Sheepco, thanks for the picture and explaining your set-up. That really helps. So pretty, too. I think I'm going to try this "diverter" valve. It's cheap enough to find out I don't like it and get one or 2 gate valves instead (2 would be ideal). I'll post my "review" when I get it going. Now I'm just deciding whether I can work in a pretty stream in the next year. If I think I can - bigger pump! If not, might as well spend the extra $40 on plants. Mamasue, I'm not sure what a TT is either but it sounds like your tank is the same size as mine but your skippy is bigger. I'm not TOO worried about green water. That is to say, I'm willing to let it cycle and be green when it needs to but I was thinking a 20 gal skippy with a 100 gal veggie would be enough. Can I ask you for more info on your bigger pond? What your filters are, how big the 2 pumps are, how long you've had it running? Gee are those enough questions? I'm sure I can come up with more for all of you!:)

Hi, whyndy! Welcome to the forum. My pond isn't "hooked" to the well in any way. It was filled with a garden hose, and about once a week, I top it off about an inch, due to a little bit of evaporation. I bought the circulating pump at Home Depot, and I got one designed for ponds up to 500 gallons. (The tank holds about 425). Mark ran an electrical line to the area, and the pump is plugged into a box as shown above. It circulates the water through a biofilter which we bought at Home Depot at the same time. (The guy there was very helpful in picking out what we needed). One of the most important things is to have plenty of good aerating plants in the pond. Typical aquarium plants will work great, and you can also add some decorative floating plants, too, like water lilies. They help keep it clean and provide cover for your fish. They also help oxygenate the water. If you don't overcrowd the fish or overfeed them, and you don't get fertilizer in the pond (from potting soil), it should stay clear for you. But sometimes, it does take a few weeks to get it balanced. I recommend picking up a good pond book (they even have those at Home Depot) and reading it through. They will have plenty of illustrations and good tips to help you decide just how you want to set up your tank. It's not at all hard, and it is so rewarding. Good luck with your project, and feel free to ask any other questions you think of. Marcia

This explains why there is a seperate stock tank for the Calcium Nitrate concentrates. This is from the "Tomato Handbook", MS State Extension Service. Use the link provided and note the link to the PDF version after the HTML document opens. Go to page 11 of the PDF document http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1828.pdf The first and second paragrapsh under heading "Injectors" is interesting, but the third paragraph specifically addresses the question about "two nute tanks". "Concentrate is held in small containers (e.g., 10 to 50 gallons). Two heads and two concentrate tanks (at a minimum) are needed: one for the calcium nitrate (tank B) and the other for all other nutrients (tank A). This is necessary so calcium does not combine chemically with phosphates or sulfates when the elements are in high concentration, especially under a high pH. The resulting compounds, calcium hydrogen phosphate or calcium sulfate, are hard precipitates and can clog the injector and irrigation system. However, once these elements are diluted, there is no problem. If the pH is higher than 5.8, it is advisable to use a third head to inject acid. This is needed to keep the pH in the 5.6 - 5.8 range (see pH section above)." Here is a link that might be useful: Greenhouse Tomato Handbook

Hi Aloha13, I have been researching this very thing and also don't want to pay the high price for stock tanks. Another issue with them is that you need to treat them like pots with the type of mix you use for pots becuase they have no cantact with all the goodies in soil. I am purchasing galvanized steel window wells (like you see around basement windows) and bolting two together to make a planter. They are reasonably priced, come in different sizes and remain open to the ground below. Hope this helps