Building a river pond

[MrRngr94]

Has anyone ever done this? I'm hoping to buy 10 acres in the next year or so and am wanting to build a huge (aprox. 30K gallons) "S" type pond. I think it would be pretty cool to build one that has a steady current. I know the easiest way to do this is to put the pumps on one end and have the intakes at the opposite end. I googled it but haven't really found anything yet. Surely I can't be the first one to think of this. Also, I figure if I have something this big I may as well swim in it. lol Any ideas of what I can stock it with? I like koi and goldfish, but I want something you don't see in ponds too often. I thought about African cichlids, but I'm not sure how well they'd do with my kids when they (the fish) get bigger. Plus I don't think all the rock that they would need would feel too good on our feet.

BTW - This is just a dream for now, but if it's feasable then I may do it.

So what are your thoughts?

[USMCtanker]

sounds cool, i would love to do this

[guppy]

I have seen a ring pond version (on paper), the pumps and filters were set in a "gatehouse" their output went in one end of the moat which went around a raised circular building lot until it met the otherside of the "gatehouse where the intakes were. Since you are talking Tampa area how about tilapia, pbass, big knifefish, ripsaw cats, and mirror carp? Maybe a couple meglabrama as well?

[MrRngr94]

I like the idea of ripsaw cats. The tilapia would be good too. Plus I could always fish one out and bake it!

[Miles]

I wouldn't want to swim with Ripsaw Cats!!

Great idea though..

You could breed a ton of livebearers in there ;) They would be colorful too, and self-multiplying..

[davo]

live ewurms dream and stock it with 1,000,001 neons!

[USMCtanker]

live ewurms dream and stock it with 1,000,001 neons!
ya that would be awsome and a lot of money

[ewurm]

My parents have a small stream that connects to a lake. I want to screen the end and create my own pond with native fish.

[Chad55]

So do it. You could have all your own fish in there and never worry about filtration or anything like that.

Chad

[yourmylunch]

make sure to check your local and state laws because here in fl it is ilegal to posess or transport live tilapia if u catch one fishing kill it before it goes in the cooler. here in tampa u can collect salvini, texas cichlids, and port cichlids, all good river fish. throw in some pbass or knife fish and a gar or 2, some silver dollars
if u build it i can fill it with fish

[yourmylunch]

forgot to mention i can drive a bobcat :thumbsup:

[guppy]

Ah, I didn't know that tilapia were on Florida's banned list. Lots of cichlids to replace them though

[dr_sudz]

I build ponds for a living, started it last year, started with the company im with on a 40x30 pond with a water fall and a 200" stream and a water bog that fed the stream. We use Aquascape free form pond kits, they are awsome and look great. I would contact them. If you have questions PM me.

http://www.aquascapedesigns.com/imagegallery/index.php

This is there photo gallery. I have heard the guy who owns this company (aquascapes has a 2 acre lined pond that comes right up to his house.)

[MrRngr94]

I've also been told the county will come dig me a pond if I pay them. Not sure how much it would cost though. I'm still looking for land first. Once that's done then I can start planning. Thanks for informing me about the tilapia ban

[amazonfishman]

If your talking about a decent sized pond they might even pay for stocking somewhat depending on what your stocking. I know here in TX the government pays for stocking a percentage of the fish like your typical pond stocking fish for us which are channel catfish and largemouth bass. The river pond idea sounds great, +1 on the pbass stocking it would be just like yall's canals in south florida anyway and if your lucky they would spawn and multiply like mad.

Personally when I read the river pond idea the thought of bagarius yarelli immediately popped into my head either those or payara and dorado because with a river setup you could control the current and setup a pool/riffle sequence and have several drops to have mini waterfalls to add to the aeration ~Trent

[nativelover]

i'd make a pond at the end with all the intakes. then the outputs are at the beginning or the river/stream and it would also give fish a place to rest.

my idea in words.....

pond 45 ft circle (just for reference) by 4ft deep

river part= 15ft accross by 2 1/2ft deep


IDK, just seems like it would work to me.

[MrRngr94]

Looks like I'm going to have to wait to build it, unless I do it on a MUCH smaller scale. The biggest yard we can find in our budget now is about 2/3 acre.

[citypainter]

Not meaning to hijack this post but is there a ferile population of Tilapia over there and if so which type of tilapia are we taliking about

[jimsuy]

NICE PLAN... KEEP US UPDATE...