The narrator has a passion for goldfish and has been keeping them in a 55-gallon aquarium for over seven years. They've always dreamed of keeping their goldfish in an outdoor pond, which they finally achieved when they moved into their own home in 2018. However, the pond they built was not as large as they had initially planned, so they decided to replace it with a larger one around 2020.
The process of building the pond was a lifelong dream come true for the narrator. They had plans to build a second pond in their front yard with the help of experts from Aquascape. However, due to some issues, they had to scrap the plans. The narrator was excited when they found a home that would fit the specific requirements of the Serpa design, which was similar to the pond they discussed with Ed and Aquatic Edge years before.
The construction of the pond began with the excavation of the pond site. The pond was lined with geotextile underlayment and an EPDM liner. Large boulders were used to create the pond's edges, and smaller rocks were used to add character. The pond was filled with gravel, and fish caves were added for the goldfish.
The pond's design theme was rain, and it was filled with water displaced by the liner after training. However, the intake Bay was ruined due to the water bubble, and it had to be dismantled. The pond was drained down before the construction team arrived to start the project.
The pond was filled with various elements for a seamless appearance, including a fallen oak tree, driftwood, and stumps. The pond was also equipped with a wetlands filter, a skimmer system, and a light show at the end of the day.
The construction process was labor-intensive and took several days. The team worked through less than ideal conditions, including rain, but they managed to complete the pond just before everyone's flights. The pond was filled with water, and the team dispersed.
After the construction, the narrator worked on the landscape in peace, adding plants and aquatics. The water has cleared up significantly over the following weeks, and the pond is now a mature ecosystem. However, there are still some details to address, such as cord management and the installation of the auto doser.
Despite the challenges, the narrator is proud of their DIY pond project and looks forward to seeing it mature over several years.
1. The speaker initially kept their goldfish in a 55-gallon aquarium over seven years ago.
2. The speaker has a preference for goldfish with natural body shapes.
3. The speaker's goldfish are large and prefer to live in groups, requiring a lot of space.
4. The speaker initially intended to keep their goldfish in an outdoor pond but did not do so until they got their own home in 2018.
5. The speaker painstakingly made the original DIY Pond and enjoyed the process, with their fish thriving within it.
6. The speaker's love for moss influenced their choice of materials, including sandstone, for their DIY Pond.
7. The speaker's first DIY Pond required several revisions due to unforeseen challenges, including a water bubble and a damaged intake Bay.
8. The speaker's pond was part of an educational event for Aquascape, training new CACs (Certified Aquatic Contractors).
9. The speaker's pond features a wetlands filter, a system of jets for circulation, and a waterfall.
10. The speaker's pond is home to a frog, a special friend, and will soon be home to new plants and aquatics.
11. The speaker's pond is an ongoing project with several details yet to be addressed, including cord management and the installation of an auto doser.
12. The speaker is thinking of this project in terms of several years in the future, recognizing that it will be an ongoing process.