Just a quick video update swimming through the pond before a major trim. An after trim video to come!
The beautiful coloring of the fins are telling sign of how healthy and happy the Altum Angels are in their home. The dark coffee colored vertical stripes allow them to blend in with their environment. They have taken a liking to the flake food which is uncommon.
Just a quick glance at the inhabitants in the pond after a feedng!
You can enjoy the different angles of this pond from various points in the Conservatory building. From the top of the spiraling walkway down to the surface of the pond, there are many angles to be appreciated.
The beauty of this pond is large viewing glass for the patrons to enjoy the aquascape. A pond from the top and a giant aquarium from the side revealing the plant and animal life for all to observe. The depth of the aquascape can better enjoyed peering up close.
Check out the fish we have so far at The Huntington Library! We are still adding more fish each month. For now we have a few schools of Rummy Nose, Harlequin Rasboaras, and Siamensis.
Some maintenance at the pond! The fish are schooling! Just added some Harlequin Rasboras, Rummy Nose, Siamensis, Ottocinclus, and Emerald Rasboras!
Just another update before the year ends with a closeup look into the pond! Who else goes swimming during the winter?
Just a quick update! I have been maintaining the pond consistently throughout the months. So far heading into the winter I have noticed a slow down in growth of the plants. Probably due to the decrease in daylight. I have also noticed more hair algae growth, since the plants are taking up the nutrients in the water slower than compared to the rest of the year. After performing a trim on the Vallisneria, there's a little more room for the fish to swim around, not that they need it. Maybe this will help the rest of the pond as the tall grass was creating too much shade. Here's little snippet of the pond as it sits now. Take a visit and spread the word!
Today I installed the first phase of a pressurized carbon dioxide system for the 5000 gallon pond at The Huntington Library. I wanted to introduce CO2 to help boost the photosynthesis of the plants. There are unwanted species of algae that will hopefully start to disappear. Here we have a PRO-1-SS CO2 regulator from Green Leaf Aquariums! It's fully stainless steel with two stages, one for tank volume and the second for working pressure. The regulator feels robust and of great quality. Also installed was an inline diffuser supplied directly to the return line going to the pond. Hopefully the efficiency of this form of diffusion will be sufficient for the large volume of this pond.
Phase 2 of this system includes implementation of a pH controller. Check back soon!
30 pound carbon dioxide tank
GLA PRO-1-SS dual stage regulator
GLA high pressure check valve
Inline CO2 diffuser
CO2 diffused line fed to the return line to the pond
Phase 1 CO2 setup on a simple timer
Performed a major plant pruning and trimming on the pond, which is done on a quarterly basis. It was an awesome experience to swim around the pond for the first time. The wood was strategically arranged in a way where all areas of the pond are accessible for maintenance purposes. This could be a great product for people who want natural swimming pools! Can't wait until the next pruning in a few months. Video Credit: Theo Low Music Credit: Blake Dempsey.
While doing some maintenance on the pond at The Library i've decided to document how many shrimp are in this pond. As you can see from just this small section of the pond containing hundreds of shrimp, I can't begin to count how many inhabit the pond in its entirety. Now I understand how the pond stays so clean!
Check out the community of fish at the pond! We are still adding more schools each month.
Featured here is Part 1 of a walkthrough the design and build of the Conservatory Pond! The display refresh began last year, summer of 2014. The tropical exhibit is currently open and operating. Check back again as the walkthroughs continue!
Here is a small freshwater live planted aquarium that was done back in 2007. This is an 8 gallon glass display that features various species of Rotala indica portraying colors of autumn.
Check out the page for more details!