Replies

1. 
   andybuildz | Nov 16, 2002 04:44pm | #1

   Ben

      I don't know if your familiar with the show on HGTV. I don't know the name of it, but its just about different exotic pools each week. Check out the HGTV website and maybe you can find it. You may get some names and leads there

   PS.Was thinking of doing a vacation with my wife and kid in Brazil this Feb. You know of anywhere? I kinda like "views" and forests to roam through and my wife has to have tennis.....Airfares seem outta this world to get there though.

   Be well and good luck

                    Namaste

                               Andy

   It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   benjaminshaw | Nov 17, 2002 01:52am | #4

   Andy, Thanks for the hint.  As for vacationing in Brazil, do it!  My wife and I live (state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil) half way between the mountains and the ocean.  We like to make the drive up to a simple resort that has a lot of forested trails and falls.  No courts, just a soccer field.  Or we drive down to the coast that has one beach after another, big and small, populous or secluded.  As for costs, my wife just flew to Detroit and back for $900, United.  The cheapest airline is Lloyd Bolivian, which I've used without problems, but it's a looong layover in Bolivia.  Once you're here, it gets cheap. The exchange rate right now is 3.6:1.  Take care, Ben.

2. 
   DavidxDoud | Nov 16, 2002 09:52pm | #2

   I want the water to run off and irrigate the mango trees

   Do you have a source of flowing water,  then?  How much,  how fast?  How large a pool do you envision?  water quality has many componets and passive systems can be set up to alter them. 

1. 
   Luka | Nov 17, 2002 12:54am | #3

   Seems to me he's going to need more than a passive system. Doesn't the "water quality" there include piranhas, and gators ?

   : )Don't bogart the Ghost

   Quittin' Time

1. 
   benjaminshaw | Nov 17, 2002 02:13am | #6

   That's exactly it!  I don't want my pool to be so algae-covered that it hides the gators.  And when I dip my toe in, it'll be just to check temp, not to see if the fish are biting today.  Still haven't planned for boas or rhinos, though.

1. 
   Luka | Nov 17, 2002 05:37am | #7

   Ben,

   I can understand being reticent to use chemicals. But if you use roughly one ounce of ordinary household bleach to each 300 gallons of water, you will have chlorinated water that is the same as tap water in any city in the US.

   Gardens here are all watered right from the tap as well. What comes out the hose bib on a house is the same thing that comes out of the tap in the kitchen.

   That much chlorination should be enough to keep the algae, moss and weeds out, and may even be irritating enough to the fish and gators that they will stay in a place where they are more comfortable.

   You would have to figure out a way to monitor the chlorine content. But in you shoes, I would be very hesitant to use those swimming pool chemical kits as well. Keeping track of the chlorine content should be fairly easy, and if household bleach is all you are using, as long as you are keeping it in the drinking water range, instead of swimming pool range, everyone and everything should be happy in the long run.

   ...

   Edited because I had said a cup instead of an ounce.

   Note, the little cup that comes ona bottle of medicine, like nyquil or pepro-bismol is about an ounce. One of those for evey three hundrd gallons, keeps my drinking water clear of muck and algae. Yet is safe enough to drink. (I have to truck my water in.)

   Don't bogart the Ghost

   Quittin' Time

   Edited 11/16/2002 9:40:29 PM ET by Luka

1. 
   benjaminshaw | Nov 18, 2002 10:43pm | #8

   luka, thanks for the input.  Sounds like a little chlorine might be the best bet.  Ben

2. 
   Luka | Nov 18, 2002 10:56pm | #9

   As I said, I use this in my own water. And I use ordinary household liquid bleach.

   You don't have to buy those expensive swimming pool kits. But you will have to keep track of the amount of chlorine in there.

   You will lose chlorine to the air, as well as it being diluted by the new water coming in.

   But if you keep it in the level I describe, it will be perfectly safe, even for drinking. And there is no way that it should affect any of your garden in a bad way.

   One caveat... your water possibly contains more contaminants than mine. It may actualy need a bit more. Just keep an eye on things for a few months, and let your common sense be your guide.Don't bogart the Ghost

   Quittin' Time

3. 
   diddidit | Nov 19, 2002 08:56pm | #11

   Consider ultraviolet sterilization as part of the filtration - that should keep algae and bugs at bay. A fence and a good cover (I saw one on TV that stretched drum-tight over the pool, and was strong enough to walk on) will keep the larger critters where they belong.

   didI opened the box, and the first thing I pulled out was - well, ya know, it's just surreal being me right now...

4. 
   benjaminshaw | Nov 20, 2002 01:25pm | #12

   Thanks to all for the advice.  I'm interested in the diverter for rain catchment, especially if I can make it myself.  I can find good models of sand/gravel filters, since water catchment isn't uncommon here.  I think I should clarify, just for curiosity's sake, that I'm writing from southeastern Brazil--not rain forest but pretty rainy.  As a matter of fact I lost most of my driveway yesterday but that's a separate issue.  I have never heard of alligators or piranhas here--extraorninarily large frogs and lizards, though.  I've killed a couple rattlesnakes (in the dry season)--nothing against snakes, but in my wood shop they're not welcome.  And scorpions--they love wood piles.  Otherwise, the fauna here is pretty unimpressive, and my first concern is with mosquitos and slime...and the neighbor kids.  Ben

5. 
   bobl | Nov 20, 2002 03:49pm | #13

   http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

   Pond filter ifound and am building so can't say how good.bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's cheat sheet

2. 
   benjaminshaw | Nov 17, 2002 02:05am | #5

   David, No, actually I don't have running water.  I am thinking of a rain catchment system, since it rains a lot here between November and April.  Otherwise, just well water.  That's part of my question:  How slowly can I run water through without it hosting mosquitos and, uh, gators.  As for size, I can tell you in metric--about 25,000 liters, which I think is under 7,000 gallons.  I just want a small area to sit plus a swimming lane.  Thanks, Ben.

1. 
   DavidxDoud | Nov 19, 2002 07:49am | #10

   well,  with the caveat that I am not an expert and i am just thinking out loud... I'm guessing you are planning to catch water off your roof - area of roof times depth of precipitation will give a volume of water - since it doesn't rain steadily or consistantly (I guess - are we talking rain forest here?) what you end up with is a series of flows - one thing I am confident will happen is that when the flow hits your pool,  it will slow down and drop anything suspended to the bottom - in this area,  pre electricity,  roof runoff was often channeled to a cistern for home use,  and I am familier with a couple of systems to clean it up - one was a diverter that channeled the first part of the rain that carried the dust and dirt that might have been residing of the roof to a drain and then tripped and sent the relatively clean water to the cistern - got a friend with a manual diverter still on the house - I've seen a diagram of an automatic in one of the old books, I'll see if I can dig it up - - I also think a carefully designed sand/gravel filter could be constructed up stream from the pool,  such that the runoff would travel thru it on the way to the pool - -

   I have my doubts that a small amount of chlorine will discourage wildlife,  and concentration will be difficult to moniter with inconsistant flows - alligators end up in swimming pools in florida (it must be true,  I've seen it onTV) and I think you'll just have to be vigilant on the large animals - other than that,  if you can keep organic matter out of the water,  you will minimize potential for biologic systems to develop - mosquito larvae need stagnant surface water,  if you can design the shape such that there are no corners that can avoid the flow,  the problem would be minimized -

   I think it would be a good idea to have a drain,  such that the pool could be emptied and the bottom scrubbed/hosed as I think it will build up a layer of sediment after a time -

   enough for now - good luck - regards, DOUD