Electricty bill for indoor pond?

[Captain]

Recently I have been doing a lot of research on the possability of building a large indoor pond. I have been keeping small aquariums (a few 20-30 gal. & a 55 gal.) for about six years now and always dreamed of having a huge tank (200+ gal.). However, I met my fiance two years ago and she had two red eared sliders, both about four inches long, in a ten gallon aquarium. I informed her that they need to be kept in a larger tank, so we bought them a 40 gal. breeder. Since then they have grown to about six inches. This is what led me to desire an indoor pond. I could give them a large enclosure and satisfy my want for a large aquarium (hmm...maybe) at the same time. Like I said before I have done a lot of research on cost and how to build. However, I have been unable to find any information on what my electric bill might be for the equipment required to sustain the pond such as lights, filtration, etc. I am looking to build a pond that is anywhere from 1000 to 2000 galons and will probably by a filtration system suited for much larger than that since turtles are messy and I plan on keeping many large fish also. Can anyone give me a ball park estimate? Or offer suggestions for minimizing the cost. Will adding plants cut down on filtration requirements? Also would there be a significant difference in the cost for electricity between an outdoor pond vs. indoor pond? I appreciate any input and apologize for the long thread.

[MilitantPotato]

Recently I have been doing a lot of research on the possability of building a large indoor pond. I have been keeping small aquariums (a few 20-30 gal. & a 55 gal.) for about six years now and always dreamed of having a huge tank (200+ gal.). However, I met my fiance two years ago and she had two red eared sliders, both about four inches long, in a ten gallon aquarium. I informed her that they need to be kept in a larger tank, so we bought them a 40 gal. breeder. Since then they have grown to about six inches. This is what led me to desire an indoor pond. I could give them a large enclosure and satisfy my want for a large aquarium (hmm...maybe) at the same time. Like I said before I have done a lot of research on cost and how to build. However, I have been unable to find any information on what my electric bill might be for the equipment required to sustain the pond such as lights, filtration, etc. I am looking to build a pond that is anywhere from 1000 to 2000 galons and will probably by a filtration system suited for much larger than that since turtles are messy and I plan on keeping many large fish also. Can anyone give me a ball park estimate? Or offer suggestions for minimizing the cost. Will adding plants cut down on filtration requirements? Also would there be a significant difference in the cost for electricity between an outdoor pond vs. indoor pond? I appreciate any input and apologize for the long thread.


Hey man, glad to see another missouri fish keeper!

You're a lucky SOB if your fiancee will let you build an indoor pond.
The most efficient way to heat/cool a large aquarium/indoor pond is by heating/cooling the room to around what temp you want the tank to be.
Plant's help keep the water cleaner, but unless you're very under stocked they won't ease the filtration burden. Add to that the cost of lighting/cutting a hole in your roof for a huge sunlight and IMO it's not practical.

I think your best bet would be a huge do it yourself wet dry for filtration. Google is your friend, and will offer up tons of guides if you type in "DIY wet/dry".

Good luck on your venture, spend alot of time doing research or you'll be kicking yourself later.

By the way, what area of missouri are you in?


Here's the formula I use to determine what a pump will use monthly for the electric bill.
http://tristate.apogee.net/lite/lecoeuc.asp

If you use natural lighting you'll save a ton, so maybe a sun roof would be something to look into.

[Captain]

Thanks for the info. Yes I am lucky that she would let me do this, but believe me it's still at least two years down the road so she has plenty of time to change her mind before I actually start planning it. Actually the only reason she says yes to the idea is that she feels bad for not letting me have any snakes or large lizards she's affraid of them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but in the end i'll probably end up w/ something no more than 500 gal. or an outdoor pond. thanks for the info again and by the way I'm in the KC area.

[pheedbak]

I have tinkered with this idea for quite some time but thats about as far as it went.

The real show-stopper for me is the humidity/filtration issue. I currently have a single 125g with a wet/dry at my parents house and it dumps alot of humidity into the air. I estimate $15 -$30 a month in electricity depending on how much the dehumidifier has to run. I only run a single small flourescent lamp and utilize the windows for much of the lighting.

For a large bioload you will need a lot of filtration. Wet/drys are the usual filter of choice and they dump a lot of moisture into the air. Actually, the large surface area of the pond itself will dump a lot of humidity into the air.

You can utilize a dehumidifier but that will run up your electricity cost big time. You could duct air out of the room with some sort of heat exchanger and that might work but the set up cost is $$$.

I am not sure what kind of home/apartment you live in but I have considered building some kind of greenhouse onto my "future" home (which hasn't been built yet). It could be kept warm all year arround and would keep the moisture out of the house.

Hope this gives you some ideas:)

[rvrrays]

I have a 500 gallon indoor pond. It is a sheet of plywood with 3' framed 2"x4" walls that I dropped a liner in. It has a lid made of 1/2" PVC and a clear plastic sheet.

I do not have any real humidity issues nor do I have much of an increase in the electric bill. I believe that the lid is the key in controling both the humidity and the cost.

I did add a dehumidifier for the summer months because there was a "fishy" smell and it did increase my electric bill by about $20 per month.

Go for it. The pond has worked out great.

By the way.....Rubbermaid makes some 300 gallon poly tanks that make great ponds for $200.

Colin

[Joefish]

Just remember guy's when it come's to your women, It's better to ask for forgivness then it is for permission, and besides it will allready be done and in your house, what is she going to say? get it out? LOL id say move it yourself! :ROFL:


but rvrrays has the right idea and cost effective, you cannot really go over board. i have seen some pretty nice indoor ponds just by useing landscapeing bricks and a pond liner, or 4x4's for the wall's simple

also like he said farm & fleet has 1000gal rubbermaid tubs for around $300 its just getting that bohemith in your basement. :D

wouldnt this make a nice ray/aro pond hehe


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/plecojoe/Pond_009.jpg

[rhinoman]

I'm salivating!

[vincer]

sexy pond

[blacksmith37]

I can't imagine getting anything bigger than a 300 g rubbermaid though a normal basement doorway. Also about the biggest load I could comfortably put in a pickup truck.
Looks like the southside of Naperville , maybe along the Dupage (?) river.

[necrocanis]

cut it in half and bond it back together once in the basement! Could work if you did it right! On the other hand would be easier if you are going larger than 350 gal (size of mine) to just get a liner and some landscaping bricks and diy!

[sharkeeper]

I am paying $80 for my setup at home.

[Muske]

Running the pump shouldn't cost that much. I have a high effecient pump on my outdoor pond that runs year round. I don't know how much it costs to run but I've never had an electric bill over 100.00. That is including the A/C running in July/August in Chicagoland w/nasty humidity. Other factors in electric costs are a basking site for the turtles, water/room heater, and a dehumidifier if needed. A lot of planning will make all parties happiest in the end.

[Teddude]

I think its in the 100's

[minizookeeper]

my electric bill in so-cal averages 50 a month the most has been 69 in the summer and i got a 300,210,125,110,60,55hex,2x40's,and a 10gal. all of them plug into the wall with more then one thing running.update your filters and heaters with new ones might help. my bill used to be 140+ sometime ago but i upgraded from fluval filters to rena. seemed to help me. i too am going to wet/dry a indoor pond soon or rubbermaid is also option. goodluck.

[fishdance]

Insulation and a cover will reduce heat loss greatly which will improve your condensation/humidity problems and electrical usage. Of course you can also lower your winter water temperature right down or simply over winter them in a much small tank if you really need to save money. If its an indoor tank, you may not need to heat at all? (I dont know how cold califormia gets indoor). Red Ear sliders can handle quite low temperatures by semi hibernating. Depending on your pond size, you may find gas heating is much more cost effective.

[minizookeeper]

i only have heaters in my tanks smaller then 200 they are all inside and filled with big hardy fish. all my smaller fish are in heated tanks. dont guess in your area always watch your fish for signs of unhappieness do to to cold. my 300 and 210 both drop to about68 at the coldest and is about 90 in the summer. it averages about 78. anthing to save electric bill will be good advice. keep them coming.:)

[iverson387]

how are some of your electric bills so cheap $50 and less than $100. i wish around here in ny i average around 180-220 a month and i only have a 75 gal and a 20 gal.

[catfishlover106]

man our electric bills is running in the price of $216.....=/ it sucks....down here where i live seem to use alot of heaters ryt now since its always cold down here