Buadhai Builds A Pond

[hillbilly]

Good luck with the grass. Initially, we tried that also but it ended up being a soggy mess most of the time!

[buad hai]

we tried that also

Tried what?

[hillbilly]

The grass. We had done the landscaping pretty much the way you have. Our problem was the grass took a fair amount of water. Between the family and guests viewing and walking around the pond the grass always ended up a mudhole.

So we ended up using small stones instead.

[buad hai]

Between the family and guests viewing and walking around the pond the grass always ended up a mudhole.

That's what you get for being gregarious. No friends of family here. (Ms. B's family doesn't go outdoors except to get from house to car to work and back again.)

[Scooter]

More pictures tonight?

[buad hai]

More pictures tonight?

Or tomorrow morning. Rain has stopped so Ms. B and I will attempt to put down the turf at about 4PM this afternoon.

We spent the day at Dan Kwien buying a nice pot and some more bricks.

[El Gibbon]

We spent the day at Dan Kwien buying nice pot and some more bricks.

Just make sure you don't lay down the pot and smoke the grass...

E. G.

[buad hai]

Here Ms. B is pressing lotus clay (din bua) into the laterite edging. The plan is for the wet laterite to keep the clay soft and pliable while the grass grows roots.


Here sand has been put down and compacted everywhere the turf will be.


Ms. B laying sod. (No sod jokes, please.)


This is about twice as much lawn as I wanted. But, since I miscalculated and since we'd already paid for it, down it went. Watch closely. It will slowly be diminished by half....


We finally got a chance to fill the stream and pond and see the tiny waterfall in action. The level is OK, but the flow rate is too small when the stream is fed by a half inch hose from a tap. I'll wait and make major adjustments to the waterfall flow once I decide on what pump to get. Based on this experiment, I don't need much. Otherwise the stream will overflow.


This shot shows some detail of how the turf, clay and laterite fit together.

I'm beat. One more beer and then hit the sack.

[Jet Gorgon]

That's fantastic, BH and Mrs BH. Can't wait for the fishies.

[bkkmadness]

It's looking nice Buadhai, I think gonna have great natural look once everything has grown in. What fish you putting in there? I noticed in your other tropical pond you opted for goldfish, not fancy going more exotic?

[buad hai]

Korat experienced some of the hardest rain I've ever seen last night. From about 1 AM to 4 AM there were periodic torrential downpours. I could hardly sleep wondering what the deluge would do to my newly laid turf and newly built pond.

I set out on my normal run this morning and saw more flooding on the roads than I've seen in the 2+ years I've been here. I eventually turned back early because I got tired of slogging through ankle deep water.

I did make a detour to the new house, fearing the worst. The moo baan itself was in fine shape. Roads dry and no sign of flooding anywhere. And, my new garden held up. The turf was in tact and looking fine. No erosion or puddles around the pond and no standing water except in one temporary drainage ditch I've dug. The pond itself was full up to the top of the laterite, but that's just fine. It will keep the clay wet and give the grass a chance to lay down some roots. Too wet to work there today, but I feel like we deserve a day off.

So, all is well....

I noticed in your other tropical pond you opted for goldfish, not fancy going more exotic?

I think we'll stick with ordinary goldfish and Comets to begin with. If they survive well we may get something more fancy. I'm mostly worried about birds and cats. So, I want to give the fish plenty of places to hide before I invest heavily.

[buad hai]

[buad hai]

I've put up a web site with most of the construction photos and a brief explanation of what was going on with each:

Pond Construction

[klongmaster]

Good idea...sometimes it's nice to see everything at once...

will the brown water return to a clear colour or will you have to empty it every time it rains?...

[buad hai]

will the brown water return to a clear colour or will you have to empty it every time it rains?...

The sediment will settle over time. But, once the garden is no longer full of empty soil and piles of earth, there shouldn't be much runoff into the pond.

[buad hai]

I bet that solor thingy is made in China or Thailand and then packaged in the USA. Your job is to find out what place they make it. The funny thing is it probably is made in Korat in the factory Zone near JVC and in that area.

Actually, Solartron does have a factory in Pak Chong, Korat. However, in their list of dealers, there are none in the northeast. There are many people who retail solar stuff in Thailand, but none of them I contacted are able to source a low (6-24) voltage DC submersible pump. One guy said he found some in China and would import for me, but the cost would be huge.

I could order a full kit from China, but it turns out to be a big hassle and expensive to do the bank transfer. The company that will ship to Thailand will not accept a credit card or Western Union; only a bank transfer.

So, after a couple of weeks of research on getting a solar powered pump I'm still at square one. Yeah, I can order from abroad, but the cost of shipping is prohibitive. (A company in Oz will send a kit but they want AU$130 for shipping!)

Anyone know a source of low voltage DC submersible pumps in Thailand? I can manager the solar cell, battery and charger here in Korat, but the pump remains elusive.

[The_Dude]

Hello BH,
Here is a pump that may work for you.
Check out the web site.
http://www.backwoodssolar.com/

FOUNTAIN PUMP
This is a RULE brand 360 gallon per hour boat bailing pump. Powered by a 12 volt battery this simple centrifugal pump moves a lot of water, over 6 gallons per minute, but lifts less than 6 feet elevation. Centrifugal pumps can run dry without harm. Stainless steel motor shaft. Strainer on base picks up water without clogging and snaps off for cleaning. Pump is totally submersible in the water source pool.
When powered direct from a solar panel, it runs about half speed on a 20 watt panel. This makes a good garden fountain or simple solar demonstration for schools and fairs. As an educational solar demonstration it turns a lot of water in a shallow pan, but stops when your hand casts a shadow on the solar panel.
12 volt, about 2 ampere current usage. 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". 1 year warranty.

If you e-mail them and explain what you are doing and send a couple of pics it may help your cause. Good luck.\

P.S. how is the rain situation now?

[buad hai]

^Yeah, it's easy to find pumps sold out of the US, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. The problem is getting it to Thailand at a reasonable cost....

As for the rain, it's stopped for now!

[ChiangMai noon]

^
sorry if this is a stupid question and you have probably answered it already, but how will you get and keep the water clean?
it's very brown at the moment.

[AntRobertson]

Good stuff, buad hai. Like what you've done. Great thread.

I only have one question... when can you pop over mine and build one for me? Or just your wife if you like, in all the pics she seems to be the one doing the work

[buad hai]

but how will you get and keep the water clean?
it's very brown at the moment.

The brown color is just sediment washed in from the recent rain. It will settle. Once the yard no longer has much bare earth and piles of soil there will be much less sediment running in to the pond. The yard resembles a construction site now, so there is not much drainage control in place yet.

Or just your wife if you like, in all the pics she seems to be the one doing the work

She figured she had a new career path. I'll post her hourly pond-consulting rates later.

[buad hai]

The Dude gave me an idea. Surely one can buy a 12 volt bilge pump in Thailand. Just because it isn't called a "pond pump" doesn't mean it can't be one. Do any of you yachties know of an online store that sells small bilge pumps?

[klongmaster]

Maybe one of TDs frequent travellers could pop one in their bag for you to save the exorbitant shipping cost...

[buad hai]

^I'm actually going to Saipan early next month, so that traveler could be me....

[buad hai]

Found this place in Singapore. Perhaps they'll ship to Thailand. I sent an inquiry.

SolarKey

Or, maybe I'll just come and pick one up. Anything to do down there?