The Pond Digger Podcast Eric Triplett

At first, Jason was skeptical of underground suction grid technology. He thought it’s not going to work. It’s going to clog up. It’s going to be a maintenance nightmare. But after testing it in his pond for five years, he found it worked well. Eric is at the water garden expo and sits down with Jason Steele and Mark Yori to discuss undergravel suction grid technology. 
In this episode, they talk about:
Undergravel suction grid technology – Jason’s introduction to it and why he implemented it in his pond designs
How Jason’s perspective on pond maintenance changed after using underground suction grid technology 
The criticisms Jason received about undergravel suction grid technology from other pond builders
The shortcomings of pond maintenance processes like muck-out pumps and muck-out gear, etc
The benefits of advanced pond filtration systems 
How has undergravel suction grid technology worked out long-term in Jason’s pond 
Recommendation of filtration system for a customer who is considering a pond but is worried about costs
Different pond filtration methods that Jason has tested to improve pond care without annual cleanings
The challenges faced by manufacturers in marketing products as practically maintenance-free
 
Mentioned:
 
Jason Steele on Ig: Jason Steele (@steelesland)



Links to resources: 
 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok 

Today’s guest, Brian Fitzsimmons from Fitz’s Fish Ponds, has built a successful business of building ponds and breeding and selling koi fish, but these days, he is focusing his energy on something else. He is going to take on Eric as part of the finsNfury charity boxing match on August 17th for Brian Barczyk’s Legacy Aquarium. Tune in to find out Brian and Eric’s preparations and predictions for the fight and how you can support their efforts.
 
In this episode, they talk about:
Brian’s journey to Japan to select koi fish to bring back to the US
Brian’s experience of transporting koi fish from Japan to the US for the All American Koi Show
Details of Fitz’s Fish Ponds Koi Fest happening on August 24th in Milford, NJ, and how it has grown bigger over the years 
What makes a good koi fish for awards
Importance of having photogenic koi fish for shows and events
Fins N Fury boxing charity event for the Legacy Aquarium on August 17th
Reactions from friends, family and colleagues about Eric and Brian’s decision to participate in the boxing match.
 
Mentioned:
 
Click here to purchase tickets and PPV fight card: https://finsnfury.vhx.tv/?campaign=eric
 
Fitz’s Fish Ponds- https://www.fitzfishponds.com/ 
 
Fitz’s Fish Ponds YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIzO41pTpqRxZBuanS7HwnQ 



Links to resources: 
 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok 

Do you believe there is a need to wake up at 5 AM every day to be successful? Today’s guest, Johnny Buck, found this isn’t sustainable long term. As an entrepreneur, athlete, and coach, he was burning the candle at both ends just to keep up. In this episode, he shares his decision to quit the 5 AM Club and take a more flexible approach to mornings and how it has impacted his life and work.
 
In this episode, they talk about:
What is the 5 AM Club, and whether it is necessary for success
The misconceptions around the 5 AM club
What made Johnny quit the 5 AM Club and explore alternative approaches to productivity
Johnny’s background in combat sports and how it has shaped his journey as an entrepreneur
The importance of work-life harmony versus work-life balance
Balancing different priorities like family, fitness, work
Dan Martell’s Buy Back Your Time to optimize schedule and productivity 
Eric’s upcoming amateur boxing match for a noble cause 
Quitting drinking alcohol and its impacts on physical and mental health
Strategies for improving productivity and having an effective morning routine
 
Mentioned:
Johnny Buck on Instagram: Johnny Buck (@johnnybuck2)
 
The Johnny Buck Show: The Johnny Buck Show
 
Don’t forget to cheer for Eric on August 17 for his boxing event available on Pay Per View: https://tinyurl.com/finsnfury-campaign-eric 



Links to resources: 
 
Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric’s FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets
 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok

Eric sits down with Cichlid legend John Niemans to discuss his encyclopedic knowledge of cichlids. They discuss John’s experiences over 30+ years of keeping and breeding cichlids, lessons he’s learned along the way, breeding and fishkeeping tips for different cichlid groups like Africans, New World cichlids, Asians, and more. If you’re passionate about Cichlids, this episode is for you! 
 
In this episode, they talk about:
Different cichlid breeding behaviors — substrate spawning, mouth-brooding, etc
Issues with growing fish in small tanks and buying stunted fish from stores 
The dangers of keeping cold-water Plecos in ponds in California
Recommendation of Chris Biggs’ YouTube channel about isopods 
The growth of local aquarium clubs like Aquascape Club and the events they hold
John’s past experiences with the Southern California Cichlid Association fish club 
Upcoming speakers and events from clubs like Coast Club
The challenges of maintaining fish clubs long-term due to issues like politics and finances
Breeding fish varieties, differences between wild vs domestic strains, and selection techniques
Fish breeding experiences with Black Widows and Red Peacocks and the importance of selecting female breeders



Mentioned:
John’s Website California Cichlids: https://californiacichlids.com/ 



Links to resources: 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok

As pond professionals get older, it’s natural to start thinking about retirement. But leaving behind a career you’ve poured your heart into for decades is no easy task. Eric sat down with three industry veterans—The Pond Monster, Mark Gibson, and Mike Miller—to get their insights on aging in the industry and how to make an exit.
 
In this episode, they talk about:
Aging in the pond industry and the challenges of exiting the business
The importance of networking, education, and attending industry events
Approaching well-known speakers and experts who are willing to share knowledge
Having clear contracts that outline payment schedules, scope of work, and mechanic’s lien language to protect against non-payment
Budgeting and saving money, even when business is struggling, to maintain cash flow 
Earning respect through good work instead of expecting it to be given automatically
Technological advancements in the pond industry over the years
Good ways to exit the business and deciding whether to pass it to the family
Challenges of succession planning and passing down the business to the next generation
Advice for younger contractors just starting out in the industry



Mentioned:
Lloyd Lightsey, The Pond Monster - https://thepondmonster.com/ 
 
Mark Gibson’s Website: https://www.greenthumblr.com/ 
 
Mike Miller’s Website: https://www.pondliner.com/ 
 
Links to resources: 
Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric’s FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets
 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok 

Joey Mullen, the undisputed King of DIY, is here to make the aquarium hobby a lot more exciting with the upcoming charity boxing event – Fins N Fury. Joey details about the boxing match, a charity event for raising funds for late Brian Barczyk’s Legacy Aquarium. He also opens up about his long YouTube career and gives some gold nuggets about YouTube and content creation.
 
In this episode, they talk about:
Joey’s YouTube journey over 16 years 
Struggles Joey faced with burnout, identity crises, and life challenges
How Joey worked through that identity crisis and got back into the mindset shift
Tragic incidents in his life that made him consider retiring from YouTube
Eric’s experience with cancer in 2015 and keeping it private for years
Joey’s journey to reaching 1 million subscribers on YouTube and the challenges and setbacks along the way
Joey’s first meeting and collaboration with Dustin of Dustin’s Fish Tanks 
YouTube algorithm’s impact on content and visibility  
Advice to aspiring content creators who are looking to build their brand and channels
Meeting Julian Sprung and innovations in saltwater aquariums
How stingrays are often mis-cared for in freshwater aquariums
Details about the Fins N Fury event
 
Mentioned:
 
The king of DIY on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekingofdiy 
 
Joey Mullen’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kingofdiy 
 
Joey Mullen’s book The ultimate DIY handbook – for the DIY aquarist: https://diyaquariumbook.com/ 



Links to resources: 
 
Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
 
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
 
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/ 
 
TWT Contractor Circle
 
TWT Contractor Power Circle
 
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
Instagram 
Facebook 
TikTok