Converting a 20ft cistern into an underground eel pond.
- Thread starter Cowturtle
- Start date
This is very interesting. Not my cup of tea tbh. But still very intriguing
would love to see the progress of it.
I like the element of utilizing what you already have and making it into something that tickles your fancy. Did you just buy this place? Was this cistern one of the reasons you bought it? Lol
I want to say that the fluval lights are waterproof or at least resistant. They have an app that you can operate them off of your phone and can set it to multiple settings including lightning storms etc. Full spectrum through out the day. Very neat lights imo.
would love to see the progress of it.
I like the element of utilizing what you already have and making it into something that tickles your fancy. Did you just buy this place? Was this cistern one of the reasons you bought it? Lol
I want to say that the fluval lights are waterproof or at least resistant. They have an app that you can operate them off of your phone and can set it to multiple settings including lightning storms etc. Full spectrum through out the day. Very neat lights imo.
My brother is getting the house we both have exotic pets he mainly keeps tortoises. I had no idea the cistern was even there til two weeks ago we should be moving in by the end of the month. I can't not use the 5,000 gallon pond sitting there. I did find a decent weatherproof LED that should be able to deal with the condensation.
As I'm sure you're appreciating, this is DANGEROUS. Make sure you've got a redundant ladder, or at least a knotted rope.
Primary ladder should be welded steel with slip-cage, possibly spiral, and set a fail-safe that the trap-door can't close.
Get a waterproof case for your phone or a waterproof walkie-talky to be worn whenever working around the tank/trapdoor, or mount same permanently on the ladder just above water-level.
Set "habitat" to the bottom that you can stand on to rest/breath if all goes sideways, preferably sitting with most of your body above-water (hypothermia). Said habitat can be a 55gal HDPE drum that's also your filter
Note that this would count as spelunking/caving including cave-diving, so think carefully about taking a course & possibly bringing a buddy every time you're in.
Maybe a nice excuse to set a timber/inflatable snorkeler's platform
There should be vent pipes/overflows in the wall - have a look as these will be helpful for getting electricity and/or air-lines in & out. They will also control your water-level & allow draining via either pump or syphon. Creative syphon may let you fine-control depth without punching holes or monitoring with pump.
Stock thoughts:
Eels are a fantastic idea but mean to one another, so have a good-size school & tube habitats to spread out drama. They're also really smart & really friendly & likely quite trainable, so get your snorkel & have some fun with them (for your Tick-Tock).
Cats will be fun, flat-head might be a problem as your eels will grow slowly after ~2'. Bullheads are brilliant & user-friendly.
If it's legal, use a crab/eel-trap or trot-line for burbot - we used sampling on the Sask river in the 90's. Electroshocker was even better, but likely illegal
Think about crayfish.
Think about caecilians. Axolotls. Mud-puppy are likely protected, but there are private-partner rearing programmes here & there often related to universities & zoos. These will be on the menu for your burbot & bigger cats, eels also but less-so.
Sturgeon? Albino would be visible & very (very) cool.
Goonch? They're cold-water'ish, but why bother if you can't see & enjoy.
Snails & river mussels as clean-up & filtration - also check what sp are protected.
Caves are often oddly cool environments, even in the tropics, so many cave-dwelling sp. should be Ok with these temperatures.
Primary ladder should be welded steel with slip-cage, possibly spiral, and set a fail-safe that the trap-door can't close.
Get a waterproof case for your phone or a waterproof walkie-talky to be worn whenever working around the tank/trapdoor, or mount same permanently on the ladder just above water-level.
Set "habitat" to the bottom that you can stand on to rest/breath if all goes sideways, preferably sitting with most of your body above-water (hypothermia). Said habitat can be a 55gal HDPE drum that's also your filter
Note that this would count as spelunking/caving including cave-diving, so think carefully about taking a course & possibly bringing a buddy every time you're in.
Maybe a nice excuse to set a timber/inflatable snorkeler's platform
There should be vent pipes/overflows in the wall - have a look as these will be helpful for getting electricity and/or air-lines in & out. They will also control your water-level & allow draining via either pump or syphon. Creative syphon may let you fine-control depth without punching holes or monitoring with pump.
Stock thoughts:
Eels are a fantastic idea but mean to one another, so have a good-size school & tube habitats to spread out drama. They're also really smart & really friendly & likely quite trainable, so get your snorkel & have some fun with them (for your Tick-Tock).
Cats will be fun, flat-head might be a problem as your eels will grow slowly after ~2'. Bullheads are brilliant & user-friendly.
If it's legal, use a crab/eel-trap or trot-line for burbot - we used sampling on the Sask river in the 90's. Electroshocker was even better, but likely illegal
Think about crayfish.
Think about caecilians. Axolotls. Mud-puppy are likely protected, but there are private-partner rearing programmes here & there often related to universities & zoos. These will be on the menu for your burbot & bigger cats, eels also but less-so.
Sturgeon? Albino would be visible & very (very) cool.
Goonch? They're cold-water'ish, but why bother if you can't see & enjoy.
Snails & river mussels as clean-up & filtration - also check what sp are protected.
Caves are often oddly cool environments, even in the tropics, so many cave-dwelling sp. should be Ok with these temperatures.
As I'm sure you're appreciating, this is DANGEROUS. Make sure you've got a redundant ladder, or at least a knotted rope.
Primary ladder should be welded steel with slip-cage, possibly spiral, and set a fail-safe that the trap-door can't close.
Get a waterproof case for your phone or a waterproof walkie-talky to be worn whenever working around the tank/trapdoor, or mount same permanently on the ladder just above water-level.
Set "habitat" to the bottom that you can stand on to rest/breath if all goes sideways, preferably sitting with most of your body above-water (hypothermia). Said habitat can be a 55gal HDPE drum that's also your filter
Note that this would count as spelunking/caving including cave-diving, so think carefully about taking a course & possibly bringing a buddy every time you're in.
Maybe a nice excuse to set a timber/inflatable snorkeler's platform
There should be vent pipes/overflows in the wall - have a look as these will be helpful for getting electricity and/or air-lines in & out. They will also control your water-level & allow draining via either pump or syphon. Creative syphon may let you fine-control depth without punching holes or monitoring with pump.
Stock thoughts:
Eels are a fantastic idea but mean to one another, so have a good-size school & tube habitats to spread out drama. They're also really smart & really friendly & likely quite trainable, so get your snorkel & have some fun with them (for your Tick-Tock).
Cats will be fun, flat-head might be a problem as your eels will grow slowly after ~2'. Bullheads are brilliant & user-friendly.
If it's legal, use a crab/eel-trap or trot-line for burbot - we used sampling on the Sask river in the 90's. Electroshocker was even better, but likely illegal
Think about crayfish.
Think about caecilians. Axolotls. Mud-puppy are likely protected, but there are private-partner rearing programmes here & there often related to universities & zoos. These will be on the menu for your burbot & bigger cats, eels also but less-so.
Sturgeon? Albino would be visible & very (very) cool.
Goonch? They're cold-water'ish, but why bother if you can't see & enjoy.
Snails & river mussels as clean-up & filtration - also check what sp are protected.
Caves are often oddly cool environments, even in the tropics, so many cave-dwelling sp. should be Ok with these temperatures.
Awesome thanks for all the advice! I did add a permanent wood ladder drilled to the wall and I only plan on having the water level around 16 inches where it’ll stay for the most part. If I do get in the water I’ll probably keep my waders on. I know mudpuppies aren’t protected in my state unfortunately they’re still used as fishing bait. Bullheads would be cool I’ve kept them before and prefer them over channel cats. I’ll probably throw in 20 or 30 crayfish if nothing else just for the eels to hunt. I’ll be adding handles around the ladder and above the opening to make it safer to get in and out as well.
Timber gets slippery (more-so in boots/waders) and you've got no overgrip for feet nor fingers - don't use this. Handles may be a start, but also/better to replace ASAP something with proper grip & foot & finger overlap - Buy a cheap aluminum ladder at Lowes & bolt that to the wall via 4" shims.
Keep in mind that deeper-water is less likely to cause you fall-injury, particularly onto concrete:
Head-bonk & concussion = drown.
Broken arm = can't climb ladder, hypothermia, pass-out, drown.
Note that these are horribly commonplace - ask an EMT or firefighter.
Meantime, don't go alone AND wear a helmet.
Man, I am a kill-joy... sorry
Mud-puppies all the way, then - try for albino for visibility.
Keep in mind that deeper-water is less likely to cause you fall-injury, particularly onto concrete:
Head-bonk & concussion = drown.
Broken arm = can't climb ladder, hypothermia, pass-out, drown.
Note that these are horribly commonplace - ask an EMT or firefighter.
Meantime, don't go alone AND wear a helmet.
Man, I am a kill-joy... sorry
Mud-puppies all the way, then - try for albino for visibility.
Timber gets slippery (more-so in boots/waders) and you've got no overgrip for feet nor fingers - don't use this. Handles may be a start, but also/better to replace ASAP something with proper grip & foot & finger overlap - Buy a cheap aluminum ladder at Lowes & bolt that to the wall via 4" shims.
Keep in mind that deeper-water is less likely to cause you fall-injury, particularly onto concrete:
Head-bonk & concussion = drown.
Broken arm = can't climb ladder, hypothermia, pass-out, drown.
Note that these are horribly commonplace - ask an EMT or firefighter.
Meantime, don't go alone AND wear a helmet.
Man, I am a kill-joy... sorry
Mud-puppies all the way, then - try for albino for visibility.
Good call I bought an aluminum ladder just for this I didn't want to raise and lower it every time so mounting it will be much better.
Looking at your first pic in the post/thread:
maybe just affix/bolt that ladder (or one half of it) permanently to the inside of the access hole & cut off the extra...
or don't cut & leave jutting up & into the space as easier/safer first-step onto the ladder. That'll be whether you want/need to re-fit the manhole cover flush, or adapt the whole entry to something easier-access but also restricting for accidental access and/or fall-through.
maybe just affix/bolt that ladder (or one half of it) permanently to the inside of the access hole & cut off the extra...
or don't cut & leave jutting up & into the space as easier/safer first-step onto the ladder. That'll be whether you want/need to re-fit the manhole cover flush, or adapt the whole entry to something easier-access but also restricting for accidental access and/or fall-through.
