretching the
envelope" though (I think!).

I.

[Sam Hopkins]

Solor power is way too expensive. I researched it a while back. If you're
down south and get 10-15 hours of good sun a day it's about $600-700 for a
100 watt panel. If you're up north like me you get only 4-5 hours of good
sunlight in the summer so it'd be $600-700 for 30-40 watts of power. And the
panel is big, like 4'X2' or something like that.


"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
going
> to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
> off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
> Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
> appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
>

[Nedra]

I never got as far as these guys did... The light that I wanted
to use at the pond ... (sort of a mushroom light) didn't put
out enough light. It never charged enough during the day.
I'm just south of St. Louis... In Missouri.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Sam Hopkins" > wrote in message
.. .
> Solor power is way too expensive. I researched it a while back. If you're
> down south and get 10-15 hours of good sun a day it's about $600-700 for a
> 100 watt panel. If you're up north like me you get only 4-5 hours of good
> sunlight in the summer so it'd be $600-700 for 30-40 watts of power. And
the
> panel is big, like 4'X2' or something like that.
>
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
> going
> > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
start
> > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
requirements.
> > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option
is
> > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
> seen
> > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
> like
> > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet
I
> > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
> with
> > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
people
> > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate
for
> > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone
is
> > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
> >
> >
>
>
>

[John Hines]

"Brian" > wrote:

>use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
>the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
>using solar power and how they have things set up.

My pond, being under the canopy of a maple tree, doesn't get enough
light but to charge one solar led at one corner.

Good idea, it would be expensive. You'd need a battery setup to keep it
going at night, cloudy days, weeks, etc.

You can spend, er build, a big enough solar setup to do pretty much
anything you want.

[K30a]

jj has a solar powered pump on her lily pond.
Any cloud that passes the sun slooooooows the pump down. But we have tons of
sunshine here. Rain is greeted with awe and suspicion.

Most ponders run their pumps 24/7.
They use them for their bio-filter and the constant water movement keeps the
benefical bacteria alive.
They also use them to add oxygen into the water at night when the plants
consume oxygen instead of make it like they do during the day.

That all said.
I run one pond without a pump. It is a still pond. It is full of plants, in
full sun and can support a couple of fish (no fish in there right now). It gets
hit by the sprinkler every night so stagnant water isn't a problem. It has
stayed crystal clear for about four years now. I treat it with Mosquito Bits
when I don't have fish in it.


k30a

[BenignVanilla]

"K30a" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> I run one pond without a pump. It is a still pond. It is full of plants,
in
> full sun and can support a couple of fish (no fish in there right now). It
gets
> hit by the sprinkler every night so stagnant water isn't a problem. It has
> stayed crystal clear for about four years now. I treat it with Mosquito
Bits
> when I don't have fish in it.

Hmm...My pond is so heavily planted...I again wonder if I could get away
with not running my pump 24/7.

BV.

[Wilson]

Brian > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
going
> to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
> off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
> Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
> appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian

I am by no means an electrical whiz Brian....in fact the first time I
installed and interrupt outlet(not sure of the technical name...see!) was
about 2 weeks ago. Here is what I did: Hit the hardware store and
purchased the interrupt outlet(16.00) and bought a junction box with an
attached door(10.00) and a tube of quick drying glue/sealer, took out the
old outlet that wasn't even grounded....installed the outlet (3
wires....black, white and green....wow hard! :) I bought the junction box
because I knew the outlet was going to be bigger than the original hole they
had cut out....attached the outlet to it, zipped it up with 4 screws over
the old hole and finished it off with the sealer. I then ran the heavy duty
outdoor extension cord down to the patio floor and from there used small
diameter PVC pipe to run it across the patio floor against the house(also
painted the pipe so it looks nice) to approx. 3 feet from my waterfall. I
then bought an outdoor (power strip?) that sits upright that you can
purchase from Wal-Mart for $20 and plugged it all up.

As long as you are slightly handy you shouldn't have any problems at all
doing it yourself. Don't set any water feature up without the interrupt
though...no matter how small.

~Wilson~

[Iain Miller]

"BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
...
> "K30a" > wrote in message
> ...
> <snip>
> > I run one pond without a pump. It is a still pond. It is full of plants,
> in
> > full sun and can support a couple of fish (no fish in there right now).
It
> gets
> > hit by the sprinkler every night so stagnant water isn't a problem. It
has
> > stayed crystal clear for about four years now. I treat it with Mosquito
> Bits
> > when I don't have fish in it.
>
> Hmm...My pond is so heavily planted...I again wonder if I could get away
> with not running my pump 24/7.

Not adviseable because as has been siad earlier in the thread, firstly your
bio filter may die back very very quickly and secondly if your pond is
heavily planted the plants actually go into reverse and pull oxygen out of
the water at night....

[K30a]

The still frog bog has no fish in it at the moment.
Only aquatic insects, tadpoles, worms and other slimey things.
When it had a bunch of goldfish in it I could see them gasping at the surface
before the sun came up. Removed most of them right away and the problem was
gone. Removed the rest of them so I could raise tadpoles in there.
The pond is so crowded with plants, they are planted in rocks, that I can't see
anything in there anymore. I use a net to test for mosquito larvae. Haven't
spotted any tadpoles since they went in as eggs.


k30a

[Donald]

Ok how's this sound.
WIND POWER. A couple of deepcycle 12 volt batteries. and a alternator off a
old car or tractor. As well u could also get the wiring and regulator off
the same vehicle. Should be able to buy 12 volt pumps and lights. Just a
though. Any comments.
"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
going
> to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
> off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
> Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
> appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
>

[Brian]

Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough money)
to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar power
seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.

Brian


"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
going
> to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to start
> off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical requirements.
> Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option is
> appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
seen
> others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
like
> that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet I
> haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
with
> the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more people
> use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate for
> the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone is
> using solar power and how they have things set up.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
>

[infoseeker]

Are you using your barrels as soil planters or as water gardens? I started
a water garden in mine a bit over a week ago. I'd be interested in hearing
your progress, etc...

Good luck!

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
> planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough money)
> to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar power
> seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.
>
> Brian
>
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
> going
> > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
start
> > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
requirements.
> > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option
is
> > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
> seen
> > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
> like
> > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet
I
> > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
> with
> > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
people
> > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate
for
> > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone
is
> > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
> >
> >
>
>

[infoseeker]

or- how about those have a heart cages with raccoons to catch them, and then
set up a fenced in 'raccon run'? I bet with all the raccoon activity, they
could power the whole shebang!

couldn't resist. : ]


"Donald" > wrote in message
...
> Ok how's this sound.
> WIND POWER. A couple of deepcycle 12 volt batteries. and a alternator off
a
> old car or tractor. As well u could also get the wiring and regulator off
> the same vehicle. Should be able to buy 12 volt pumps and lights. Just a
> though. Any comments.
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
> going
> > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
start
> > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
requirements.
> > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option
is
> > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or filter.
> > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I haven't
> seen
> > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
> like
> > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment. Yet
I
> > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered items,
> with
> > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
people
> > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate
for
> > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if anyone
is
> > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
> >
> >
>
>

[Denise]

I'm using solar power LOL...have two floating solar lights in pond. They
give off wonderful glow and I can watch the koi swimming at night.

Denise

Visit my gardens:

http://web1.in4web.com/mtcdrc

[Brian]

Well, I filled up two half barrels this past weekend and got some plants in.
So far, so good! I bought a hardy water lily and two marginals for each
one. I chose not to use a liner since they seem to hold water pretty well
without it. There were some leaks initially, but once the slats expanded,
the leaks disappeared. I"m trying to acquire some other plants to balance
things out, but I live in Maine and am running into fairly restrictive laws
about what plants I can buy! I think I'll follow that up in a new thread
and see if I can get any more tips.

Brian


"infoseeker" <reply by post thx> wrote in message
...
> Are you using your barrels as soil planters or as water gardens? I
started
> a water garden in mine a bit over a week ago. I'd be interested in
hearing
> your progress, etc...
>
> Good luck!
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
> > planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough
money)
> > to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar power
> > seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi,
> > > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
> > going
> > > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
> start
> > > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> > > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
> requirements.
> > > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option
> is
> > > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or
filter.
> > > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I
haven't
> > seen
> > > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
> > like
> > > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment.
Yet
> I
> > > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered
items,
> > with
> > > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
> people
> > > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate
> for
> > > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if
anyone
> is
> > > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Brian
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Brian]

Well, I filled up two half barrels this past weekend and got some plants in.
So far, so good! I bought a hardy water lily and two marginals for each
one. I chose not to use a liner since they seem to hold water pretty well
without it. There were some leaks initially, but once the slats expanded,
the leaks disappeared. I"m trying to acquire some other plants to balance
things out, but I live in Maine and am running into fairly restrictive laws
about what plants I can buy! I think I'll follow that up in a new thread
and see if I can get any more tips.

Brian


"infoseeker" <reply by post thx> wrote in message
...
> Are you using your barrels as soil planters or as water gardens? I
started
> a water garden in mine a bit over a week ago. I'd be interested in
hearing
> your progress, etc...
>
> Good luck!
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
> > planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough
money)
> > to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar power
> > seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi,
> > > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether I'm
> > going
> > > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
> start
> > > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the most
> > > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
> requirements.
> > > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel option
> is
> > > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or
filter.
> > > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I
haven't
> > seen
> > > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It seems
> > like
> > > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment.
Yet
> I
> > > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered
items,
> > with
> > > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
> people
> > > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply inadequate
> for
> > > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if
anyone
> is
> > > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Brian
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[groovy]

Since I haven't got a power supply to my pond I use a couple of those
small fountains to provide a bit of movement of the water. I live in a
very sunny place so they work very well. I've looked into solar panels
and small wind generators (we also have constant wind as well as sun)
to run pumps and the cost is high with also the requirement for battery
backup to do some smoothing of the supply. The water that can be
shifted by such a setup is very limited and will leave you feeling a bit
disappointed compared to a mains setup.

So my advice would be to run a mains supply across yourself. Armoured
cable is cheap, you can bury it yourself, cover it with some old roof
tiles to protect it further and then lay some of that yellow electrical
cable
warning plastic strip across the top. That complies with most bylaws
provided you go deep enough, get a qualified electrician to fit a socket
with a built in safety breaker and you're ready to go. Cheap as chips,
moderately safe and much more flexible.


"Brian" > wrote in message
et...
> Well, I filled up two half barrels this past weekend and got some plants
in.
> So far, so good! I bought a hardy water lily and two marginals for each
> one. I chose not to use a liner since they seem to hold water pretty well
> without it. There were some leaks initially, but once the slats expanded,
> the leaks disappeared. I"m trying to acquire some other plants to
balance
> things out, but I live in Maine and am running into fairly restrictive
laws
> about what plants I can buy! I think I'll follow that up in a new thread
> and see if I can get any more tips.
>
> Brian
>
>
> "infoseeker" <reply by post thx> wrote in message
> ...
> > Are you using your barrels as soil planters or as water gardens? I
> started
> > a water garden in mine a bit over a week ago. I'd be interested in
> hearing
> > your progress, etc...
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
> > > planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough
> money)
> > > to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar
power
> > > seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > >
> > > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether
I'm
> > > going
> > > > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
> > start
> > > > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the
most
> > > > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
> > requirements.
> > > > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > > > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel
option
> > is
> > > > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or
> filter.
> > > > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I
> haven't
> > > seen
> > > > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It
seems
> > > like
> > > > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment.
> Yet
> > I
> > > > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered
> items,
> > > with
> > > > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
> > people
> > > > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply
inadequate
> > for
> > > > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if
> anyone
> > is
> > > > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[groovy]

Since I haven't got a power supply to my pond I use a couple of those
small fountains to provide a bit of movement of the water. I live in a
very sunny place so they work very well. I've looked into solar panels
and small wind generators (we also have constant wind as well as sun)
to run pumps and the cost is high with also the requirement for battery
backup to do some smoothing of the supply. The water that can be
shifted by such a setup is very limited and will leave you feeling a bit
disappointed compared to a mains setup.

So my advice would be to run a mains supply across yourself. Armoured
cable is cheap, you can bury it yourself, cover it with some old roof
tiles to protect it further and then lay some of that yellow electrical
cable
warning plastic strip across the top. That complies with most bylaws
provided you go deep enough, get a qualified electrician to fit a socket
with a built in safety breaker and you're ready to go. Cheap as chips,
moderately safe and much more flexible.


"Brian" > wrote in message
et...
> Well, I filled up two half barrels this past weekend and got some plants
in.
> So far, so good! I bought a hardy water lily and two marginals for each
> one. I chose not to use a liner since they seem to hold water pretty well
> without it. There were some leaks initially, but once the slats expanded,
> the leaks disappeared. I"m trying to acquire some other plants to
balance
> things out, but I live in Maine and am running into fairly restrictive
laws
> about what plants I can buy! I think I'll follow that up in a new thread
> and see if I can get any more tips.
>
> Brian
>
>
> "infoseeker" <reply by post thx> wrote in message
> ...
> > Are you using your barrels as soil planters or as water gardens? I
> started
> > a water garden in mine a bit over a week ago. I'd be interested in
> hearing
> > your progress, etc...
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Thanks for all of your responses! I guess I'll stick with my barrel
> > > planters this summer and see if I can learn enough (and save enough
> money)
> > > to think about a pond for next summer. I'm in Maine USA, so solar
power
> > > seems really iffy and the pond-installing season is short as well.
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > >
> > > "Brian" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I'm new to this newsgroup, just doing research to see whether
I'm
> > > going
> > > > to put a pond in. I already bought some whiskey barrel planters to
> > start
> > > > off my yard with a water feature to see how it goes. To me, the
most
> > > > intimidating thing about doing a full pond is the electrical
> > requirements.
> > > > Based on my research, even a small pond would require me to hire an
> > > > electrician to run a line out into my yard. The whiskey barrel
option
> > is
> > > > appealing because it seems small enough not to require a pump or
> filter.
> > > > One thing that I would love to do, and I'm surprised that I
> haven't
> > > seen
> > > > others doing it, is to power a pond solely with solar power. It
seems
> > > like
> > > > that solution is the most in touch with improving our environment.
> Yet
> > I
> > > > haven't seen any of the pond supply people selling solar powered
> items,
> > > with
> > > > the exception of very small fountains and the like. Why don't more
> > people
> > > > use solar power? Is it prohibitively expensive, or simply
inadequate
> > for
> > > > the power demands of most pond systems? I would love to hear if
> anyone
> > is
> > > > using solar power and how they have things set up.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>