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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2007 19:47:31 GMT
Hi! So excited! Just picked up a half whisky barrel from Focus for 16.99!  . Car now reeks ;D. I also accidently purchased a water lily and some reeds  . Thing is, haven't got a clue how to get started. Do I need to clean the barrel out? Does it need sealing? The plants I bought are in plastic containers and the water is seriously murky. Should I change it? Do I have to put a layer of soil in the bottom of the barrel? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm so excited!!! Basically, can anyone give me an idiot proof guide?  |
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Post by lottielady on Jun 1, 2007 17:35:07 GMT
Not that I've ever done it but I think you have to keep the barrel filled with water so the wood expands, then it should be water tight. This can take a bit of time. I would keep the plants you have bought in the pots with some gravel on top to stop the soil from washing out.
LLx
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 1, 2007 18:34:14 GMT
Your absolutely right LL about filling it with water. I have a half barrel with the 2 metal bands around it, it's not currently in use but had got full with rain. I emptied it a few weeks ago so as I could move it (dammed heavy even when empty) it dried out and the metal bands have slipped to the floor because the wood had shrunk. I'm sure setting a barrel up has been mentioned before on here. I just about to have my T RM or I would look for you. Try the search function and look for Barrel  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2007 19:49:35 GMT
Thanks chaps! We had an interesting weekend doing research, and then jumped in feet first!  Barrel held water immediately, so I filled and emptied it a couple of times. Went to an aquatics centre, had everything explained and came out with oxygenating plants, an iris and four lickle goldfish! ;D When everything was prepared, we set them free! They have been happily exploring their new environment for 24 hours now, and all is well. The boys are thrilled, and so am I  |
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Post by madonplants on Jun 4, 2007 9:12:04 GMT
How big is the barrel and have you planted it in the ground? Just wondering about the goldfish, which may not survive the winter in a barrel. Have you got a spare fish tank inside to over winter them, just in case? You say you got an iris and oxy plant, how about a water lily for cover (and predator protection) or you will get green water for sure, that may not go away. I would have left the container a few days at least until I put the fish in and plants to a degree or did you use rainwater?
If not a water lily, at least get some floating plants like frog bit or water hyacinths. I have used Water Hawthorn, instead of a lily, as well for this purpose!
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2007 9:44:56 GMT
Thanks, Keith!  I will have to overwinter the fish in an indoor tank, but the kids will love that! I didn't use rain water, but the aquatics centre gave me a solution to add to tap water to make it safe. I'm planning on getting a water lily, but am having trouble tracking down a pygmy variety. I will sort it out this week though, as the water is already beginning to get a bit murky. Fish happy and healthy, though! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2007 16:05:10 GMT
Spoke too soon!  Fish seemed fine this morning, but now keep coming to the surface and 'gasping'. Also, a foam has developed around the edge of the barrel. Do I need more oxygenating plants? Help!!!! |
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Post by madonplants on Jun 4, 2007 16:11:52 GMT
Sounds like New Pond Syndrome. Do a 50% water change with dechlorinated water and then maybe a further 20% tomorrow. Is it possible to add something like Typha Minima, as this is good at taking out excess nutrients? Reduce or stop feeding the fish for a few days to stop any more ammonia being made, which is causing the problem. How many oxygenating plants have you got? Let me know after the water change!
Keith
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Post by Juliet on Jun 4, 2007 23:00:51 GMT
Rosemother - I sent you a pm a couple of days ago after seeing your half barrel thread on the Beeb - did you see it? Apparently wooden containers can give out toxins or something so should be lined to be on the safe side (I read it in GW mag a couple of months ago). Hope it's not that & that your fish are OK.
It's also a good idea to make a ramp or pile of stones or something so that if anything (like a hedgehog) tries to have a drink & falls in, it can climb out again & not drown.
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Post by madonplants on Jun 5, 2007 8:26:05 GMT
Juliet, I thought of that one too, but I think the fish would have reacted straight away, if it had been toxins. Still time will tell. Hope everything is OK.
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2007 12:07:34 GMT
My poor fishes died . We were on holiday at the time, and a neighbour was feeding them. When I went away, I had happy fish and clear water. When I got back, fish were dead and everything was covered in a dirty black sludge. I think she may have let her children feed the fish  . I emptied the barrel and refilled it in an attempt to save the plants, but all of my oxygenators turned slimy. The miniature reeds and water iris are doing well, but the water hyacinth is covered in the black slime and it's roots are also slimy. I have just emptied the barrel again, scrubbed out the slime and refilled. I've also popped in a bargain priced miniature water lily and a flowering reed. I hope the conditions improve  |
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Post by Essexgirl on Jul 9, 2007 7:08:43 GMT
How about putting a small pump in the barrel to help put more oxygen in the water.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2007 15:22:57 GMT
My poor fishes died . We were on holiday at the time, and a neighbour was feeding them. When I went away, I had happy fish and clear water. When I got back, fish were dead and everything was covered in a dirty black sludge. I think she may have let her children feed the fish . I emptied the barrel and refilled it in an attempt to save the plants, but all of my oxygenators turned slimy. The miniature reeds and water iris are doing well, but the water hyacinth is covered in the black slime and it's roots are also slimy. I have just emptied the barrel again, scrubbed out the slime and refilled. I've also popped in a bargain priced miniature water lily and a flowering reed. I hope the conditions improve How many fish did you put into the barrel, how much water does it hold and how soon after filling the barrel did you add the fish? Did you have the barrel in the sun or shade? Have you lined the barrel now? Fish gasping at the surface shows a lack of oxygen in the water. Here is a good link with some really good advice. www.bradshawsponds.co.uk/bradponds/pondpatio.htm |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 10, 2007 20:58:17 GMT
My poor fishes died . We were on holiday at the time, and a neighbour was feeding them. When I went away, I had happy fish and clear water. When I got back, fish were dead and everything was covered in a dirty black sludge. I think she may have let her children feed the fish . I emptied the barrel and refilled it in an attempt to save the plants, but all of my oxygenators turned slimy. The miniature reeds and water iris are doing well, but the water hyacinth is covered in the black slime and it's roots are also slimy. I have just emptied the barrel again, scrubbed out the slime and refilled. I've also popped in a bargain priced miniature water lily and a flowering reed. I hope the conditions improve How many fish did you put into the barrel, how much water does it hold and how soon after filling the barrel did you add the fish? Did you have the barrel in the sun or shade? Have you lined the barrel now? Fish gasping at the surface shows a lack of oxygen in the water. Here is a good link with some really good advice. www.bradshawsponds.co.uk/bradponds/pondpatio.htm Probably more like nitrite poisoning, as too many fish for the size of water! Plants were not up to the job of the waste produced! If you do this again, leave the fish without food for hoidays. Pond fish well fed can go for upto three weeks without food, especially if there are plants in the pond. How is it going RM? Keith |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2007 8:56:44 GMT
Not great, Keith . Pond water has gone cloudy again, and foul smelling. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 11, 2007 9:18:12 GMT
Not great, Keith . Pond water has gone cloudy again, and foul smelling. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Cloudy water, will just be a bacterial bloom that hopefully will go away in time. Rita's link suggest putting some Alfagrog in the bottom, but not sure how good this will be, as there is no flow for it to work properly! What do the plants look like and is there any wildlife coming in like midge larva? Keith |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2007 10:11:00 GMT
There are a ton of flies etc Keith, and my marginals are ok but not sure about the lily . It was unbelievably cheap, though. The hessian in my baskets has got a grey furry coating, if that's any help. Oh, I had such grand plans! |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 11, 2007 10:37:17 GMT
There are a ton of flies etc Keith, and my marginals are ok but not sure about the lily . It was unbelievably cheap, though. The hessian in my baskets has got a grey furry coating, if that's any help. Oh, I had such grand plans! Pygmy lilies are not normally cheap!! Can't remember if I asked what variety it is before, do you know? How is it looking? Was the hessian bought from an aquatic outlet? 'Normally' you don't need hessian, if you use the right hole sized pots. I presume the plants are in pots? One suggestion that will help would be to add some aquatic charcoal to the water, maybe in a bag, so you can replace it occasionally! Have you repotted any plants, if so, did you use proper compost for water plants? We will get this sorted, Rome wasn't built in a day! Keith |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2007 13:22:28 GMT
It was a Morrisons special, Keith. Packed in plastic.  I did get the hessian from an aquatics centre, where I also bought the planting baskets and aquatic compost. My lily had one rolled up leaf, but now I can't see it in the murk... |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 11, 2007 19:29:12 GMT
Might be worth seeing if your lily is still alive, because if that has rotted off, that could be causing the water problem! What depth of water, did it give on the 'label'? I presume it came with a label? Where is the barrel situated, in sun or shade, buried or not? Keith |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2007 9:08:15 GMT
Erm... no label...I can still see the shoot, but it's not doing much. It's maybe 4 inches under the surface. The barrel is stood in the border, and it gets at least four hours full sun a day (when the sun is out ) |
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Post by madonplants on Jul 12, 2007 12:04:31 GMT
Was it down as a lily suitable for barrels or small ponds? Might be an idea to bring it up to look at it, as lilies can go black and rot off, crown rot it's called, fouling the water. As it is causes by a fungus that could be causing the grey matter on the hessian! At least it is a possibility! Try and do a water change if found to be OK or not. If found with black on it at all, I would discard it and buy a new one. Unless of course you can cut away the bad part and repot in fresh compost. Let me know what you find, I am off to the dentist!! Keith |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2007 9:33:26 GMT
Well, the water has cleared now, and is full of little wriggly things! Any ideas?  |
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. Car now reeks ;D. I also accidently purchased a water lily and some reeds 
. Thing is, haven't got a clue how to get started. Do I need to clean the barrel out? Does it need sealing? The plants I bought are in plastic containers and the water is seriously murky. Should I change it? Do I have to put a layer of soil in the bottom of the barrel? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm so excited!!! Basically, can anyone give me an idiot proof guide? 
Barrel held water immediately, so I filled and emptied it a couple of times. Went to an aquatics centre, had everything explained and came out with oxygenating plants, an iris and four lickle goldfish! ;D When everything was prepared, we set them free! They have been happily exploring their new environment for 24 hours now, and all is well. The boys are thrilled, and so am I 
I will have to overwinter the fish in an indoor tank, but the kids will love that! I didn't use rain water, but the aquatics centre gave me a solution to add to tap water to make it safe. I'm planning on getting a water lily, but am having trouble tracking down a pygmy variety. I will sort it out this week though, as the water is already beginning to get a bit murky. Fish happy and healthy, though! ;D
Fish seemed fine this morning, but now keep coming to the surface and 'gasping'. Also, a foam has developed around the edge of the barrel. Do I need more oxygenating plants? Help!!!!
. I emptied the barrel and refilled it in an attempt to save the plants, but all of my oxygenators turned slimy. The miniature reeds and water iris are doing well, but the water hyacinth is covered in the black slime and it's roots are also slimy. I have just emptied the barrel again, scrubbed out the slime and refilled. I've also popped in a bargain priced miniature water lily and a flowering reed. I hope the conditions improve 
