This property is an ongoing 2/3 acre Permaculture Design Project. This particular phase of the project entailed the conversion of ~22,000 gallon swimming pool into an aquaculture/fish pond. The pond receives twice (2X) filtered rooftop rainwater (large first flush device and 55 gallon sand filter). The roofwater and pond water has been tested repeatedly -importantly heavy metals were found to be non-detectable. The pond passively moves any overflow into a rainwater mulch basin in one area of the forest garden.
These shots show the pond eco-infrastructure. It's imperative to create as much edge for habitat as possible. The more edge that is created in the water and surrounding the pond the more diverse the system will become. The amount and size of available edge effects the overall sustainability of the pond too -particularly a swimming pool conversion as most pools intentionally lack surface area for living things to grow upon! The first photo taken September 2011 shows the pond water is clear; animals and plants all seem quite happy.
The first image shows the biofilter in September 2011 which filters over 5000 gallons per day. There are 3 chambers water fills until the weir, slightly angled toward the pond, allows the filtered water to fall about 3 feet into the pond -aiding the oxygenation of the water. The second image shows the unused pool in 2009 and the 55 gallon drum 'filtering' 300 gallons per day. The pool had been refilled regularly with freshwater for years as well as stocked with a few catfish.
MORE of the Pool to Pond Conversion...
© Gaia Creations Ecological Landscaping & Permaculture Solutions 2007-2011 * PO Box 3358 Chico, CA 95927 * 530-321-9715
“It is our collective responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live”
-Dalai Lama
