Interesting points about the plants—I hadn't really thought much about duckweed being an issue. Is it mostly just because it spreads too fast? I've seen it in ponds before, and it always seemed kinda harmless, floating around looking innocent. Guess looks can be deceiving, huh?
Water lettuce sounds pretty good, actually. Does it need much sunlight to thrive? My setup's gonna be partly shaded, so I'm wondering if that'll be a problem. Also, how do you keep mosquitoes from turning your rain barrel into their personal breeding ground? I've heard mixed things about mosquito dunks, but haven't tried them myself yet.
One more thing about the first-flush diverter—how often do you find yourself having to clean or maintain it? I've read some people say it's a breeze, others say it's a bit of a hassle. I don't mind a bit of maintenance, but if it's every weekend, that's probably gonna get old fast.
Sorry for all the questions...just trying to avoid rookie mistakes before diving in.
- Duckweed isn't evil, just sneaky...it multiplies faster than rabbits, trust me.
- Water lettuce should be fine in partial shade; mine grows like crazy under a tree.
- Mosquito dunks actually work pretty well, never had issues myself.
- First-flush diverter? Meh, once every few months tops.
Duckweed is definitely relentless—I once saw it completely cover a small pond in just a couple weeks. Sneaky indeed. As for mosquito dunks, they're pretty reliable; just make sure to follow the dosage carefully, as I've seen people underestimate how many they need for larger containers. Regarding the first-flush diverter, I'd suggest checking it more frequently at first until you get a feel for your specific setup and rainfall patterns. Better safe than sorry...
Duckweed really is sneaky stuff... had a similar experience with my uncle's pond. We thought it'd be harmless at first, but within a month it was like a green carpet—took forever to clear out.
About mosquito dunks, totally agree on dosage. Learned that the hard way when I set up my first rain barrel. Thought one dunk would do the trick for a larger barrel, but nope—ended up with a mosquito breeding ground instead. Now I always double-check the recommended dosage and haven't had issues since.
Also, good point about the first-flush diverter. When I installed mine, I underestimated how quickly debris could build up after heavy rain. Had to clean it out way more often than expected initially. After a few storms, though, you get a feel for how often it needs attention. Just keep an eye on it at first and you'll figure out your own routine pretty quickly.
Duckweed's definitely sneaky—I had it invade a small water feature once, and it was a nightmare to clear. About the first-flush diverter, did you guys find installing a mesh filter beforehand helped reduce debris buildup? Curious if that's worth the extra step...
