Journey from dining room to fish room.

[Oldspartan]

I have now accumulated enough 1 by 6 and 1 by 8 poplar boards to dress the inside of the pond house. It does present a quandary though.

Do I now insulate the build and apply the boards or do I proceed to the fish room build. Finishing the inside of the pond house is not a large job but the insulation, stain and trim is a cost factor to an already overburdened budget. However, it would make the pond house a year-round structure which is intriguing. Finishing the structure would also require building windows. Again, an added expense. The drawback is the construction would mean pushing the fish room build back to the first of the year when the "fun" budget can be replenished for 2025.

Another consideration, I am tired. I can never remember being tired before. I think we pushed our old bodies beyond the limits imposed by age this past summer. Not a complaint mind you, just a realization we are not what we once were. I am uncertain if I am up to a large project at this point in time. Finishing the inside of the pond house is a small job that is not physically taxing. The fish room is a large project in comparison.

Both will be accomplished. We just need to decide the order and schedule.

Linda and I will need to discuss this over the weekend and choose how to proceed.

 

[GaryE]

When I was 25 I'd look at the trust fund kids and wonder how much I could get done if I didn't have to work long hours to get by. Now I'm an older guy, retired, with a pension. I wonder how much I could get done if I were 25.

You can deny age, but we do slow down and get tired more easily. My favourite way of relaxing is working hard, but working hard at what I choose to work at. Alas, life can't always be fun, eh?

Why I prioritized a fishroom was that it gave me an opportunity to channel my restlessness all year round. I do less in summer when I'm outside with taking care of the house, welcoming visitors who come to see us and to see the sea, and generally enjoying the short season. Now, as the days shorten and the wind gets cooler, I'm prepping the garden for winter and thinking of indoor fish projects. I rarely manage to sit and watch the fish unless they present a puzzle I want to figure out. My set ups are constantly fiddled with, improved or led astray, adjusted, rethought and revamped.

You strike me as a high energy guy who doesn't sit around. I guess my question, coming from my own experience, is which of the projects will give you more pleasure? I know pleasure seekers are supposed to lie around getting grapes dropped in their mouths, but I suspect we're both more of the make something, maintain something, create something that works type.

When we moved here, I found myself with a space and a budget for the first time, but also with a need to move fast because the fish are living creatures and my temporary fishroom wasn't going to cut it. You don't have that pressure. I'd like to have planned better, with a bit more time to calculate out what I wanted the fishroom to do. I made a couple of minor mistakes I'd love a take back on, but since I'd already had a series of improvised fishrooms, I did okay.

Do you plan all winter, or enjoy a fishroom sooner? Do you fill the other structure with fishtanks when you finish it? You've wandered into a corner of the internet where people who choose fish projects tend to be the local majority.

 

[Oldspartan]

When I was 25 I'd look at the trust fund kids and wonder how much I could get done if I didn't have to work long hours to get by. Now I'm an older guy, retired, with a pension. I wonder how much I could get done if I were 25.

You can deny age, but we do slow down and get tired more easily. My favourite way of relaxing is working hard, but working hard at what I choose to work at. Alas, life can't always be fun, eh?

Why I prioritized a fishroom was that it gave me an opportunity to channel my restlessness all year round. I do less in summer when I'm outside with taking care of the house, welcoming visitors who come to see us and to see the sea, and generally enjoying the short season. Now, as the days shorten and the wind gets cooler, I'm prepping the garden for winter and thinking of indoor fish projects. I rarely manage to sit and watch the fish unless they present a puzzle I want to figure out. My set ups are constantly fiddled with, improved or led astray, adjusted, rethought and revamped.

You strike me as a high energy guy who doesn't sit around. I guess my question, coming from my own experience, is which of the projects will give you more pleasure? I know pleasure seekers are supposed to lie around getting grapes dropped in their mouths, but I suspect we're both more of the make something, maintain something, create something that works type.

When we moved here, I found myself with a space and a budget for the first time, but also with a need to move fast because the fish are living creatures and my temporary fishroom wasn't going to cut it. You don't have that pressure. I'd like to have planned better, with a bit more time to calculate out what I wanted the fishroom to do. I made a couple of minor mistakes I'd love a take back on, but since I'd already had a series of improvised fishrooms, I did okay.

Do you plan all winter, or enjoy a fishroom sooner? Do you fill the other structure with fishtanks when you finish it? You've wandered into a corner of the internet where people who choose fish projects tend to be the local majority.

All good points ColinE. Pretty much sums up the quandary of vision versus energy, I think.

 

[Oldspartan]

We have chosen to "winterize" and finish the pond building this fall. As previously posted I now have enough 1-inch thick, rough-cut poplar to finish the interior. The boards will need to be roughly sanded, 80 grit paper, and edge finished as they are live edge on one side. This part of the project is not work; it is hobby.

We will add 1 inch furring strips to the floor then put 1 inch foam down between them, cover with 8MM plastic and then OSB panels. An indoor-outdoor carpet will follow after walls and ceilings are complete. The walls and roof rafters will have FG insulation 3 1/2-inch R13. The electric boxes all extend 1 1/8 inch from studs and rafters as I planned ahead for a finished wall at a future point. The future has come sooner than I planned.

I have a 100-pound LP Gas tank from our RV days. After I have it recertified at the local LP Gas dealer it can be hooked up to a wall mounted heater and WALLAH, the pond building will be a four-season retreat a short walk away. The entire job can be easily completed but will not be rushed.

We will leave the waterfall running all winter this year. I will add a bypass in case we get a long-term hard freeze period. This will allow us to avoid an ice bridge problem that causes the pond to drain. It is unlikely to be needs but safe rather than sorry is my motto. All other water features will be stored after cleaning probably mid-November.

The pond still contains perhaps 50 Rosey Nosed Minnows that were born this summer as well as 20 or more largely black goldfish. The minnow trap was mostly unsuccessful in their removal, and they are nearly impossible to net from shore. I will shortly drain the pond by about 2/3 and then wade in to net them. We are planning to keep our original 5 goldfish plus 2 newbies that have interesting coloration. We will also keep a half dozen of the Rosey Nose. The surplus golds will be taken to another and larger pond a short distance away. The LFS will take the Rosey Nose. When the pond is drained, I also plan to clean the bottom and remove the couple dozen rocks that belong on the bank that Buster has knocked during his frog adventures.

The fish room project will be slowed somewhat. I will build the cabinetry in modules at my leisure during the winter months. The shop has some heating and is comfortable down to about 20 degrees so I can use it most days during the winter.

Frankly the need to purchase a new vehicle was an unexpected and heavy expense that leaves a hole in the budget for the next year. Money that would normally be free to use on projects is now owned by Honda. The slush fund needs to be replenished so next year we will need to be careful in what we tackle. Fortunately, we have the necessary tanks and most equipment on hand and the plumbing and electrical is mostly in place.

Age has caught us and we are facing that reality. Projects will get done, just not at the pace I am accustomed to.

 

[Oldspartan]

The pond house is pretty much complete. The walls and ceiling are insulated to R13, the wall mounted LP heater is hooked up, and the walls are finished with poplar boards. Poplar does not shrink much as it dries so the gaps should be minimal and easily filled next summer with a sawdust and glue compound after which some quality paint will be applied. I watched the Sunday night football game to the background music of the waterfall. A dorm style fridge will complete the structure soon.

This week my cousin from California will be visiting so beginning Wednesday we will be relaxing and entertaining.

Linda took a fleet of guppies and swordtails to the LFS yesterday and came home with two large air stones for the pond aeration system in exchange. The "baby tank" is now empty and will be cleaned for the next group, she expects a litter of molly any day now. With luck they will be black. We are now approaching a point where all our Molly and Swords are homegrown, although we still have most of our starter fish as well as a couple of male Molly and Swords Linda bought specifically for her breeding experiments. She is having fun with the fish, and I am having fun watching her have fun.

Linda has the Angel eating from her hand now which is pretty cool. The pond goldfish also eat from her hand as do a couple of the frogs, squirrels and a chipmunk. She has a way with animals that is amazing, at least to me who they flee from.

The Monarch Butterflies are still flitting about the milk weeds and butterfly plant, and we still have hummingbirds which is a surprise this late in the year. Lots of honey and bumble bees, (and unfortunately wasps), are feeding on various plants. The sunflowers have mostly reached seed stage and because they are in front of the pond houses side window we are enjoying a variety of birds who relish the seeds. The birds also seem to like the bog and little stream bed we built this year. I did find a dead chickadee, still with down, at the edge of the pond Friday. I think she got wet and was unable to take flight.

It seemed we would never finish this pond project, maybe we never will entirely. We are already making plans for a small reflecting pool on the backside of the pond house with a lighted fountain and stream connecting it to the pond as well as a summer kitchen of sorts. For now, however, we are finished and enjoying watching the critters delighting in the fruit of our labor.

 

[Oldspartan]

We have settled into a more normal routine in the past week or so. No major projects, no hurry, and no push to complete anything. It is relaxing and both Linda and I are pretty much recharged from a busy summer.

I have begun the process of building modules for the fish room build. Actually, had one dry assembled but was not satisfied with the final product so tore it down to the frame and will rework the finish. I am very picky with furniture crafting and these pieces are furniture. Need to tune the router table for some detail work, (perhaps). It is not yet winter, so anything done now is ahead of schedule at any rate. I have sworn to not rush myself in projects going forward. I learned a lesson in diminished energy this past summer with pond area projects.

Started a 10-gallon tank a few weeks back. We were uncertain what we would stock it with, but Linda wanted a small tank in the Living room. As usual she got what she wants. Anyway, the cycle is complete, and we took a trip to the not so local fish store yesterday afternoon to see what we could see. Linda settled on a very handsome cream and brown fella who seems to be delighted in his new home. While I enjoy caring for and looking at our liquid zoo Linda is turning it into a true hobby. She is now wanting a tank for female Betta with the idea of breeding them. She is currently reading on the subject, so I suppose it is only a matter of time. Fortunately, (?), we have a 5 and a 10 that are unaccounted for, or they were unaccounted for.

The All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2024 is in Burlington next month. We plan on being there.

 

[Oldspartan]

"Rescued" Frogbit from the pond Monday for use in aquariums. It currently sits in a tub under timed lights in Linda's growing room in the basement. We plan on giving the plants two or three bleach treatments over the next two weeks before adding them to the tanks. Pretty certain they are infested with the pond snails and their eggs.

Tested a ten gallon that was donated to us a while back. It leaked like a sieve and IMHO it was not worth a repair, so I junked it. I did save the glass and frame, only breaking one piece. PetSmart had a half-price sale, so I purchased a new one. Linda will be adding a lady Betta to it when the cycle is finished. Course I have to start the cycle before it will finish. She will be trying her hand at Betta breeding for the fun of it this winter. I will throw together a tiered stand for two 10's next time it rains. The current ten with a male is in the living room on a cherry end table I made 40 years ago. The new stand will be the same length and width, also cherry that I will try to stain to match the patina of the current tables. It will be taller though so she can stack the tanks, one for the male another for the Mrs...

The two Betta tanks will have real plants that I will most likely buy from connorlindeman in a couple of weeks. Linda looked at his stuff, on Etsy I think but maybe not, and is figuring out what she wants. Anyway, like the idea of supporting a forum member. Will get in touch first.

Took the fountain from the pond on Sunday, cleaned it and immersed in the cellar in a tub of water. Also disconnected and flushed alligator and frog spitters with bleach, CLR, then plain water. They will remain pond side for the winter because they are made of concrete. Next week we have a warming trend, supposed to hit the 70's so I will go wading and change out the air stones, do a bit of bottom cleaning, clean the waterfall pump, and remove the many rocks Buster Dog has knocked into the pond during his daily frog viewing. I have decided to leave the waterfall pump in operation all winter. The fall's sides were raised and lined when I rebuilt it last spring so overflow caused by freezing should not be an issue.

 

[Oldspartan]

Pretty lazy past two weeks. Spent a few days at a friend's camp on Sacandaga Lake. Did some light fishing but mostly played retired.

Cleaned the pond bottom a bit and did a big flush and water change. Took the rocks out of the middle, cleaned them, then put them back in, also added a few more. These are where the fish seem to hide in the colder weather. Sometime this week I will pull the bio-filter and change the pipe that runs from the WF pump to the WF from 1 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch. This should increase the pressure at the outlet and help prevent freezing at the outflow, at least in theory. The donut heater will also go in this week. Not expecting any weather that causes freezing but the temps later this week will be summer like so that is the time to go wading. Pond water temp is currently 56 degrees so the fish have been on a fall diet the past couple of weeks. They either do not care for the diet, or more likely their metabolism is getting ready for the depressing weather to come.

I am still waiting for a rainy day to build Linda's two-tier Betta tank stand, and she is getting itchy, making small comments here and there. No rain in sight though.

Today is my birthday and Linda has organized a surprise party at the local pub with some of my classmates and football teammates from my semipro days. That is more years ago than I care to remember. I will try to act surprised.

I will begin building the cabinetry for the tanks in earnest next week. Her two-tier tank stand will be first up. That is a stand-alone and goes in the living room for her Betta project. After that I will start with the main project from the floor up. I want all cabinetries built before tearing out the carpet and putting down the new flooring.

I am a bit apprehensive about moving the aquariums and fish out of the room then back in. The original idea of using the enclosed front porch is a nonstarter so we will be moving tanks to the bedroom, kitchen and living room. We have a lot of company during the holiday period so have some decisions to make about timing. Linda does not want the house torn apart during this period and is pretty emphatic about it. Me? I do not care and am more than willing to start ripping and tearing.

Guess who wins this discussion!

 

[Oldspartan]

My brother appeared unannounced over the weekend with a used mobile home oil furnace and 275-gallon oil tank, (he owns a HVAC business). Said the furnace was only a couple years old and the tank was in good condition. He also said he was tired of my whining about the woodworking shop be drafty and cold with just the space heater. He then installed, with mine and another brothers help, a rudimentary somewhat central heating system with actual heating vents over some of the more used work tools. We put a couple of 5-gallon cans of kerosene in the tank and it all worked. Yesterday the oil man delivered 200 gallons of heating oil. It will be bliss working in the shop this winter.

Linda decided on the rip and tear timing of the project. It will begin AFTER I have built the cabinetry and not before. This will limit the time of complete disarray in the new room to perhaps two weeks. It also means that all the modules will need to be built at once. Not how I wanted to do it, but it is what it is. She is in charge of the house, and I always defer to her on the subject when possible.

The two-tier tank for her Betta is nearly complete. I applied sanding sealer last night and will begin the final finish application later today after some pond work. It was pretty nice doing this in a well heated, 56 degrees, workshop.

 

[Oldspartan]

Construction projects on hold for a bit. Need some medical attention to my leg according to a preliminary test. Next up a scan by a vascular surgeon. The joys of aging abound.

 

[Oldspartan]

I have faced my mortality, stared t down and accepted my physical vulnerabilities. There is no way I can undertake my original fish room plan without expensive help. After much soul searching and talking the situation over with Linda we will be making some changes.

Simply put, until my leg issue is solved, likely with surgery with a moderately long time to a possible full recovery I am unable to stand for any great amount of time. This poses a real safety issue when working with joiners, molding table, radial and table saws. My leg literally goes dead without warning and that creates a chance of falling or stumbling. Not ideal when working wood across things that cut. I am currently comfortable only at the lathe, and that only because I replanted on a short bench that I can sit at. The leg issue is a bummer. It has been an inconvenience for some time but about 2 months ago became severe almost overnight.

Solution

We will purchase wood stands that are sturdy enough for our tanks. We will be scouring both antique and thrift shops for solid wood stands and paint them a yet to be determined color. The walls will be left as is with the addition of a yet to be determined splash guard. The floor will be done in four phases. The floor at the three walls with tanks will have carpet cut out the length by 24 inches wide. These areas will be tiled with water resistant tile, either click or peel and stick. These I should be able to do because they are relatively small square footages when taken one at a time. This system will also solve the movement of tanks issues nicely. When the three floor areas are complete, we will have the remainder of the floor done professionally, (Linda said we might as well have the carpet guy do the adjacent living room done at the same time. She is indeed a sly one.

The air and water work I should be able to do with minor help from buddies.

I am devasted at the thought of not building my own cabinets, but this is my current reality. I am sure the legs will be returned to normalcy but until they are I am limited in what can safely and comfortably done.

Linda did get her two-tiered betta stand finally. After Christmas she will begin cycling a ten gallon for a lady.

Here is her male who insists on being hand fed. He come to the surface vertically and expects individual pellets to be put in front of him. He ignores any pellets that are more than an inch from his mouth. Spoiled like the rest of our pets.

The golden years, oh yeah!

 

[Oldspartan]