Friller2009’s pond enclosure build.

[Friller2009]

Thought I’d start my thread about my future pond build.
The plan is to build an aviary with a pond inside. The pond measures 2 x 1 x 1 meters (roughly 7x3x3ft) and has a volume of roughly 530 gallons.
It will be inside of an aviary that is 2.5 x 1 x 2 (8 x3x7) meters that sits on top of the pond, but the pond is half in ground half above.

Filtration will be by a waterfall that flows from a DIY filter made from a storage tub a lot like this :https://www.bunnings.com.au/inabox-100l-heavy-duty-black-and-blue-storage-container_p0134750

The pond will have lots of driftwood and live plants and the aviary above will be heavily covered in branches and hides.

For stocking this is what I have so far
3-4 Eastern Water Dragons
1 Eastern Long Necked Turtle
1 Australian Bass
25+ Zebra Danios
10 Murray River Rainbowfish
4 Silver Perch

Should be enough cover for the smaller fish to breed and hide, however the main reason they are in their is to feed the turtle.
Anyone have any tips for making a half below, half above ground pond.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Yes, my outdoor pond is 4.5 ft down and 1.5 ft up. Will all depend how solid the ground is that you are digging into and how solid the edges/ sides are whilst you are digging/ building it. This will dictate the materials you use and how much ends up needing to be concreted/ solid.
Can just be a liner then once dug and some form of wall upwards. I suggest sleepers screwed together for the out of ground section.
Just also watch the storage boxes like that's. Not designed for uv light so in the sun they go brittle and crack/break easier.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

If you're adding reptiles, don't forget that touching the water or anything the water touched, for any reason, is a Salmonella threat. Just something to keep in mind, it can be done safely by taking proper sanitization steps (eg: handwashing) after coming into contact with possible Salmonella.

 

[Friller2009]

If you're adding reptiles, don't forget that touching the water or anything the water touched, for any reason, is a Salmonella threat. Just something to keep in mind, it can be done safely by taking proper sanitization steps (eg: handwashing) after coming into contact with possible Salmonella.

Thanks for the concern about my health, however in the reptile community this is common practice and only really certain species of turtles carry salmonella.

Just also watch the storage boxes like that's. Not designed for uv light so in the sun they go brittle and crack/break easier.

Yep the storage box will be encased in one of my fake rocks which I use to make backgrounds in my Reptile Enclosures. I might make a thread on how I build them to be fish safe one day.

 

[fishdance]

Salmonella or fish TB doesn't bother die hard keepers. I've had several TB infections.

What is the bird list? Hopefully finches? How deep will you bury the side cage wire? Rodents and snakes are a common issue for outdoor aviaries.

If your using wooden sleepers for the pond, make sure they are termite resistant.

 

[Friller2009]

Salmonella or fish TB doesn't bother die hard keepers. I've had several TB infections.

What is the bird list? Hopefully finches? How deep will you bury the side cage wire? Rodents and snakes are a common issue for outdoor aviaries.

If your using wooden sleepers for the pond, make sure they are termite resistant.

Wasn’t thinking about adding birds, the name aviary might be a bit misleading, but their isn’t really a term for an aviary that houses birds. If I was going to add birds they would have to be big enough for the Water Dragons to not view them as food. So probably something like a small parrot (lorikeets, burke’s, princess)

I would be concerned about the birds crapping in the water, would it just get filtered out?

 

[fishdance]

Wouldn't an aviary without birds just be a cage or enclosure? Sounds like your building an enclosed pond. Perfect for reptiles.

That size cage is fairly small, but I've kept finches in similar size. Finches are much faster & agile than parrots or budgies. I can't see a water dragon catching them but they reproduce quickly anyway. Gouldian Finches are hard to beat for colour, Double Bar extremely interesting behaviour. You may need a double door (inside one should open inwards to push birds back) although many birds happily return to cages left wide open after several generations.

If you build your pond slightly higher above ground, you could add a viewing window. I'm assuming you are keeping the sunlight out?