Fully self-sustained Pond Idea

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Matt724

Matt724

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2009
1,418
0
66
Los Angeles, CA
Does anyone use solar powered things for their ponds? I've heard of solar powered water pumps and heaters. I was wondering how much they cost. I was interested in a fully self-sustained pond that pays for itself. so tons of plants to keep water conditions pristine, and solar powered heaters and air pumps to keep water flow good. The plants would provide microorganisms for the fish and bugs would provide major food source for the fish. I'm kinda new to ponds and always wondered if people fed them every day, every week, not at all, and how often they do water changes.

Thanks
 
carsona246;4545396; said:
I'm actually in the process of making a container pond, and I think you gave me a nice idea for solving my problem with not having water movement. A quick google search led me to something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Solar-SunJet-Solar-Powered-Water/dp/B000AKVRMK
Not exactly what I'm looking for, but I'm sure they have something similar to what we're looking for
Click to expand...


I'm sure you can just link the jet to the solar panel (since they're made for each other already) and put the jet horizontal on the pond wall, much like a power head to create water movement.
 
Totally doable, but I would set it up so that you get more power than you need. For example if you need 2 kwh set up a 8 kwh solar panel so 6 kwh go into the grid. Remember that any power not used and returned to the grid the power company is legally bound to pay you for. This will pay for the nights and any cloudy days.
 
While in theory a good idea, solar powered heaters and pumps are either not very powerful, or very costly. To get pumps and heaters that would actually be able to maintain a decent sized up (more than a couple hundred gallons) would be cost prohibitive.

If you're talking about a small container pond of less than a hundred gallons, or even a couple hundred gallon pond, then they might be useful in that regard.

Also, plant are great for ponds. They filter the water, provide shade and compete with algae for nutrients, attract insects to the pond, and provide visual stimulation. If you stock the pond with some small minnows (rosy reds are easy and hardy) then they can build a self sustaining population being able to hide and breed in the plants/roots.

You would also have to stock lightly with regard to large fish/predators for it to be self-sustaining.
 
Plants would be the essential filter, but any water movement is good, even if the solar power wouldn't be consistent, as long as it got some water movement I'd feel better about letting it just sit there with no filter. I'm not sure how big the op's pond is, but mines only a 40 gallon container pond.
Another thing I just thought of for the op, my grandpa's got a huge pond, and all he has for water movement/filtration is a windmill. If your trying to create a self sustaning pond that is really large, maybe look into wind power?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom