Indoor Pond Build Thread *400+ Gallons*

[polish]

Well I had a thread started in the catfish section about specifics related to the future tenant (My now 17" RTC "Fatass") but since I am starting the build here soon I figure I'll make a build thread. I'll keep it updated with my progress as I go to maybe help someone out in the future.

I have measured a dozen times and decided to go with a home made wooden pond with liner instead of the original stock tank I planned on. This will make it fit the space and use as much as possible, as well as giving the most room to Fatass as possible with what I have to work with.

Final measurements should be close to 7xt x 4ft x 2ft of actual water area. The pond will likely be about 7.5ft long, 4.5ft wide, and 2.25ft tall, which in the end should hold 400 gallons, well slightly over but I doubt I am able to get the internal measurements to exactly 7x4x2, likely just under but we'll see.

I found a 45mil Pond Liner 10ft x 15ft for $100 so I plan on getting that.

I have yet to price the wood nor have I decided what to use for sure.

I was thinking 4x4" for the 4 corners, 3/4" Plywood insides, 2x4" boards running vertically every 12", then another sheet of 3/4" plywood for the outside. Then a plywood floor as well in 3/4".

On a brighter note I've ordered all the supplies and they should be here next week.

This is what I went with

~Filter Media
4 x Blue Bonded filter pads
7 oz Filter Floss
125ct 2" Nanoballs
120 Scrubbies from Zennzzo
24oz Ceramic Media
20ct Bio Chem Stars

More later.

~Filters/Pumps
Whisper 40 Air pump w/ Airline, Splitter, Air Stone, and Oxygen Plus Bio Filter 7
Rena XP3 for Mech/Bio.
Quiet One Pump Model 3,000 (780gph)

~Heat
2 x 250w Stealths


I may add one more canister to the tank, depending how good the pump and home made filter work. I consider what I ordered a lot of media, hopefully it cuts it. Some of it will go in the XP3 as well though.

 

[flyin lizard]

Your build sounds good and depending on the location of your pond ,heated room or not, put some foam insulation sheets maybe one or two inches thick between the liner and the ply.
Good luck..

 

[Dr Joe]

Good idea flyin lizard, but use the Styrofoam in any condition, it will help keep water temps stable.

Dr Joe

.

 

[polish]

I planned to but wasn't sure what thickness. I'll see what my local Lowes has in stock when I get the wood.

I also intend to make a cover for it out of Plexi/Acrylic. To help with evaporation and humidity.

 

[perfect_prefect]

use kraft faced roll out insulation and put it inbetween the studs if you're going with a plywood build. i found a great bio media. roll out polyester snow blankets. the kind people use for decoration. i have 4 bags of it ($3 per bag) with about 20 lbs of sand caught up in it in my 35 gallon rubbermaid homemade filter.

 

[Yanbbrox]

I love a good build, sounds good, subscribed

 

[polish]

Here is some stuff I've gotten.

The XP3 has 4 foam pads, Bio balls, and Bio chem stars. I set it up on the big tank along with the Foam bio filter to cycle them so they build up some good stuff.

Here are the 2 heaters, I'm gonna put one of these 250w on my 75g since it is enough for that and take the 300w inline heater from the 75g for the pond. That way it's one less in there. And it will help having 50 more watts on the pond.

I'm gonna get a plastic 3 drawer bin tomorrow to make a drip filter. Then build a cover for it so I don't have to see it unless I need to service it.

Here is the pump, I tested it. It moves some water. It will dump into the top of the plastic bin, then water will go through each drawers media and back into the pond.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Good starting point with the filtration

 

[polish]

Still waiting on Scrubbies but the rest of the material is in place. I just need to finish the spray bar and drill many holes in it, along with mounting it in the top chamber. I may lengthen the spray bars a little.

Some pics.

Bottom drawer, I made the holes with a soldering iron. Only burned myself once!

For this one I put them all in one spot to help control output into the pond.

Top 2 drawers. I want all the media to get hit so I tried to put them all over.

Each drawer got a layer of blue mat.

Bottom drawer, will get packed with scrubbies but the 24oz of Ceramic media covers the actual output holes for this drawer so most of the water will have to go through this right before it hits the pond.

Second drawer, FULL of bio balls. 100 or so.

Top drawer, filter floss and a spare circular foam bio filter sponge I had.

Start of the spray bar.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Looking beyond great so far