Gardening:  my bathtub pond outside project
#1
my bathtub pond outside project
so i wanted a water feature outside besides all the birdbaths...
we had a leftover cast iron tub so my husband set it in place this past summer, 2023.
hes got a small water fountain out front of the house and so this one is mine. to do MY WAY.
https://imgur.com/a/5K46ulm

NO ELECTRICITY is my utmost requirement.
can i have a fish pond without any water pumps or filters that run on electricity?
it has to be true since water and fish have been around FOREVER right?

so i did a little bit of FATHER FISH and put leaf muck from the front water fountain into mine, just a couple handfuls.
inoculation he calls it.
i then took a bunch of dark dirt from the compost, about an inch over the whole bottom. 
then two inches of straight sand which i have plenty of right on top of that dirt.

it all settled nicely so i added whatever plants i had that i knew would grow sitting in water and soil.
the CANNA LILIES and SPLIT LEAF PHILODENDrON was all i had but they filter the water.
https://imgur.com/a/K5LBJIv

it sat for several months and in December, my daughter bought an ounce of minnows from a bait shop and we just dropped them into the tub.
they were tiny little things.
the water was murky and you could only see the top four inches down into the water.
we never saw those fish again.

 last night i decided to do a water change...
surprise! all those minnows are fat and much bigger.
we put them into a big plastic container with their old water and tomorrow ill slip them back into the new water.
https://imgur.com/a/veTcfEu

we didnt scrub off all of the green nor did we use any chemicals to clean the tub.
 we just used sand to scrub with.
https://imgur.com/a/IuoF3ax

filled the tub back up with water with none of the muck or dirt.
the old water they are in now will also help inoculate the new water.
https://imgur.com/a/LDf6DgL

i can feed them if i have to but im just really happy they lived with nothing from me whatsover with no filtered or aerated water.
they were THRIVING!


nature! gotta love it.
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#2
my bathtub pond outside project
i will update with a new pic of them once they are settled in tomorrow.
im gonna give it 48 hours to fully off gas the chlorine and whatnot.
im so excited!
i do NOT need electricity to have fish in my pond.
just plenty of plants.
debris will accumulate on its own and the fish will eat some of it.


i may even sneak some of the minnows and put them up in HIS fountain,
 but ill have to add a hiding place for them:
https://imgur.com/a/2yFOSLL
his pond does have the water pump.

and that canna lily keeps his water clear and grows like mad.
see the before adding cannas pic of the water?
https://imgur.com/a/0CToRWz
it made a huge difference after i put it in, so much so i have not had to clean his pond.
frogs live in it too...big ones.the cats catch them ocassionally.

it doesnt snow here in Central Florida so idk about really cold weather ponds.
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#3
my bathtub pond outside project
btw, i DO have electricity.
im just trying to find ways to live without it.
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#4
my bathtub pond outside project
water has been changed and the  minnows are doing just fine!
https://imgur.com/a/SHbHBbQ
problem is, i cant seem to get a good pic of them.
i didnt realize how hard that would be..
https://imgur.com/a/XJVU1EW

they like to hang out on the bottom and dont come to the surface.
i doubt any raccoons will be able to fish for them.
https://imgur.com/a/VDfMPWF

the fat minnows are in both ponds now, doing excellent.im thrilled.


so my theory seems to be working that i do not need ANY ELECTRICITY to have a fish pond.
i am not using the fussier fish, which need all sorts of help to live, just something to eat the mosquitos come spring.
the water is still murky a bit but i dont mind at because i know they are in there.

this fellow stopped to drink water.
https://imgur.com/a/w0ypPZG
he watched me for several minutes working in my compost pile.
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#5
my bathtub pond outside project
i finally caught sight of a minnow!
just wanted to prove they ARE in there.

https://imgur.com/a/reWkEez
https://imgur.com/a/0AWP8wO
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#6
my bathtub pond outside project
what a cool idea. it looks great!
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