Swimming Pool System

[Pat James]

I have finally got around to start to work building my AP system. I bought two 55 gal barrels and eight 275 gal IBC totes a few weeks ago and then the weather got cold and wet- progress stalled. At least we have had a few days

The system I now plan to build is quite a bit different than the one I originally planned. That is due to the help and advice of some of the people here.. Thank you.

I will buy the piping itself at one of the big box stores, but I can save a bundle by buying the fittings online.

Today I will begin cutting the IBC's.

[Jim Fisk]

Hey Pat, where did all your photos go? Only one shows up at your home page. How can we spy on you if you don't post pics

[Jon Parr]

Nice. I love it when a plan comes together.

[Pat James]

I started feeding again, but once a day for now.. Ammonia level has been falling and was 0 yesterday. Nitrite level is up though- between 2 and 5 ppm.  I have only seen the flash of a couple of my catfish feeding at the top. The minnows are doing well and have begun to spawn.

[Pat James]

My fish are on a diet!! and have been for 3 days since I noticed the ammonia level had risen to 2 ppm. Nitrite is at the same level.so my pool was not as cycled as well as I had thought. Jon's warning that the urea might get me later seems to be coming true.

 I have not seen any signs of distressed fish. The minnows are cruising close enough to the surface to be seen and are nibbling at the strainers on the water return. But I know fat-head minnows have an extremely high tolerance for water conditions.

I did notice a change in water color a week or so ago. It went from green to a green/borwn and I could see deeper into the pool. I was not sure what that meant. I had read on another site about phytoplankton dying off in response to bacteria producing inhibiting chemicals.

The fish have been in the pool for 3 weeks now.(not counting the 30 or 40 I put in last November) and I had been feeding 5 to 6 ounces of food a day. That is about the size of a coffee mug.

[Pat James]

John, I quit adding my own urine to the pool the day I introduced the fish, I also slowly acclimated the fish just like you had described...adding a little water to the bag every little while. I owned a pet store years ago so knew the importance of getting the fish acclimated to water chemistry,

It has been a couple weeks now since I first introduced those fish, I was surprised the grower gave me a large number of the 'red' variety of fat head minnows. They are sold as 'rosy reds' in the pet trade and often sold as a feeder fish for  larger carnivores,

In my case they are easy to see in the water. But today in good light, I could see even a higher percentage than normal of darker "normal" colored fish, That is what made me look closer to see if I could tell how many might be catfish, I know I had a single albino catfish in the batch I bought,

I am letting my pH  go as it wants. My primary concern at this point is the fish and not the plants. The plants I have growing in the beds are not doing all that well. They appear stunted and I am about to dispose of them and introduce some of other seedlings. Not that I expect a better result, but the same with younger plants (those that are excess from  my dirt garden).

[Jon Parr]

Pat, are you going to do anything about the pH? I'm just curious. Fish are quite happy at 8.4, so no biggie, but your plants will have serious nutrient lockout at that pH, again no biggie if fish are the primary goal.

You shouldn't have any fish deaths after transport, or shortly thereafter, especially with catfish. I raise and sell many thousands of them. If you can take a picture of a fresh dead one, we may be able to help diagnose the cause of death (gills should be bright red, even in death) It is too late now, but in addition to acclimating the temp, it is important to acclimate the pH and water chemistry. This is done by putting a scoop of pool water in the transport bag every few minutes for half an hour or more (and I always add an airstone to the transport bag immediately to ease the stress). 

Keep in mind also that pissing in the pool does not add ammonia that is immediately detectable. It adds urea, that breaks down into ammonia a month later. So, when you piss every day for a month, and assume that the CO(NH2)2 urea is being converted because of the absence of NH3 ammonia, you may be in for a big surprise when that urea suddenly crashes the system with an ammonia spike. Just be cautious. Even in a tank as big as a pool, urea can be a danger. And, of course, ammonia is EXTREMELY toxic at a high pH of 8.4

[Jim Fisk]

Hey Pat,

Those cats are acting like cats so I wouldn't worry. They are why I finally went for some trout so I could see some action

[Pat James]

I was feeding the fish today and I am thinkning I am now seeing some of the catfish feeding along with the fat-head minnows.  It is hard to differentiate from a distance but I was looking at body shape and possible swimming patterns. The fish sizes between the fat-head minnows and the catfish are not all that different at this point. I do know I am seeing about alot more dark fish than I did. But then again visibility into the pool has increased. I'm not sure if I saw what I did or what I wanted...

At one point though, I saw another bullfrog, hanging out in the middle. When he saw me, he dove. I have not heard or seen any sign of one since I got rid of one the other day,

I'll test the water tomorrow. We are having a slight cold snap so the water might have changed a little. Certainly I am seeing further into the depths. But the fish seem even more active, so I am not concerned with their health.

[Pat James]

I had a large bullfrog until yesterday... :D I finally got a clear shot at him with my pellet gun. That sucker was smart! He could tell anybody was near. I tried spotlighting him, but no good. Well, it is now contributing to my compost!!

On another note' I have 3 confirmed catfish deàths to date. I
Sure there are many more but I only scooped up 2 dead floaters and one head skeleton ( head down to below the pectoral fins).

I hàve not seen a single :D catfish come to the surface to feed. I'm sure out the multitude I put into the Ft that I have survivors....just have not seen them. :D

[Pat James]

I just took one pic, but all you see is a big Clearwater bag floating in the water. Started taking the fish it of the bag nd do a physical coupons as I released them, but that seemed to stress them, so I very gently turned them loose.

A while ago I checked my pre-pump strainer and there were a dozen minnows in it. But no sign of a dead catfish. they may just be on the bottom and too big to get sucked into the pump line, though...

I threw a handful of feed into the pond this morning and then again a little while ago. Lots of action from the minnows but none from the cats. The cats might be too stressed to eat yet, or too shy to come up right now. (Hopng the latter). But I do know the minnows are a schooling fish so they "tell" each other there is food.

on a side note, I sat it in my driveway from early morning to mid-afternoon trying to sell the BIG group of tomato and pepper plants I grew. only sold $41 worth. :( :(