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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 19:42:10 GMT 1
Hi all, as some of you may remember I mentioned that I would be refurbishing my Mum's 2 ponds over the spring and now I am well into the job so I've decided to share some pictures Funnily enough, the bottom pond which I have drained and cleaned has become a sort of war zone between ant colonies (Myrmica rubra), while cleaning it I often saw groups of ants fighting (between 2 and 4 ants), strangely they never seemed to fight to the death, only wrestle a bit so I would whether it is territorial sparring between related nests as there are hundreds of rubra's around the rockery near the pond so I assume there are many colonies but all related of sorts. Here is an overview of the 2 ponds from out my old bedroom window: ------------------------- Here is a view from the bottom to show the height difference between the ponds and a clearer view of the waterfall (which I have re-cemented today, but it's covered with a sheet so didn't bother taking another picture) ------------------------- Here is a closer view of the top pond and filter box which has stagnated and just had goldfish present, shows how much cleaning is needed! ------------------------- Here is a picture of 2 Myrmica rubra (or ruginodis?, but I think rubra) "fighting", neither was killed or maimed, they finished and then just went their separate ways ------------------------- Click the images for a larger view
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 23:04:18 GMT 1
That's Rubra, From experience I find ruginodis slightly a clay brown/red colour... Best regards, Ruginodis ;D (Only Teasing you )
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2011 0:47:25 GMT 1
Looks like a good project. You will post pictures when done right? I think it will look quite nice. I liked that last picture quite a bit. ;D Flavus
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2011 11:02:17 GMT 1
Yes, I will update this thread Flavus. I have just dug a trench to lay the new pipe work between the bottom pond and filter box. I am hoping to get the piping connected and buried next, then assuming the concrete on the waterfall doesn't crack badly, I can start filling the bottom pond with water ready to leave for a week or so before adding the fish which I will need to catch from the top pond (again :/ ) That is when progress can really be made, once the waterfall is done and bottom pond filled the finish line will be in sight! I have left to do: - Connect and bury pipework, cover with rocks to avoid being dug up by my Mum ;D
- Fill bottom pond and leave a week for chemicals to evaporate off (and to make sure the cracks I have repaired with fibreglass are watertight)
- Catch fish and re-locate to bottom pond (all these fish then need to be caught again and replaced in top pond so we can add new fish to the bottom pond!)
- Drain top pond and scrub clean
- Re-fill top pond (leave a week) and catch fish from bottom to add back
- Cross fingers, arms, legs etc and switch on pump hoping it's powerful enough, doesn't leak and that the waterfall works like it used to whe I was growing up
I will keep adding pictures of ants while working on the ponds to keep this thread roughly on topic as well
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2011 14:28:33 GMT 1
That is looking great. Vary simlar look to my pond! I just need to get a pump and sought the electrics out along with putting some slabs around the edges.
Good Luck with yours, I've just put some trout in mine ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2011 21:28:28 GMT 1
OK I have now 90% finished this project (just need new fish and going to move the pump to the other end of the pond to aid circulation) Here is the new pump and pipework laid out... Here is the pipework buried in place... Here is the waterfall cemented, sealed and running after I cleaned the top pond out, which is shiny like the bottom one We're going to look at new fish tomorrow although we aren't buying any just yet, got 50 ish goldfish as they had been breeding and need to get rid of some first (giving them away to others with ponds) Myrmica rubra absolutely all over my Mum's garden, will be catching my Queens there if possible later in the year! This topic is barely related to ants so if needed can be moved as appropriate.
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