Getting my ducks in a row...

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Diskboy12

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 9, 2007
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NY, USA
Ok, so I am graduating from highschool on the 25th of this month, and of course getting a good amount of money for graduation. I have wanted to build a heated outdoor pond for some big cats, rays, and arowana for quite some time and now I have the time, and money to do it. I am getting a 320 gallon 6' in diameter tub to keep them in. However, I want to get everything else in line before I start to buy stuff. My questions are what should I do for filtration and heating? I am thinking a few high wattage heaters, but I want to know what you guys think. I really have no idea what to do for filtration. I also want a good amount of circulation what would be good for that also, besides a big return pump? This is what I plan on keeping in the pond for the time being.


1x RTC
1x TSN
1x RTCxTSN
2x Silver Aro
2x Motoro Rays
4x Tem P's


stocking pretty high, I notice looking at it right now, but tell me what you think....cats have to stay into the equation.


Also, this isn't for life, just a few years then I will be heating my larger inground pond for them.


Thanks, hopefully someone can answer these questions I have posted above.


-Kevin
 
Your cats will outgrow a 6' diameter pond before you know it.

Sure, they'll fit, but a 4 foot catfish in a 6 foot room isn't going to be happy. Plus, I don't think it would be fun for the cats to be that close quarters with stingrays, when the rays are going to be alarmed by the large catfish thats always near them.
 
Almost forgot, are you going to have a lid? Arrows love to jump, and plenty of people can tell you stories here of where their arrow jumped out when they've left their aquarium lid open and left the room.
 
I was thinking about that last night, and that does present a problem, I will look into a top. I know the cats won't last for life, I have done my research, and know it takes a bit of time for them to get that big. Does anyone have any answers to the questions?
 
can't you use a simple large plastic 'box' or a series of them, linked to provide mechanical and biological filtration? will it really cold where you live in the winter, sorry but i aint got a clue on the weather! its always bloody cold here lol!

check through some posts on diy tanks, there should be alot of filters out there, some simple some complicated. mike
 
lol he's in NY damn right its cold in the winter. honestly if i was going to build an outdoor pond for those fish, i wouldn't waste my time or money unless it was 4000+ gallons. dont be the ******* who shortens a fish's life and stunts his growth for a yr or 2 of enjoyment. as for heating something like that i did find a website on google search that sells heaters for ponds. but there around $500 a pc. to build a good pond suitable for those fish you have listen your going to need @least $2000+ imo. to heat it, filter it. then imagine the cost of feeding a couple 15 lb bass and 50+ lb catfish in the not so distant future.
 
The pond will have a insulated box around it with some form of heating element keeping the air inside warm during the winter along with heating in the pond it's self. Do you think it would be wiser to cut out the catfish, and just keep a group off PBass, and maybe a few Aros if I can keep them contained? Money really isn't an issue on this I just want to do it right. And thanks for the filtration idea.
 
money not the object, hmm, this is going to be an interesting build then indeed. My tank is in a glorified shed in my back garden, the shed has been insulated quite a bit and then i did the tank internals too, it's got under floor electric heating and the room id gonna be heated too. as i said before, dam cold here in winter, summer aint that good either lol!

insluate and insulate some more mate, and then do some more, it will pay off loads in the future, as money aint a problem then invest in good insulation for sure and progress from there.
 
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