Pond update / Rally help needed - please

Kinja'd!!! "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
07/05/2017 at 20:08 • Filed to: None

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Apparently, some time last night, my pond motor burned out, and oxygen deprivation due to lack of water circulation killed my catfish. I had 2 albino channel cats - 8 and 10 inches long, and 2 blue cats -18 and 24 inches. I raised them all from about 3-4 inches.

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This is the second time this has happened to me. The goldfish and koi are resilient, and even the big ones survived.

I got home and installed a new pump, I keep extras on hand, and the situation is stabilized. But I feel really bad for those fish.

Over the years, the pump design has changed. The last couple had nylon mesh bags to prevent debris from entering, but taxed the motor as plant material (mainly roots) clogged the bag, overworking the motor. The new one has a plastic cage, and no net. I guess I am going to find out what is better.

Random musings:

The hitch mounted platform for the Vespa workes beautifully. The Vespa will be joining us on future trips.

RALLY SECTION

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We are doing Touge California in 10 days, a 200 mile vintage Japanese car rally. I am going to drive, my wife is going to navigate, and doggo Toby is providing moral support.

Have any Oppos done a rally like this? Is there etiquette I need to know? Pointers?

All is appreciated.


DISCUSSION (9)


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 20:20

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Gosh, sorry to hear about the fish. That has to suck

But hey that rally should be a blast! I think overall the main rule is don’t be a dick and obey traffic law unless otherwise stated. I really want to partake in road rallies, but I can’t seem to find good info on them around here.


Kinja'd!!! Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 20:25

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Could you wire in the second pump as a redundant fallback? Only kicks on when one fails, like an FTF setup in servers.


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 20:29

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Prayers up too catfishes


Kinja'd!!! TheRealBicycleBuck > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 21:12

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You might benefit from an overflow filter design. Instead of pulling water from the bottom, surface water overflows into the filter and pump system. The first layer or chamber catches the large debris. It should be paired with an automatic water filler so the water level doesn’t drop too low.

It also might help to lower your total fish load. The recommendation is usually one fish inch per gallon. For a ten gallon tank, that would be ten one-inch fish like neons or tetras. It’s easy to get too many when they are small because we forget that they are going to get bigger.

Good luck!


Kinja'd!!! The Snowman > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 21:19

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What type of filtration are you using and how often do you clean it?


Kinja'd!!! My X-type is too a real Jaguar > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 21:19

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Is this a timed rally with complicated directions? Those are maddeningly awesome, you can approach it 2 ways anal retentive or who cares let have fun. I did one with my friend in his 52 Desoto we used a clip board and stop watch, it was fun for us we tried to win and we came very close. We would have one except for a slight overheating issue that made us lose 45 mins. But to do a rally that way you and your wife have to be competitive natured and agree to be absolute anal retentive driver and navigator.

Alternatively you can go have fun and be prepared to laugh at how utterly lost you are.

The point is to have fun with your car. How you see spending the day driving and having fun is up to you.


Kinja'd!!! Funktheduck > ImmoralMinority
07/05/2017 at 23:14

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I’m not sure how you have things set up but I often see ponds with fountain like things in the center. The upspray helps aerate. Maybe a big bubbler along with the pump? Some fish need more O2 than others. Maybe your current set up is on the edge for the cat fish. Introducing more air may help in case of future pump failures. I know when I help with one pond, especially in the fall, I take out debris or the pump will struggle


Kinja'd!!! Meatcoma > ImmoralMinority
07/06/2017 at 08:42

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Blue cats are delish!


Kinja'd!!! Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ImmoralMinority
07/06/2017 at 11:25

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Sorry, it must be the sleep deprivation. When I saw ‘Pond’ and ‘Rally’ in your title, despite the slash, the first thing I thought of was this:

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