Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That sounds like a lot of work. Looks good!

Thanks. And yes it was a massive amount of heavy manual labor. Just about at my limit.

I also managed to get some substantial poison ivy on my arms when I first put in the steps. Fortunately, that was a couple of weeks ago and it has receded.

 

[vlangel]

I love the pond and the natural looking water feature. Very nice and good job!

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I do love the log sluice/trough. Is it spring fed or runoff?

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Never mind. I guess it is a low voltage pump after re-reading.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do love the log sluice/trough. Is it spring fed or runoff?

The pond was dug 70 years ago and is spring fed from underneath it. In winter I’ve seen where water coming up churns the sand in a couple of places as it bubbles up. I found that location because occasional rising bubbles can make ice form last there.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Never mind. I guess it is a low voltage pump after re-reading.

Yes, the system has the panel, a charge controller with a usb port, a lithium battery, and the pump attached by a long usb cable. It’s the second pump. The first ones didn’t last a day before failing. I upped to price to a $15 pump and flow is much better. I hope it lasts, but replacing once in a while is no biggie at that cost.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Surprise Demise

I was surprised to see a dead mantis shrimp on the tank bottom this morning. I don’t know if it was the only one or not, nor why it died. I read they only live a few years, so it may have just been old. Or perhaps it fought something in the tank and lost, such as another mantis or a crab.

While I’m sorry for it, the snails and such may have an easier time surviving now. I’ll have to listen closely for a while to see if I still hear a mantis snap or not.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Surprise Demise

I was surprised to see a dead mantis shrimp on the tank bottom this morning. I don’t know if it was the only one or not, nor why it died. I read they only live a few years, so it may have just been old. Or perhaps it fought something in the tank and lost, such as another mantis or a crab.

While I’m sorry for it, the snails and such may have an easier time surviving now. I’ll have to listen closely for a while to see if I still hear a mantis snap or not.

Of course I have no clue what happened, but I'm thinking a crab big enough to kill it might have eaten it. I don't know how close you two were but sorry for your loss?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Of course I have no clue what happened, but I'm thinking a crab big enough to kill it might have eaten it. I don't know how close you two were but sorry for your loss?

I'd say we were not close enough to be grieving since it is likely the reason lots of snails have perished over the past year. My daughter with the mantis tank was planning some time to catch it like she did the other one and take it to her tank, but that won't be possible , obviously, unless there are more. I know there is at least one in the sump since I put it there a while back and sometimes hear a snap from it.