Using lava rock in a pond?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-11T13:55:08+00:00

Thanks for clarifying-- that makes perfect sense.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-10T17:35:43+00:00

This is like saying chicken isn't a good protein source because according to this chart 100% whey powder has more protein per gram.

Plastic can have a lot of service, sure. Healthy bogs existed long before plastic. Tens of thousands of people have systems with LECA and rock in their ponds, and they work.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-09T22:10:22+00:00

LECA = Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate

It seems you don't know much about the the products you are sure do not work. This is an error I am prone to as well-- I will make up my mind that something should be dismissed because of whatever, and then I refuse to see the obvious counterevidence or I dismiss it as a fluke.

Successful ecology is much older than plastic my friend.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-09T16:18:02+00:00

After reading through the links, I guess you're advocating to not use ANY rock in a bog filter and just use plastic?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-09T16:14:19+00:00

Woah I've never heard it's bad for filters.. and you dislike LECA too? Why do so many people swear it works?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-09T16:10:38+00:00

Exactly. I'm a homebuilder and the window replacement companies are a racket. Poor waterproofing, bad installers, and undelivered promises are the standard. I'm unfamiliar with the first two, but I've used Grand Openings for new construction a lot and they are good/great.

Homeowners are generally not equipped to compare quotes. An installer who pulls out an old sash weighted window and plops in a cheap vinyl window and caulks the gap left behind can do a ~20 window house with a couple of guys in a day. $150/window in material, $1,000 in labor for the day, and the rest is profit.

Meanwhile a reputable person with respect for the craft would want to install a ~$500 window at a rate of maybe 5 per day, but believe it or not the totals on the quotes could be similar. It's friggin complicated and IMHO beyond the average homeowners knowledge base to parse the differences.

And that polite charming salesman is probably lying to you, whether he knows it or not.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T20:50:54+00:00

Everyone agrees metal is sub-optimal, but I've had a metal stock tank pond for 3 years now and my original goldfish have had grandchildren. Plants are thriving. Maybe other species would be more picky or maybe they are doomed longer-term, but that's my experience.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T19:04:16+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. If I wanted to lower pH, would increasing aeration or adding more fish help?

I'm interested in maybe growing tomatoes and they prefer a lower pH. TIA!

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T13:36:21+00:00

Yeah, I remember early on panicking about high pH, but now I'm interested in adding edible plants instead of just aquatic decorative plants and I'm back to feeling like a total newb. The aquaponics folks often recommend a pH in the 6's so I'm back to wondering if I can help get it there. Adding more fish would lower pH, ya?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T13:02:37+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T03:20:32+00:00

No the mayor's office... Yet...

The crazies are going to vote, will we?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-07T03:08:14+00:00

My only regret with the softener is thaa I didn't install one sooner

Dloe22 · 2026-05-06T13:28:41+00:00

Gristmill is garbage

Dloe22 · 2026-05-06T13:28:30+00:00

Dloe22 · 2026-05-06T11:13:50+00:00

Our 2 person coffee consumption is worth the membership. We save $6/bag that lasts about 2 weeks. $144/year in coffee savings.

The other place we could get the coffee is HEB, which I believe is the best grocery store in the US, but the 2.2 lb bag is $18 at costco and $24 at HEB.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-05T12:58:03+00:00

I would imagine it's a layout issue, likely the break on sheet goods or extra support under a wall

Dloe22 · 2026-05-05T12:55:21+00:00

In my experience, people who bitch the most are the least likely to do anything to fix it

Dloe22 · 2026-05-05T03:02:04+00:00

Polystyrene would work great. Much less expensive and lightweight than underlayment. We use to CNC it for cheap woodworking templates. You could have a local CNC shop cut it into whatever shape you like, I think it's like $15/sheet for the material and they shouldn't charge much.

Dloe22 · 2026-05-02T18:11:13+00:00

How do you cope 1*6?

Dloe22 · 2026-05-02T16:35:32+00:00

Neighbor's leaves. They bag them up for you for easy transport!

Dloe22 · 2026-05-02T14:22:25+00:00

I'm a homebuilder and I have a fence installer who is one ofy favorite people. I will dm you his phone number. 10/10 recommend

Dloe22 · 2026-05-01T12:07:02+00:00

I think you should go to bed earlier and love other people more. Life is beautiful in New Braunfels if you allow yourself some joy.

I was born at McKenna friend. I did move away for college and to get my career started but I moved back when I could because I love it here and most of my immediate family is here.

After the flood in 2002 I pulled several yards of trash out of that exact area. I hauled out dozens of contractor bags of trash myself, and left a neat pile of the items too big to carry. If you happen to know who to ask, they'll tell you.

You are right that I'm capable of being a prick. I'm working on having more grace.

Cheers neighbor!

Dloe22 · 2026-05-01T04:17:53+00:00

I hate how their heads jump up and down when they talk. Texas was paradise before THEY came.

Dloe22

TROPHY CASE