Indoor Pond Build Thread *400+ Gallons*

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Well I ran into some budget issues (And wood was way more costly than I thought) but I had to get this fish his own space and get my Oscar and Pike out of the sump and back into the main tank. So on the cheap for now I've gotten him a Rubbermaid tub. It leaked when I filled it so I went to 4 different places trying to find a new fitting because I didn't like the design but no one had anything. So I just siliconed it in place and called it done. This thing isn't gonna last to long but it is well filtered and will buy me some time for now. He can lay and not have his whiskers touch anything, which he couldn't do in the 6' x 1.5' tank anymore, and I know this makes them uncomfortable. He was still eating fine and happy buy didn't tolerate the Oscar or Pike anymore, who are both closing in on 9". Mind you perspective RTC owners, this fish is only 4 months old. I got him in 9/08 @ 3". I had to bascially chase him around the tank with a pillow case, he finally tired and I just grabbed him with two hands as it was easier than trying to get him in the pillow case. He was strong, but also grunting like a dog. It was quite interesting.

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Spray bar.

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Spray bar off

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Empty, filter is almost done just waiting on Scrubbies to complete it.

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Full

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300w Inline Hydor powered by XP1 with Spray bar, cycled from an older tank already.

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Filter output, pump is just below it at the very rear of the pond

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Silicone fix, don't mind the nasty water I spilled a bunch of water from one of the cycled filters when swapping some media out in here.

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In his new home, I used some water from the existing tank when filling this along with a cycled filter so I hope it's enough to keep it in check until the big filter builds some BB, I did add Colonize as well as Prime.
 
Looking good, thanks for the update
 
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One more pic.

He is swimming around and doing great so far. I kind of like him being in the Pond already, he swims up every time you walk by and puts his whiskers out of the water as if to say hello.

-Note, it could be a She but a He is my guess...

-and I added a 250w Stealth heater which I tied to the intake tube to keep it off the plastic tank. The 300w inline was staying on for long periods and I had this spare. I just need to make a PVC tube to keep it and the intake tube in. I will silicone a bunch of rocks to the PVC tube so it blends in and it will protect the heater from the fish and protect the pond from the heater. I do plan to drill holes in it to allow water to pass the heater though. And if I can mount the intake tube in it then water will surely be passing the heater to allow the best circulation.
 
I had a bulkhead leak b4 on a couple of 300 gals. I realized I put the rubber O rings on the wrong side of the tank which caused the leaks. I can't remember if they need to be on the inside or out, but with 1 on each side and tightened down really snug, no more leaks. I used plumbers putty/epoxy as temp fixes until I figured out the right way to install the washers.
 
I tried every combination possible, none seemed to work. I think the plastic nut I got was just a POS though. It would pop off under the slightest load, I could barely tighten it that tight. Which is why I wanted to get something better, but oh well. Next time I will just silicone it from the start, since I plan to get at least one more of these. Good gallon per $ ratio for sure.
 
nice filtration. how many gph is that pump at 3' head? cant wait to see the finished pond.
 
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