DIY outdoor pond. Need help.

[Flash]

Well, after I complete my rack system, I'll be setting up an outdoor pond. I ruled out a bin, and decided to try HD. I'll be buying four 8'x4'x3/4" ply woods. 1 for the bottom, 2, for the width of the pond, and 1 cut in half to make the the depth. Over all, the outside dimensions are 8'x4'x4'. The water level will be at 3'. This will hopefully keep out birds and raccons. I'm in Florida, so it will not be heated. I will divide the pond lengthwise with egg crate, to create 2 halves. 1 half I'll keep a colony of L-66. I have 6 already, but I hope to add more. i have a list of hopeful's for the other side. Maybe L-333, 260, 400, 134 or others.

It will be mostly slate and wood. Current will be added my Korialis pumps, so I'll be attempting to make a river-like set up.

So here are my questions:

Will it need to be heated? I live in the South florida sun, so it will be warm 365 days a year.

Will it need a UV? It will receive sun light for maybe 4 hours a day, but it will be planted with a lot of water lillies and other fast growing plants.

I plan to drll a hole in the pond at the 3' water line. This will allow for "rain water changes," and won't let the water level rise above the 3' mark. So new rain water will run in, old water out. Would that be ok?

For filtration, I plan on making a wet dry. The pond will be 720 gallons. Will a 100 gallon sump be enough? It will be almost full with bio media. The pond will only contain about 20 plecos in 700 gallons+ water.

Will I need to make a top for it to keep out animals? Plecos will be at the bottom, 3' below the surface.

That's about it for now. Thanks in advance.

 

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bump

 

[mrunlucky07]

It will be a fun project. Ponds seem simple, and a very basic one can be, but if you want aquarium quality there is a lot to it.

What is your budget and are you going for something attractive, or just functional?

You did not mention framing the plywood. 3 feet deep will have considerable pressure pushing outwards.

How are you attaching the liner? How will your drains and returns be routed through the liner?

If you go with a sump whenever you turn off the pumps each inch the water drops will be about 20 gallons according to your surface area. So you will probably want at least 50gallons of free space in it to avoid overflowing, and then whatever area for bio. Most ponds run gravity instead. 2 55gallon barrels could easily be covered and hidden in a 4'x2' area right next to it.

99% chance you will need a UV if you want it clear.

Top will depend on critters in your area.

Take a look at the links on this page for some ideas.

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1057431&postcount=21

 

[Flash]

It will be a fun project. Ponds seem simple, and a very basic one can be, but if you want aquarium quality there is a lot to it.

Ok cool. I'm ready to learn.

What is your budget and are you going for something attractive, or just functional?

I don't really have a budget, but I don't want to spend a ton of money.

You did not mention framing the plywood. 3 feet deep will have considerable pressure pushing outwards.

What I was planning on doing (Can be revised) is to make the outside frame 8'x4'. Then place one support every foot to make it 3 feet tall. I'd place plywood on the inside, then make place the liner in that. I'd use screws, and I was hoping I wouldn't need much after that. That's pretty much wrong, right?

How are you attaching the liner?

Never thought about it. Would staples be ok?

How will your drains and returns be routed through the liner?

I'm not sure. Do you know of a good way to do this?

If you go with a sump whenever you turn off the pumps each inch the water drops will be about 20 gallons according to your surface area.

I'll go with sump. It was my original plan. That's a lot.

So you will probably want at least 50 gallons of free space in it to avoid overflowing, and then whatever area for bio.

Ok I'll do that. I'll place the garbage can inside of a rubber maid which will hold about 50 gallons.

Most ponds run gravity instead. 2 55gallon barrels could easily be covered and hidden in a 4'x2' area right next to it.

Ok. I was going to run gravity OUT of the sump, and a pump (not sure which kind) to get it back in.

99% chance you will need a UV if you want it clear.

Ok cool. What kind?

Top will depend on critters in your area.

Definatly plecos. L-66 for sure, and then some other plecos mixed in. L-14, 18, 190, and another colony of something else. (L-260, 333, 400, 134) One of them.

Take a look at the links on this page for some ideas.

http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1057431&postcount=21

Thanks for the link.

 

[Flash]

12:30 bump!

 

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[wfex4]

You'll need a heater during the winter months at least, without a heater, my pool gets as low as 65 during January/February and thats with a pool cover and full sunlight.

I'll echo the suggestion of a UV light. It's nice to see your fish every now and then.

And I would suggest adding some other surface dwellers or small cichlids to take care of insect larvae and other pests that might find their way into the pond. Any of the Gymnogeophagus species would be great and are fine with cooler winter temperatures (in Fl anyways).

 

[Flash]

You'll need a heater during the winter months at least, without a heater, my pool gets as low as 65 during January/February and thats with a pool cover and full sunlight.

Ok cool. How many watts would you reccomend for a pond that size?

I'll echo the suggestion of a UV light. It's nice to see your fish every now and then.

All right. I was thinking about a 25 watt.

And I would suggest adding some other surface dwellers or small cichlids to take care of insect larvae and other pests that might find their way into the pond. Any of the Gymnogeophagus species would be great and are fine with cooler winter temperatures (in Fl anyways)


If I got a heater though, wouldn't that not work for the gymno's? Would regular geo's work? How about severums?

.

In red.

 

[wfex4]

I honestly don't know how many watts for a heater on a pond that size.

For the UV light though, most manufacturers recommend a flow rate of half the volume of the pond per hour and for your pond (about 720 gallons filled to 3') between a 10 and 15 watt light but the higher the better. If you can get a 25 watt for a decent price, go for it.

I guess having gymnos would defeat the point of having the pond heated for the plecos. Severum and regular geos should work fine. Really, any tropical semi-hardy fish that wont harass the plecos should work. Just remember its more cr@p to filter out with bigger fish.

 

[Flash]

I honestly don't know how many watts for a heater on a pond that size.

For the UV light though, most manufacturers recommend a flow rate of half the volume of the pond per hour and for your pond (about 720 gallons filled to 3') between a 10 and 15 watt light but the higher the better. If you can get a 25 watt for a decent price, go for it.

I guess having gymnos would defeat the point of having the pond heated for the plecos. Severum and regular geos should work fine. Really, any tropical semi-hardy fish that wont harass the plecos should work. Just remember its more cr@p to filter out with bigger fish.

Right. I was going to try and get a flow rate of 2 through the sump. I forgot to mention, it will be a decent current in the tank. Mostly on the bottom for the plecos, but a little up top too. Will that be ok for the geos and sevs?