Forum:

ponds

Natural Pool and Aquaponics

Posts: 126

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I would very much like to get a copy of that DVD, but I'm kind of confused on what I need to do to be in the running. Could someone please explain? Thanks much.

Also, I have a question for David. I've been looking into aquaponics of late and wonder if you could potentially combine a natural pool with aquaponics? I mean could you have food fish in the pond and food plants growing off the water from the pond? Thanks much and welcome.

P.P.O.Y.T. (Playfully pouncing on your toes.)

Burra Maluca

out to pasture

Posts: 12631

Location: Portugal

3601

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Katrin Kerns wrote:I would very much like to get a copy of that DVD, but I'm kind of confused on what I need to do to be in the running. Could someone please explain? Thanks much.

Katrin - at the end of the promotion, Paul runs a bit of software to select ten posts at random from the green building forum, chosen from while the promotion was live. So the more often you post, the more chance there is of your post being picked. Paul then chooses the best two posts from those ten - maybe a good question, or a helpful comment or answer. The authors of those posts are the winners, and whoever referred those members to permies are also winners.

But there are a couple of hoops to jump through - you must be signed up to Paul's dailyish email and you must be using a name that follows our naming policy. Paul will email the winners and they must respond within 24 hours.

So check that your name looks real, make sure you're signed up for the email list, and get posting!

Oh, and posts in the welcome thread don't count - I usually move any questions posted here out to their own thread so that this thread doesn't get too cluttered and to make sure that they are eligible for the competition.

How permies.com works
What is a Mother Tree ?

PEP - BB10 Badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by gir bot

David Pagan Butler

author

Posts: 31

posted 12 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Hi Katrin,
sadly fish won't work with a Natural Swimming Pool. In order to keep the water clean and clear for swimming the nutrient levels have to be kept low. Plants then compete for those nutrients and suppress algal growth. The fish will have to be fed and fish food is a whopping great dose of nutrients being dropped in the water. Even if the fish just feed off plants in the pool, sediments will be introduced as the fish uproot the plants and it is those plants that are needed to condition the water.

Food plants - yes! I'm trying with water cress, mint, rhubarb and even water lily tubers (although I haven't eaten one yet because they are too valuable and are supposed to taste like potato)

Ever eager to explore potential new food from the pool, I gathered a bucket full of water snails, boiled and shelled them and fried the morsels with garlic. They were horrible. Like pieces of car tyre but grittier. I fed them to the chickens. It's a bit convoluted but those eggs were a yield from the pool.

Hi I’m David. I am probably the only person to have two Organic Pools (aka Natural Swimming Pools). The reason for this over indulgence was to make a DIY film of the process. Loads of these pools have been made all over the place, helping make the world slightly wetter, pond by pond. I have also made a short film for the BBC about Natural Swimming Pools introducing the concept to a wider audience here in the UK. As a consequence of all of this, I have started giving courses to fellow self-builders who have traveled from far and wide to come and sit in my garden and talk about pools and ponds for two days. What could be nicer?
David Pagan Butler organicpools.co.uk

Amedean Messan

pollinator

Posts: 928

Location: Melbourne FL, USA - Pine and Palmetto Flatland, Sandy and Acidic

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

If no fish, what is your solution for mosquitos that will surely ensue?

Those who hammer their swords into plows will plow for those who don't!

David Pagan Butler

author

Posts: 31

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Hi Amedean,

Fish eat mosquitoes but they also eat the natural predators of mosquitoes.

A Natural Swimming Pool contains so many other creatures that predate mosquito larvae, dragonfly larvae, water boatmen, tadpoles, newts, the list goes on, that the mosquitoes don't stand a chance.

Strange as it may seem, a forgotten bucket of water will be teeming with mosquitoes within days, but the pool will be completely free of them. Indeed, I have not seen any mosquito larvae in any Natural Swimming Pool.

Amedean Messan

pollinator

Posts: 928

Location: Melbourne FL, USA - Pine and Palmetto Flatland, Sandy and Acidic

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Thank you for clarifying this.

Those who hammer their swords into plows will plow for those who don't!

Katrin Kerns

Posts: 126

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

David Pagan Butler wrote:Hi Katrin,
sadly fish won't work with a Natural Swimming Pool. In order to keep the water clean and clear for swimming the nutrient levels have to be kept low. Plants then compete for those nutrients and suppress algal growth. The fish will have to be fed and fish food is a whopping great dose of nutrients being dropped in the water. Even if the fish just feed off plants in the pool, sediments will be introduced as the fish uproot the plants and it is those plants that are needed to condition the water.

Food plants - yes! I'm trying with water cress, mint, rhubarb and even water lily tubers (although I haven't eaten one yet because they are too valuable and are supposed to taste like potato)

Ever eager to explore potential new food from the pool, I gathered a bucket full of water snails, boiled and shelled them and fried the morsels with garlic. They were horrible. Like pieces of car tyre but grittier. I fed them to the chickens. It's a bit convoluted but those eggs were a yield from the pool.

Okay, thanks for the info. I don't actually have my own land to experiment on yet but I would have probably tried to do a combination natural pool/aquaponics venture on my own without any info.

P.P.O.Y.T. (Playfully pouncing on your toes.)

Tokies Pop

Posts: 221

Location: Sacramento, CA

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

do you think ducks would cause a major issue?

Alana Bliss

Posts: 17

Location: Finca Fruición, Costa Rica

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Good Day,

I have read a lot of the threads here and am aware that having fish in the pool isn't a good idea, is there a way were I can connect the fish pond and the pool to maximize the oxygen levels, they are right next to each other, or is it better to make a new pond for the fish and ducks and just use the 2 tilapia ponds I have now as connected pools?

Thanks,
Alana

Natural Building Course - Jan. 9th, 2014
Creative Kid's Camp -
Costa Rica
Come learn and play with us.
www.fincafruicion.com/naturalbuilding

Pierre Talbot

Posts: 58

Location: Saguenay

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Its my dream to have a natural pool.

With my water network (creek, waterfall, pond)... thinking... but cost.... EPDM is not gave !

Jardinier, my garden projects at home:
http://www.usa-gardening.com
http://www.diy-garden.com

Tom OHern

Posts: 236

Location: Seattle, WA

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

We swam in my grandpa's fish pond all the time... And then later on that day we'd pull out the fishing rod and catch some trout for dinner. It doesn't matter if the water is clear or not. A natural pool with fish is totally doable.

joyce bowden

Posts: 8

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I'm trying to decide between a natural pool and an aquaponics greenhouse system in the old pool in the backyard of where I've moved (Hillsborough NC). The thought was if i go with the natural pool to have fish, and a place where folks can swim - now I need more info on what that actually looks like.

How best can the water from a natural pool be used for drinking in emergency, or is it best to have separate systems in place?

Thanks!

When it is used for evil, then watch out! When it is used for good, then things are much nicer. Like this tiny ad:

Learn Permaculture through a little hard work

https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp