Water Fill, Mosquito Discovery & Pipe Integration

# The Day the Mosquitoes Left I wasn't expecting a wildlife observation today. But the pond had something to show me. As soon as the fresh water went in and settled, a cloud of mosquitoes materialized over the surface — hovering, drifting, doing whatever mosquitoes do when they find still water. It was impressive in the worst way. Then I switched on the pump. The moment the water started moving — the manifold pushing a fine rainfall across the pallets, the surface breaking into ripples — the mosquitoes dispersed. Not gradually. Quickly. Within minutes the cloud was gone. Moving, oxygenated water is apparently a signal mosquitoes read as: *not for us.* Stagnant water means breeding ground. Aerated water means something is already living here and it's not welcoming. The system's constant circulation isn't just good for the fish and plants — it's a natural pest repellent built right into the design. On the technical side: the A/B flow junction is working well, with one line feeding the fish tank gently and the other driving the manifold. The sand layer is uniformly moist across its entire surface — the key indicator that wicking will work when the fabric pots go on. Water clarity is still cloudy from disturbed silt, but that's settling overnight. First oxygen reading from the system: **9 ppm**. A solid baseline to build from.