Ken's Beginnings starting with the Water

[KenR60]

Hello Everyone, I still have a bit to do but have my water and fish ready.
Have posted this just to help others see that a task this size isn't as difficult as it looks ( The Wife was more Difficult with her set Budget of $70 per week!!! Which of cause I blew every week!!)

Below is a link of some of the images I took before I began beginning to after I filled the 8,000 litre Pond. I spent lots more time to research before buying anything because of the fact it wasn't going to be started and finished in a weekend.

All Concreting was done in an old wheelbarrow until it finally collapsed and then by Bucket. Digging was done with my trusty Spade. Below is a list of some of the expences ...

Used Sliding Door to replace the Window - $270 ebay
New Pond Underlay 48m2 - $316.80 Water features Online
New Pond Liner Xavan 12x4m- $912 Water features Online
2 Month old 18watt PondMaster UV Clarifier - $51 ebay
New 16 Deck Lights 30mm Green - $70 ebay
Timber for Deck Construction - $466 Stratco
Water - 7,000 Litres - $150 Fast Water
Concrete, Gravel, Post Anchors etc. - $410 Bunnings
Pond Plants - about 20 Various - $80.00 ebay
Moss Covered Rocks 70 for $26 ebay
Man-Made Decking ( Still to Buy ) around $1500 - CleverDeck

As you can see I didn't compromise on the Liner or Underlay, actually used two layers of underlay. Liner was the most expensive brand but spec's showed what you got for your money compared to others. Thats the good thing about doing a Project like this over a few Months, no rush or hurry to source and buy everything.

The Final Decking is about 3 times more expensive then Hardwood but with no Mantenence, Staining, warping or splitting it makes it cheaper in the long run.

The Plants have been potted using Aquatic Potting Mix and sitting on Blocks under the water while I complete things further before eventually relocating them. At the moment I have around 30 Potted plants and increasing this weekly.

Hope these photos helps others who may have a spare side of the house that doesn't get used. Once finished this will be a very much used part of the house compared to before when only the Mower saw it.

I hope to begin planing the next stage over the next few weeks where I can have around 18metres of PVC pipe and planting using the valuable help and tips that will help me master this final stage ;-)

Here is a link to view the Before and After photos.

http://www.kenrussell.info/ourphotos...d%20and%20Deck

Thanks

Ken

[djs-sa]

great ken,
I will post up some pix later today because i made a greenhouse out 100% recycled materials from around the yard which i was in no rush to finish and I found things in hard rubbish from next door weeks later and it still aint cost a cent

[KenR60]

Further Thoughts on the Design side.

I'm trying to remove any visible Inlet and Outlet piping so its all hidden. Will look at hiding this in the 40x40 Box Sections and use a 25mm PVC tubing for both the Inlet and Outlet. I have drawn up my ideas and attached them below for any improvements or advice given. My wife calls me the 'Idea's Man' because I can always visualise something in my head before beginning and here I am trying to give a nice clean look without too much clutter.

1) I don't want to use the existing Fence so intend creating another infront of the existing leaving about 75mm clearence between.

2) Using the 40x40 Box Section I thought I could add both my Inlet and Outlet including the Drainage into these by using 25mm PVC piping.

3) The 40x40 would be fixed to the New Fence by a back plate to eliminate having to add angled supports. Caps would be fitted to the open ends of these Brackets.

4) Within the Deck I would add a Trapdoor to house the Electrical and Inlet/Outlet Pipes complete with Taps so that I could regulate the Water Flow/Drainage if ever needed.

5) New Fence will be covered in a Bamboo Screening, would be nice to have all other materials in a light shade of Green rather then bright white ( PVC )

I know everyone will think this is too much work or that I am going overboard but because its going to be the first thing anyone see's when they walk out on the Deck I want it to be Simple Looking and also very impressive.

Ken

[GreenCow]

Hi Ken,
Great project and drawings. The only question that came to mind is, what are you planning on growing? Some plants will quickly overtak you system and cover your wall from the bottom up. Looks really nice so far!

[KenR60]

Thanks GreenCow, At the moment just looking at the normal stuff like Lettuce and other Vegi's, I figure that 70% of the time the plants will be small enough to still show the background ( Bamboo Screening ) especially between re-Planting. Thinking of adding to the design by putting a planting section underneath using the Clay Beads. At each end I'll add a section to hold the inlet and the outlet and any other hardware.

[Hamish]

You might like to put in some water chestnuts - would grow well in your large pond and yummmm in asian stirfry!

The clay ball grow beds at the bottom are a good idea for larger rooted plants (cucumbers, beans, tomatoes) but they will grow up and take over the planters above.

You could possibly use this to your advantage and use these climbing plants to shade your lettuce in summer. Perhaps leaving a gap up the back of the grow tubes to grow these larger plants?

Just not sure about the bamboo screening if you went this way as things like cucumbers send out these curly suckers to hang onto things - they would love to hang onto the bamboo but might not want to let it go later on when you want to remove the plants?

If you get a chance to come and have a look at my system it might help in designing your wall with regard to the space that plants need vertically.

[anniefish]

Hi Ken,
looking good, blast budgets why can't we win the lotto?

Hamish, just got the new Diggers catalogue, they have water chestnuts $5.50 retail or $5.00 club. The blurb is - With a wild range from inland China to tropical Australia, water chestnuts can be grown pretty-much anywhere. Grow them at the edge of a pond, in a trough or in an old bath tub, but make sure they stay wet. One corm can produce up to 2 kilos in one season. They grow up to 1 meter high and 50 cm across and can be in full to part sun.
I'll be getting a couple I think.
Ann

[Hamish]

Yes they seem like a very easy thing to grow. I purchased 10 corms and have planted them in a broccoli box willed with coco coir flooded with water. Will see how they go. I might have to get a few more boxes and split them up.

[KenR60]

Thanks Hamish and Ann, whats the 'Diggers catalogue' you are talking about?
Would like to get some of the Chestnuts. I have a few different Types of WaterCress but they haven't been too successful as they seem to sprout their roots over the full length of plant so looking forward to trying them in the tubes once I'm setup. Have a container of Common Mint growing well but still these are all just in the pond and not in any tubes yet.

With the 2nd Design I did Hamish, maybe I'm better removing 1 of the Tubes so I have 2 instead of 3 and then allow more height for Possibly Tomatos/Beans in the Clay Beads. 2 Tubes will give me 12 metres of growing area so I guess thats a lot more then it seems. Also beginning to agree the Bamboo Backing may be a waste of time, I may be better off leaving the extra room behind the Tubes to allow things like the Beans to climb up behind them.

[Hamish]

If you can leave a gap behind the tubes large enough for the toms beans and cucumbers to grow up behind then you may still be able to have all the planned tubes. Once you get a chance to have a look at my system it might give you more idea of the space the plants tke up. The lettuce will certainly apreciate the shade in summer.