DIY plywood indoor ponds?

[lovespunaround]

I'm planning on building a plywood indoor pond for my oscar and maybe my jack or another oscar. I was thinking 5'x30"x30".

Has anyone done something like this and have some tips on bracing methods or what kind of plywood or sealant to use?

 

[JJB531]

Why not just make the shell of the pond out of 2x4's or 2x6's, line the inside with 3/4 CDX plywood, covered with rigid foam insulation and then drop an EPDM pond liner in there. Finish the outside with some nice oak/maple/birch, stain it, and cap off the top with a 1x6 going all the way around to hide the pond liner. Don't forget to drill holes for your plumbing!

 

[roliva]

Why not just make the shell of the pond out of 2x4's or 2x6's, line the inside with 3/4 CDX plywood, covered with rigid foam insulation and then drop an EPDM pond liner in there. Finish the outside with some nice oak/maple/birch, stain it, and cap off the top with a 1x6 going all the way around to hide the pond liner. Don't forget to drill holes for your plumbing!

That's basically it.

It has been done by carman850 from WW. He even added a little viewing window. Here's his story:
Call it Tank, pond or whatever, it locates in my basement, measures 8'X6'X3', 1080 Gallon gross, 928 Gallon net.

It is made of 2 layer of 3/4" plywood with 2X4 frames in between, reinforced by 2X6 at corners, it rests on 3/4" plywood on top of 9 spread 2X4 lumbers, 1" plastic foam is used for insulation. Tank is lined with 45 mil EPDM pond liner, 4'X2' window is 1/2" Acrylic, placed on liner and tightened onto plywood with 46 sets of stainless nut/bolt and rubber gasket, .

It has 6 covers, 2 center ones are transparent for lighting, other four have plastic insulation. 3 1-1/2" bulkheads are installed, one for outlet, 2 for input. Filter is a gravity fed wet/dry made of a 70G plastic container, 2400GPH Mag Drive-24 is selected as pump, I am budgeting 600-800 watt for heating due to the good insulation.

It took me some Christmas holiday and a week of vacation to build, water has been filled in 3 days ago, thanks God, it doesn't leak a drop!

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

I'm planning on building a plywood indoor pond for my oscar and maybe my jack or another oscar. I was thinking 5'x30"x30".

Has anyone done something like this and have some tips on bracing methods or what kind of plywood or sealant to use?

IS IT 30FT Or 30inches If it is 30ft are you really serious? and for a oscar too?

 

[roliva]

IS IT 30FT Or 30inches If it is 30ft are you really serious? and for a oscar too?

Here's a tip: ' = feet
" = inches

 

[Dr Joe]

I'm planning on building a plywood indoor pond for my oscar and maybe my jack or another oscar. I was thinking 5'x30"x30".

Has anyone done something like this and have some tips on bracing methods or what kind of plywood or sealant to use?

Many people have done it here. check ponds & DIY areas...Piece of cake.

Do a layout to maximize to use of your plywood ($)

200+ gallons & 2000lbs makes for a good conversation piece.

Is it going to be the centerpiece of your living room or the fish room it the basement?

Is it going to be on a stand?

Viewing port(s)?

Do you want to use a liner? (problems arise with viewing ports)

And now it begins...

Dr Joe

.

 

[stotty]

It might not be as cheap option but as you want a relatively small pond (by MFK standards) you could do what I did just get a preformed on. It really cuts down on a lot of messing around it wont leak the corners are neat no folds on it and it can’t spring a leak without a drill. You can get some really good preformed ones and a few of our members have used round feed containers theses work well.

But once again Dr joe has a good point i will have large cats in my one so looking down is not a problem will you be happy looking down on your fish.

Dont rush into it its only taken me a year to get this far.

 

[patricio]

could you build one of those diy ponds in a garage?

 

[Dr Joe]

Absolutely...

A bunch of people here park their fish in their garage (or car park). Really!

 

[stotty]

could you build one of those diy ponds in a garage?

O yes!