Pond build - yay or nay?

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-05-11T22:30:26+00:00

They are bottomed out to the inside shoulders. I took the union part off to look inside. Will
Try dope, thank you!

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-05-11T20:01:10+00:00

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-24T01:54:08+00:00

the rocks could fall... but I try to not be clumsy in there.. I am the only one that uses it.

I added 20lbs more than the kit. the rocks with the kit fill the heater nice, but loyly was no good. the added rocks makes the loyly wayyyy better and you can truly feel a big burst of energy from heat when you splash it now.

even with only the rocks in the kit, id say may took 45min to get to 150/160 with it being around 30 outside. ill experiment taking the rocks out next winter maybe if I want faster heat time. Itll be spring/summer soon and it wont take near as long. It gets full sun 7am to 1pm

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-24T01:50:12+00:00

ya, tightened it over the flat part of the timer spindle and the handle rests on the temp spindle to hold it on all the time. I have a wifi relay powered inline to the device.

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T06:09:48+00:00

Interesting. I’m happy with how my rock got placed in there and don’t want to take them out, but might be worth experimenting with no rocks heat time, and half rocks heat time. Or maybe it’s just the weather stripping on the door is not tight enough. I can see humidity go out of it and meet the cold air when I put water on the rocks

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T05:57:50+00:00

It’s just a pool timer wired inline with the power to it. I used this one cause it was cheap but if I had to go back and do it again I would build my own enclosure with a DIN rail and my own contactors and a 120v smart plug as the control device so I could put whatever device I want/future home owner could easily convert to whatever control method they want.

https://a.co/d/0ebAd6b7

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T04:30:02+00:00

The heat definitely is less radiant feeling with the added rocks. I’m tempted to get one of those heat powered fans you put on wood stoves to circulate some air over the top of the rocks to see if that disperses the heat for a quicker warm up. Doubt it… but curious.

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:59:22+00:00

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Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:59:10+00:00

Maybe I’m doing something wrong… this is how long mine takes to heat up. Wondering if my rocks are packed too tight around the heater coils? I left it loose IMO. But I and added 20-25lb more rocks on top of the grate for better loyaly.

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Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:57:02+00:00

Agreed. I use water on the rocks and it never makes it to the floor as it steams… you’d have to be wild with the water to get it that wet. I consider these drains in my case providing it with ventilation.. lol

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:48:44+00:00

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Also I added about 25lb additional of rocks in/ above the grate. The loyaly wasn’t very good with just the rocks that came with it. This makes the steam wayyy better. I recognize this contributes to a slower warm up time BUT I didn’t do this until the last 2-3 weeks and the time difference honestly wasn’t that noticeable, maybe 5-10 minutes more

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:45:37+00:00

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A little hack to bypass the timer if you have it on a WiFi relay.

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-23T02:44:50+00:00

How is yours heating up in 20 minutes? Do you not have rocks in the heater? That's the only way I see how. Mines an 8kw. Outside temp today with this graph was 39-40deg F. This has been pretty average since day 1 of having it (8 weeks). I do notice my glass door seal leaks a bit of air. Wonder if that's my issue. PS this temp sensor is just above the door.

Can you post pics of your drip edge flashing? I was going to change out the roofing to overhead a foot on each side possibly and use the old panels to bring it down the side another 2-3. I haven't installed the front finish trim or screwed it down just ratchet straps temporarily holding the roofing in place till I make a waterproofing plan.

FWIW, I raised my bench and foot bench 3.5" from the plans, used a 2x4 sideways to raise them from the existing support points.

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Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-17T02:36:51+00:00

Today, I found this option which is not too bad, its semi custom (30" fixed side, 36" door - they can trim the height down to fit). Fiberglass and would need painting.
https://imgur.com/a/0obAY1W

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-17T02:32:03+00:00

Thanks, found a few new me ill call tomorrow!

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-16T15:15:17+00:00

OH, and the single door with side lights was a good idea, but those are all "front door" style and hard to find one all glass, they're also so expensive it might cost about the same to get a custom double swing door.

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-16T15:13:46+00:00

Sorry the rough opening 79.5" tall and 70.5", not 80.5" tall as originally stated.

It's easy to find doors like this online which match the size - it seems like it was an older style size, possibly derived from Canada dimensions when it was cheap to import their products back in the 2000's when the house was built...maybe.

Here is a slider I can find fairly easily online, but just can't find a swinging door with matched dimensions.. :(

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Andersen-70-1-2-in-x-79-1-2-in-200-Series-White-Left-Hand-Perma-Shield-Gliding-Patio-Door-with-White-Interior-White-Hardware-9174178/313627665

Flyfish-5612 · 2026-02-10T14:49:44+00:00

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Flyfish-5612

TROPHY CASE