Barrel Pond - Any Tips

Going to attempt to make a barrel pond similar to the pic attached...

3 tier flowing down to the largest barrel (my largest barrel will be aprox. 150l). Want to add some livebearers and a catfish or two (any ideas in a species that would suite this setup).

Any tips before I start?

If I need to seal it what can I use thats not the colour black??

 

only advise i have is make damn sure you dont have water hyacinth like the photo!!!

 

Henk - if you read the blog that the photo comes from the guys like - "its amazing how plants appreciate clean water and sunlight , i mean i remove 20 plants a month of water hyacinth a month as it grows so well"

My first two thoughts were:

a) you could throw water hyacinth in a sewerage works inlet channel and it would grow and reproduce

and

b) I hope for whatever country (bar the one that WH is indigenous in) that you are throwing them away and not putting them in your local river!

 

They are on the top of the list when it comes to invasive plants. if the DEAT/ Green scorpions findout you have them they WILL arrest you. there are multiple multi million rand projects going on to try and remove them from our waterways.

 

Henk I work for eThekwini Municipality as an Ecologist... you preaching to the converted dude.

Now any tips on the pond in terms of inhabitants or construction? Bear in mind I'm in Durban with a good ol' durban climate.

Any input appreciated!

 

Send me a PM with your email addy please - i have something to show you that will blow your mind

I would say go for swords - they get rather big and will look stunning in there. perhaps use that tar based roof sealer stuff to water proof it. it doesnt take hectic presures like a koi pond but should be ok for what you need to do

 

Thanks for the tips Henk... Pm sent and eagerly awaiting reply!

 

:wondering: :cry: We also want to know. We like mind blowing stuff

 

+1 to what Ace said ...

 

... and me!

 

Ok now this is a brilliant idea ,, girlfriend wants half barrels for pot plants and i prefer fish ... we hopefully will both win ... see on gumtree half barrels for R135 .

 

just make sure they're water proof otherwise you'll have to try and seal them like i've got to do lol....

I'll post some pics once I start construction

 

If any of your guys are involved is microbial restoration of water systems let me know

 

Ok you blew our minds :blink1:

 

Microbial WHAT???

 

You builders build crappy waste water systems and we come and clean up when your systems spill waste into rivers etc with microbes