Dig out big lotus stock tank?

5 years ago

I have a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank in the ground that has grown lotus for about 12+ years. The past several years, it's only grown some leaves, even though I fertilize it throughout the summer.

A couple years ago my husband dug out about a foot of the top soil. But I know when I grew lotus in a pot, it needed thinned every other year at least. I'm thinking this entire 300 gallon stock tank must be totally full of roots/tubers and very little soil. So now I'm thinking the entire contents needs to be replaced. I'm 69, so I'm thinking that this replacement will give me lotus blossoms for the rest of my life. :) Is my thinking correct about there probably being very little soil left in this tank? There are a couple dying ash trees that keep it from getting a whole lot of sun, which I'm sure affects the lotus's growth....but I'm thinking it's more of a compacted root issue.

Sure wish we had one of those small powered digger pieces of equipment. To make the dig-out easier, we do have a post-hole digger. That would probably help to start with.

Any suggestions about anything I've said? Thanks.

Seeing lotus blossoms is good for the soul. :)

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Comments (5)

frankielynnsie
5 years ago
Would a garden fork work for digging them out? If you do dig up all the lotus you could probably offer them for trade on the plant trade or pond plant trade web sites. I have tried 4 different lotuses with very little return--1 or 2 flowers, but they are so pretty I will most likely try again.
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catherinet thanked frankielynnsie
tropicbreezent
5 years ago
Actual soil won't break down, only the organic matter that's in it. So the soil volume will only reduce by the amount of organic matter that was mixed in. However, the soil will be full of Lotus roots, which is organic matter anyway. I've probably mentioned this a previous time, but the excess fertiliser will have been accumulating it the soil and that could possibly be detrimental to your plants. So changing the soil would be good on a number of counts. But the backbreaking work of doing the change is another matter.
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Hi aggierose, I'm no expert on pumps and filters, but I'll share with you what I know. I have 2 in-ground 300 gallon Rubbermaid stocktanks. One is a lotus bog and the other is a little pond. I can't remember the exact size of my pump, but I think its 450gph. I don't have a pump in my lotus bog. In the pond, I have a little waterfall and it works great. My pump sits inside a filter box at the bottom of the stocktank, with a tube running up and out through the waterfall rocks. If you have a pump outside the stocktank, yes, there will need to be a tube that goes from the stocktank to the pump, and then another one that goes back out to the stocktank. You could put that tube to a small fountain, so to aerate the water. Just be aware of how much soil you will need to move, in order for the stocktank to fit. Its alot more than you think! About the stocktank plug. What I did was to put some plumbers tape around the screw and screw it it tight. Then I took some caulk and went around the plug, just to be on the safe side. You will definitely need a pump and filter with those fish, since they make alot of ammonia. Plant lots of plants in your stocktank.......some oxygenators on the bottom, something like a small water lily to cover the surface and then 1 or 2 plants on milk crates that give some height (like an iris, pickerill rush, etc.) The milk crates work well because they give the fish places to hide from things like raccoons, heron. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will give you advice about an outside pump and filter. Good luck.
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I've had the same problem. And I surely wouldn't want anyone drowning because the water is too hard to get to and out of. I ended up putting a plant (in a container) on a milk crate. The milk crates are nice because fish can hide in them. What I think is perfect is if you can put a crate, and then a potted plant, so that the top of the pot/soil of the plant is just a tad above water level. That way, they can land on the plant's soil and lean over to get a sip of water. Don't put it too close to the edge though. Actually, though, I've seen birds all summer landing on the aerials of my lotus and climbing down and just drinking water that way. So maybe just growing some reeds, etc. might be enough. At the bird store, I've seen big arched rot iron things that you could clamp onto the side of your stocktank, and then hang a birdbath saucer from that. I'm glad you're trying to keep the birdies safe from your cats. And I really like your benches!! How much fun to just sit there and enjoy your pond!
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catherinet
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks frankielynnsie and tropicbreezent. Yeah, I'm not looking forward to forcing my husband to dig it out. ;) Maybe there's some boy scouts out there who would like to earn a little money? (or do it for their lotus badge?) :) The other hard part is digging up some new soil to put into the stock tank. We have 33 acres, so it won't be a problem of getting it......just don't want to make a hole we forget about, then break our legs walking into it. But I am definitely looking forward to finally getting blossoms again.
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tropicbreezent
5 years ago
Mine in the "cracked pond" are putting up some flower buds now. When the pond first cracked it wouldn't hold water. But when first making it I put a lot of bentonite in the bottom. Seems this bentonite has now sealed the crack. Hopefully it's going to last for a while.

Here supermarkets have notice boards and people often put up ads that they're looking for odd jobs to do (for payment). Something like that might work for you. Afterall, digging out a Lotus pond is certainly an "odd job", LOL.
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catherinet
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks tropicbreezent. I'm glad your bentonite seems to be earning its keep! I've had a 300 gallon above-ground stock tank that cracked on the sides and I just couldn't get it fixed with stuff that was supposed to work. It was my own fault though (the cracks), I left it out over winter, thinking that if the top was open (but frozen), it would expand upward, but I was wrong. I've learned my lesson though, and empty the other one and turn it upside down for the winter.
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Dig out big lotus stock tank?

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Dig out big lotus stock tank?

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