New turtle pond build, "Lake Turtlecocka"

Toddrickfl1

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Well this little kiddie pool I've been using for four years has definitely served it's purpose. Not one leak for over 4 years, it's also for sale if anyone's interested for their kids, only used once. Just joking, it'll be a future enclosure for something. So I had a medical emergency last year and I went almost 2 min without oxygen and 2 weeks in a coma. So I'm having trouble with my cognitive function still as my brain is relearning things. I'm had to learn to walk, and do basic things again. I still have lingering forgetfulness, some times putting a thought together in my head, or writing, and unfortunately I found a job but was unable to perform and be productive still, so I'm still unable to work. My neurologist thought planning this out and doing it would help me "exercise" my cognitive function. This was a project planned for later in summer but decided just go for it now. I was going to document step by step but I keep forgetting to take them so these are what I got and the process so far. What I thought would be simple had turned into a full time job for the past 2 weeks and I realized I bit off more than I can chew and it's been 2 weeks I've been working non-stop. I'm almost there though. Hopefully the cinder blocks work, because no matter what I've tried it's still bowing at the seem, even screwed a piece of steel to it and it still bowed. So I had to drain it and the next thing i trying is a brick wall. I believe this work. First I built the frame then I reinforced the corners., And have stacked a wall of cinder blocks straighten where it bowed and tomorrow when I fill it up we're going to see if it works. I can always paint or add some kind of siding to make it look good but my main concern at the moment is lake Turtlecocka and not lake basement. It was bowing far worse when it was almost filled. I'm running a 1500gph pump that's filtered thru the 55 gallon then back in to the pond clean, (thinking waterfall of some sort) they drum contains pillow cotton stuffing, about 100 scrub brushes for dishes, 50 loofas, lava rock, sand, charcoal, and every ceramic rings for biological purposes, and every sponge dish cleaner from every dollar store within a 30 mile radius 😁 Eventually a beach on the left side that sits on top and has at least 10" sand. Im trying to think of a way to make it like a real beach where they just crawl out into the sand, but I dunno how to keep the sand there without it sliding back down into the pond. Hopefully I can get some plants growing in the drum too. The top layer is a matrix of sand and pea gravel. The pond is 16ft x 8ftx 20". Anyways here is the progress so far. Screenshot_20230602-004022.pngScreenshot_20230602-004325.pngScreenshot_20230602-004600.pngScreenshot_20230602-004703.pngScreenshot_20230602-004812.pngScreenshot_20230602-005022.pngScreenshot_20230602-005301.pngScreenshot_20230602-005414.pngScreenshot_20230602-005425.pngScreenshot_20230602-005440.pngScreenshot_20230602-005453.jpg
 

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Toddrickfl1

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My dad was going to help me build this but he passed in 2028 before we got the chance. So it's kind of a dedication to him. I've got a houseplant I took from his Condo that I've actually now turned into 5 of the same plant since that I've managed to keep alive so far. Also the lanterns on the pillars in the corners came from his condo too. I've been waiting for the right idea to use them for and this I feel I've been building onto them for. Screenshot_20230602-021002.pngScreenshot_20230602-020947.pngScreenshot_20230602-021015.pngScreenshot_20230602-022813.png
 

wellington

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Nice job. Love that the stuff from your dads was added. I know that loss.
Glad you're doing so much better, keep up the good work. It takes a while.
I think if you attach a support board across the center from one side to the other where the bowing happens, it will fix the problem.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Last night was a rough draft with barely any water. Today I'm decorating. Got lots and lots of plants and of course we needa beach. @Tom same turtles plus two, the children have joined their parents. That tote is most likely full of eggs but I'm probably just going to dump it out in the backyard, the world has plenty of red ear sliders already. I'm trying decide how I wanna set it up but im very indecisive so this thread might take months lol Anyway some more progress. Scott to start the beach and and 3/4 filled.. wall holding nicely. The last pic is the the plant from my dad's, I've broke pieces off and made it into 5 different ones now. I don't even know what it is.
 

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Krista S

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@Toddrickfl1 I am sorry to hear of the medical struggles you’ve been dealing with. I’ve thought of you often over the last year, hoping you were ok and just keeping busy. I’m glad to hear you’re on the road to recovery. Your pond looks so cool! Great idea to add in some personal touches with items that were your dads. I’ve lost 3 close family members in the last 6 months, so I completely understand wanting to hang onto a piece of them. I look forward to following this thread to see the evolution of this project. Take care, my friend.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Well after 1000s of cuss words, multiple changing of wet clothes, at least 20 return trips to hardware store, and finding out one of my turtles has a toe fetish. It's finally been up and running a few days. Still a few tweaks I wanna make but no leaks and looking good so far. I think I wanna do sand as substrate instead of the natural substrate in their. It's makes it hard to see. I think a lighter colored sand would make it look more clear and easier to see turtles and fish. Also, second day I set the beach up they started laying eggs!
 

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Ray--Opo

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Wow, I didn't realize what you have been going through. I too went a time with no oxygen. The EMS brought me back. I am not sure how long I went without oxygen. I was in a coma for 3 months. That was 2015 - 2016. Today my memory is not as good as it was. I forget things often, the worst thing is forgetting what I came into a room for or carrying on a conversation and then forgetting what I was going to say. My memory is alot better, my forgetfulness I blame on age now. What I am trying to say is it got better for me.
Your pond looks wonderful and incorporating some things from your dad is a nice touch.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Finally pretty much finished. Hopefully the plants take off and fill in nicely. All live plants except for the the 3 tall ficus and I did them all up in woods behind my house next to creek or neighbors yards later at night dressed in all black, just joking, maybe 😂 I forgot to mention the entire thing was made with repurposed material. Only thing I had to pay for was the sand and cinder blocks my neighbor gave me the pavers total cost for me was about $200. Had to buy a pump too, 1/2 horsepower so I'm cycling about 5500 gph. Pond I estimate to be about 2000ish gallons 17x9 by 22". Filtering thru two cans too both swirl filters from bottom up. 55 drum has lava rock, ceramic rings, charcoal, scrub brushes for dishes, pea gravel, and smaller can that empties into filters it thru about 100 loofas, cotton, play sand, and a cut to fit piece of foam mattress pad, then pea gravel and plants and back into pond. I also took the condensation tube from my ac unit that has a tube running outside to empty normally every few min when pump kicks on and rigged it to sprinkle down into the pond every few min when it empties. It's like 15 second rainfall every few min especially considering it's been in 90s past week! Overall I am satisfied with it. Still considering play sand sprinkled mostly over the substrate in there now. I think it'll make it easier to see and clearer then the darker natural substrate, opinions?

 

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Toddrickfl1

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Well I spare you all the details of the "Great Atlanta Beach collapse and basement flood of 2023" Let's just say my plans for a beach turned out to be awful, much like most of my ideas. Spent a few days putting this together. Now the beach is outside the pond. The brown you see is wood, not pond linerScreenshot_20230806_080931_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081041_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081046_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081052_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081057_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081108_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_080951_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_080957_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081011_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081025_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_081031_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20230806_080938_Photos.jpg
 

Tim Carlisle

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Well I spare you all the details of the "Great Atlanta Beach collapse and basement flood of 2023" Let's just say my plans for a beach turned out to be awful, much like most of my ideas. Spent a few days putting this together. Now the beach is outside the pond. The brown you see is wood, not pond linerView attachment 359892View attachment 359894View attachment 359895View attachment 359896View attachment 359897View attachment 359898View attachment 359899View attachment 359900View attachment 359901View attachment 359902View attachment 359903View attachment 359893
Despite the setback(s), I'd say you have a real talent for this! Far beyond my own capabilities.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Despite the setback(s), I'd say you have a real talent for this! Far beyond my own capabilities.
Thank you, I've not much going on right now and can't drive for the moment so coming up with ideas and building this is really all I got to occupying my time atm
 

Tim Carlisle

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Thank you, I've not much going on right now and can't drive for the moment so coming up with ideas and building this is really all I got to occupying my time atm
Wish I had that kind of time. My problem....if I have the time, I don't have the $$ and vice versa. You've rather inspired me a bit though!!!
 

Toddrickfl1

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Wish I had that kind of time. My problem....if I have the time, I don't have the $$ and vice versa. You've rather inspired me a bit though!!!
Believe me you don't, it's driving me insane. Like house arrest. I just wanna get cleared to go back to work and get my life back to not having the time again.
 

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