DIY 45 gallon tub pond
- Thread starter RLHam3
- Start date
Its been really rainy and overcast the past few days and when i checked the temp on the pond this morning, it was at 65. Thats fine for gambusia, but a little iffy for the firemouths. The insulation in the sides of the box was actually working against me, keeping the temp low, so i decided to do a warm water change to get the temp back up. Thought i'd take some pics to show what the ponds layout looks like without as much water.
Here's a closer look of the roots of the canna. All of those roots, as well as that new green shoot, have all grown since i put the plant in the pond.
New flowers have been popping out every few days
Here's a closer look of the roots of the canna. All of those roots, as well as that new green shoot, have all grown since i put the plant in the pond.
New flowers have been popping out every few days
Yep I leave it out year round. During the Summer I have up a garden umbrella that provides shade part of the day. Without it the temps can get into the 90s. During the winter the temps got in the 40s. If you like cichlids look into some Sunfish.
The tub has been putting up a lot more flowers than last year! The longwood canna is now probably around 5 feet tall (but since its elevated it looks like 6 and a half). It probably sends out 10 flowers every couple of weeks. Also this is the 3rd time a water hyacynth has flowered for me this year. Unfortunately the flowers only last for a day or two and I was out of town while the first two bloomed. I was amazed at how beautiful this flower was.
On a sad note, while doing a water change I found one of the firemouths dead. I'm hoping that the other two are now a pair and killed it out of aggression. (so that it wouldn't be a health or water parameter issue). I'm not really worried about the gambusia, There are so many of them now and they seem to prefer to be at the surface or swimming through the plants at hte surface while the firemouths prefer the mid - bottom.
Sweet build! So this pond was just a tub filled with water? I'm thinking about getting a 100g stock tank and doing something similar with some cichlids. It's so simple, I love it! I'll be living in San Diego so it's pretty much warm all year round. I have a couple of questions though:
- did a film ever develop on the surface?
- how often do you clean the pond?
- you think I can keep cichlids outside year round?
- did mosquitos become a problem?
- did a film ever develop on the surface?
- how often do you clean the pond?
- you think I can keep cichlids outside year round?
- did mosquitos become a problem?
I just read your progression, great low dollar/ low maintenance build!
Just like clc. said, this is just a water container with no other means of filtration other than the plants you have growing in it? I LOVE this! I have a 125 with a broken frame that this would suit PERFECTLY! It is a little colder out on my corner of the country, but a mosquito fish colony with dojos and snails- with a full 6' water garden..removable panels to reveal the glass sides so as to see the contents in the summer! Right off the back of my deck! The wife might even buy into this one!
Thanks for the ideas!
Just like clc. said, this is just a water container with no other means of filtration other than the plants you have growing in it? I LOVE this! I have a 125 with a broken frame that this would suit PERFECTLY! It is a little colder out on my corner of the country, but a mosquito fish colony with dojos and snails- with a full 6' water garden..removable panels to reveal the glass sides so as to see the contents in the summer! Right off the back of my deck! The wife might even buy into this one!
Thanks for the ideas!
Depends on the weather. I would setup up the pond for a year and check the temp. in the winter months just to be sure it doesnt get too low.
Thanks! I'm actually about to start a 100 gal rubbermaid stock tank in a different location!
-no film ever came to the surface
-i do about a 30-50% water change every week
-i don't know if you can keep cichlids outside, what are your temperatures?
-no mosquito problems due to the thriving colony of gambusia. bugs are actually the main diet of this system I almost never feed it
