Doing it the natural way

[Pat Kelly]

The filter housing on our swimming pool is cracked. When the pump comes on water sprays everywhere.
As the wife currently isn't working, we can't afford a replacement at this time. I looked at the pool the other day and there are 173,984,423,095 mosquito larvae.
I went to the local bait shop and got 2 dozen minnows. I let them loose in the pool and it appears to be working. The minnows are eating the larvae, largest 1st (soonest to become skeeters).
Once we've replaced the filter and are ready to chlorinate, we will go fishing. The kids will want to put them in the fishtank (currently empty, in the garage).

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Pat,

Why bother removing the fish? Why not start your own fish farm!

And the kids can still swim, just like in a natural POND,....Go GREEN!!
Throw in some snails to eat the algae!

Does anybody know any good ways to get rid of regular "piss" ants?
T.C.

[psycoreefer]

Before you know it you'll have koi in there and be calling it a pond....
SWMBO's dad filled their pool with fish and started calling it a pond after the "kids" moved out because no one ever used it anymore.

[John]

Y'all know what fish do in the water, don't you? It's not like it's a natural body of water that has some type of current, nor is it large enough to dilute what the fish have done in it.

[CatatonicBug]

Y'all know what fish do in the water, don't you?

Yeah, the same thing the kids do!

[81xsproject]

Yes, TC. Borox. It is the most non-toxic ant killer and in my opinion works the best. Mix a couple table spoons in with a cup of water and a couple cups of sugar. Bowl it down to a surup and then spoon it into bottle caps. Place the bottle caps/feeders where the ants are coming it or are present. The take it back to the nest and feed themselves TO DEATH

[DGXSER]

Is there a similar natural way to get rid of termites in the yard? I have some in my front flower bed. they have not gotten into the house yet, but I don't want to wait to find out if they will!

[CatatonicBug]

Is there a similar natural way to get rid of termites in the yard? I have some in my front flower bed. they have not gotten into the house yet, but I don't want to wait to find out if they will!

I'd suggest a professional for that one. As damaging as termites are to homes (they cause more financial loss to homes in the US than all other forms of damage combined), I wouldn't take any chances. They have little boxes they bury in the ground that makes the termites go away.

[Pat Kelly]

Just got back home today from 3 days on the road. Looked in the pool and no more skeeter-babies. Guess it worked.

[HobbyMan]

Interestingly enough, Had the VERY same problem. The lid on the fiberglass sand filter tank cracked. IT would shoot water out a few feet. That was ok for a little while. In the process of opening and closing the sand filter, the threads inside the fiberglass tank wore out. The lid would shoot about 20ft in the air at random times and drain the pool if you didn't catch it in time. Our pool turned green, really green. Eventually, we just pumped it out. Then the vinyl liner cracked and shredded. Its been a few years now with trees growing in the bottom, but hopefully there will be a new gunnite pool to replace it.

[CatatonicBug]

Just got back home today from 3 days on the road. Looked in the pool and no more skeeter-babies. Guess it worked.

So are the fishies gonna starve now?

[Pat Kelly]

The water's still murky, I can't even see them. I guess the # of fish depends on the # of new skeeters.
About 10 fish have died so far.

[Pat Kelly]

Is there a similar natural way to get rid of termites in the yard? I have some in my front flower bed. they have not gotten into the house yet, but I don't want to wait to find out if they will!

Try an aardvark

[CatatonicBug]

Try an aardvark

I can just imagine that phone call...
"Sun Rental, we rent everything. How can I help you?"
"You want to rent WHAT??"