Last Updated: 12/4/24

1. I started pond work on 11/3/24 about 10:50 am but I did not finish. I got the leaves off the big net and tended to the smaller ponds. I had to stop to make lunch for family that came over. I was back doing pond work at 1:45 pm. The air temperature was 59 degrees F, just about right for me! The 1800 gallon pond was at 53 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond was at 56 degrees F. I squirted the filter floss around the Biosteps pump but I changed it completely around the main OASE pump feeding the waterfall. I squirted the bags of bioballs and lava rock.

I still need to put up the Biosteps filter, cut down all the marginals, collect leaves around the ponds, dig up the gladiolas and calla lilies, bring in the stepping stones, and maybe other things I forgot!

2. On 11/10/24, we were expecting our first rain in 38 days, a record since they have kept records here. The rain took longer to come than expected. We needed it desperately but are still way behind. There are wild fires in nearby states where they almost never happen. Yes, this is global climate change. Yes, humanity is killing the planet. No, the average American does not believe that such a thing exists, even as many of them are suffering from things like heat, hurricanes, fire, and floods. Yes, they voted in a whole slew of people who also believe that we don't need clean and safe air, water, soil, food, climate, etc. Anyway, I don't want to get into politics, lest someone come after me. Here in America, MONEY must come first not our very survival. I just don't get it. How is it even politics to not want people, animals, plants, etc. to suffer and die? All people should want that.

At 12:58 pm, the air temperature was finally seasonable at 55 degrees F. The 1800 gallon pond was at 52 degrees F, and the 153 allon pond was at 53 degrees F. I put up the Biosteps filter for the year. I lost the hose clamp in the pond that goes on the pump for that filter. I brought in the rest of the yard doohickeys and stepping stones. I replaced the thermometer in the big pond as the cord was frayed. I squirted the filter materials, put in additives, and topped off the ponds with water.

3. I did pond work on 11/17/24. It was already 2:46 pm. The air temperature was 57 degrees F. The 1800 gallon pond was at 50 degrees F, and the 153 gallon pond was at 51 degrees F. I intended to put up the PondMaster filter, cut down the marginals, and lower the golden club but I didn't have the time. I squirted off the filter flosses, put in additives and water, and that was about it.

4. On 11/24/24 at 1:32 pm, the air temperature was 54 degrees F. Both ponds were down to 46 degrees F in the water. We are expecting our first hard freeze next weekend, and it will be much colder. As such, I removed the PondMaster filter and put a de-icer in the 153 gallon pond. For the 1800 gallon pond, I squirted the one remaining filter floss, cut down all the marginals, and dropped and pulled down the net so it is off of the waterfall area. I put a de-icer in the biofilter and covered it with the Rubbermaid tub cover (that is the old cover that went on my first buried pond that was at the current location of the 153 gallon pond). I put my lighted Rudulph by the power for the big pond. This allows me to know after dark just by glancing outside that there is power by the pond.

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