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  • Results 1 to 19 of 19

    Thread: My $3.50 floating islands and hyacinth hula hoops

    1. #1
      cindy's Avatar
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      My $3.50 floating islands and hyacinth hula hoops

      I bought a small pond noodle and a colander, nylon string and Wella! Love getting something cheap and easy!

      The watercress will cover the noodle and they are small enough that the koi can flip over but not get trapped. Quick and easy. Will get pics when I load the watercress. I have so much I have been throwing it on the compost pile.
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      Great idea, cindy! I made something similar using chemical-free weed barrier fabric and put water hyacinth and water lettuce in it. I like your idea better already!

    3. #3
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      And with plants. The hula hoops have hyacinth and the roots are floating.
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      Very clever, Cindy. Thank you for sharing that.

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      Great idea Cindy. Nice shade for your fish too.
      Nancy



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      I make the same thing, but I use zip ties instead of string making sure the sharp part is towards the inside of the basket. $2.00...noodle and collander from the dollar store....
      Susie


    7. #7
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      Last night
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      Last edited by cindy; 07-17-2016 at 09:39 AM.

    8. #8
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      Two quick questions

      I see the hula-hoop islands - are the non-hula hoop islands (where you can't see the edges) using the noodles? I would have thought that something as thick as pool noodles would be difficult to cover, but I can't see them in your pond, so...

      Also, don't these floating islands all move towards the skimmers and block them, or do you tether all of the islands?



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    9. #9
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      The watercress is in the noodles. It hangs over the side. My netting keeps them somewhat from going to the skimmer but when they do, the water still gets in. You can tether them. I get my hula hoop at the Dollar Tree, $1

      Not really concerned with how they look, I'm using them for shade and algae control and snacking for the koi. The hyacinth starts to get yellow and I switch it out. I was putting up a shade tarp but this is so much easier.

      You can see my biofilter in the back right. Covered in watercress. I pull it out and take it up to the restaurant in town. No chemicals in my pond.
      Last edited by cindy; 07-17-2016 at 09:41 AM.

    10. #10
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      great job! why does the hyacinth yellow?

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      Quote Originally Posted by kingkong View Post
      great job! why does the hyacinth yellow?
      Water is too clean. Have to move it to buckets of Miracle Grow.

      All this time I've looked for watercress and I think it is growing in the streams/wet lands at the farm.

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      Hope J is offline Senior Member
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      Love it! I'm all about cheap and easy

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      Where do you get plants that are pest free?

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      Quote Originally Posted by DangerDave View Post
      Where do you get plants that are pest free?
      In the ornaments/faux plant corner at your local fish store

    16. #16
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      Bump

    17. #17
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      Dollar tree has noodles and colanders for $1.25 and I still have these

    18. #18
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      Thanks for the info. How much Miracle Grow do you put in a bucket of water and how long do you leave the plants in there?
      Nancy



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    19. #19
      cindy's Avatar
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      I throw a small spoon on the scooper in a bucket

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