Post: #1

Maggot & LC,...figgered this would get your attention and get you in here.
Been up to your part of the world for a short time and need some help from you both,if you can.. and anybody else that has anything constructive to add.
Gonna get into a project at the house to take part of the property and turn it into a pond and wellhouse.You two have all kinds of neat shit up there where folks do that.
If you have any pics of things they have done or places around you that may give me idea's,show me?
I'll try to post a pic of what I am going to start with and the area that I will call a diamond in the rough.Looks like shit now but I'm going to make it one of the nicer places on the property.
I want to put another building up in place of the one here and have a waterwheel on the side of it like a Gristmill dropping water into the pond.The concrete base the building is built on is a 1000 gallon tank fed by a spring that never dries up and has water running even in the worst droughts.
Talk to me?.

Post: #2

Post: #3

wow...nice ambitious idea!

Maggot is the one who will know real answers to that. but google all the grist mills you can for ideas, i am sure you have done that.

i couldn't build a doghouse with a bowl of water!

Post: #4

When maggot falls flat on his face trying to answer your questions let me know, I will give you some ideas.

Post: #5

LC,...I'll do that.I was up in New Hampshire helping a guy put up a Solar Enertia house in the dead of Winter and I remember seeing really cool things that some people did with water features incorporated into a landscaping theme around the houses and properties.Should have took pics.If you have something come to mind,drop back in and show me?
Dick..I'm interested in what you have in mind...C'mon lemme see what you know or advice you have to give...

Post: #6

Having and maintaining a water wheel is a big project. A waterwheel is usually below a stream coming from uphill and the water naturaly feeds the wheel with gravity. You can use it to generate electricity, feed some farmland, grind stones or feed livestock. You would have to have a big pond that can hold lots of water and usually if you look at the lay of the land for awhile you can tell the lowest point or at least where the water runs towards.
I have never built a pond and kinda don't like them as they can be breeding grounds for mosquitos. But if you want a small one with small features you would have to have it aerated by tossing in a pump that feeds a fountain or something. Having a fountain is kinda cool. If you have a backhoe you could build a waterfall and bank the stones. We have tons of them around here and people usually use them for retaining walls. You cannot dig more than a few feet without hitting some. Be prepared for a project that could last 3-5 years though.
I will look around for some plans.
Another thing is to try and find a reason why you want to mess around with water other than looks. It can have some positive practical applications like pumping water to another area of the property.

Post: #7

A lot of the things you speak of is possible and already some of the things I have given thought to and as we progress further into our discussions,I will explain.
It is located appox 500 ' from the house and about 300 ' from nearest electric source.I will have acess to a bobcat with a trencher attachment that I will use should I choose to go electric for the fountain but I am leaning towards a flat slanted roof for a solar panel to provide electric for a pump,IR filter along with a media filter to help keep water clear.If I can get this just right with the acceptable amount of water entering the pool and at a correct point to allow aerofication and enough of a flow to keep enough water flowing and eliminate most of the algae from growing,...that I will have the bulk of the major problems eliminated.
I am hoping for the simple water flow to provide me with most of that thru the water hydraulic's and pressure and if I have to choose another option,will go to Solar,then electric.
The flow if pretty good.If I have the water wheel fed as it comes right out of the tank,it will move the wheel enough for the effect I desire.It will be appox 2-3 ' above the top water level of the pool.If I create a stone feature of some sort below the point the wheel drops the water,and try to channel it to allow it to flow to a area feeding the bottom of the pond somehow,it should hopefully stir the water enough to keep it "fresh".Hopefully.
The filtration system location is in question as I'm not sure of the best location.I'm thinking it should be drawn somewhere towards the end of the run,so to speak...or in the middle of the flow.Not sure about that yet.
Right now,idea's for the wheel and layout are my beginning concerns.I will be doing excavating and layout all by shovel and pick.It is how I got what I have now and I have the time and energy,as the weather allows.

Post: #8

Some inspiration















This one is just cool.


Mechanical stuff






How big are you going to make your wheel?

Post: #9

Cool...I'll study this stuff.Thanks Cracker!
The wheel size is prob going to be defined prob by the size of the building but will prob stay close to the size it is now sooo,..I will be looking at about a 4-6 'wheel and narrow in width (12 - 16 ") as it is more for looks and not function.
The 3^rd and 5^th pic you put up is the look I am trying to get,for the most part.I would choose to go with the stone type pedistal to support the wheel end bearing that is furthest from the bldg.Does not obstruct the view of the wheel as much and actually looks nice to.
I do like the channel water flowing thru a causeway.Cant use it at this location but what you cant see from my pics is that on the right side of the pic where the water is going down over the hill in black plastic pipe.It is a steep slope down to another area about 100 ' away where I have put in a Campsite so that when my Kids were teenagers,..they could party on our property without driving and getting hurt by DWI's.I have a pond started down there as well.
The water is going down there from the well house and I was going to make some sort of creek with stones or path for the water to flow thru.Now I have one good idea to choose from to do that.Stone is not a issue here as I have buiding stone all over this property...

Post: #10

This shows how to make the actual wheel: http://www.thetempos.com/waterwheel.htm

And some more pics: http://members.shaw.ca/waterwheelman/gallery.htm

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Post: #11

Hope you have a few years to wait but will continue to make progress regularly.
Winter is starting to settle in but I am going to do some burn piles in that whole area to take down some trees and burn brush to clean it up,next week.
That black pipe is taking the water down to the campsite to fill up some 500 gallons tanks so that I can use a gas water pump to control the fires.It has about 50 -60 years of briars and pickerbush's and overgrown forest area with all kinds of snagged and dying trees too.
Thanks for the imput and links...

Post: #12

If you figure the weight of the water in the pond there is no reason why it can't supply it's own pressure to move the water to the top of the wheel you should not have to use a pump if your elevations are done right.

Post: #13

(12-28-2011 08:25 PM)IMaDick Wrote:  If you figure the weight of the water in the pond there is no reason why it can't supply it's own pressure to move the water to the top of the wheel you should not have to use a pump if your elevations are done right.

Oh shut up! As soon as you get out of that Cats craddle thing some kid wrapped you up in you should type better. Using your tongue or feet shows ya know.

Post: #14

(12-28-2011 10:11 PM)Maggot Wrote:  

(12-28-2011 08:25 PM)IMaDick Wrote:  If you figure the weight of the water in the pond there is no reason why it can't supply it's own pressure to move the water to the top of the wheel you should not have to use a pump if your elevations are done right.

Oh shut up! As soon as you get out of that Cats craddle thing some kid wrapped you up in you should type better. Using your tongue or feet shows ya know.

I guess I will just sit and watch you fall on your face then.

That's what we engineers do to people like you we let you fall till you decide to pay us, any further advice from me will be charged for.