Indoor pond building questions

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Jamesvfr

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2010
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UK
Hi all, this is my first post on here

Currently got an 8ft 350 uk gallon tank with a perruno cat (just over 2ft) + a redtail cat (just under 2ft) in it, both are very placid + friendly
In another tank i also have a baby redtail x tiger shovelnose cat which is growing fast

Beacause of these 3 im looking at building an indoor pond
i can build a pond 8.5ft x 6ft + im thinking 3.5ft deep so i can still look down onto them
This works out to be 5194 litres / 1142 uk gallons

What do people think of this for size considering i would also like a ray or 2 + an arrowana if it will be ok?

I would have a large above ground pond filter where i would place 2 of these heaters so they are out of harms way

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item56385d96c4


The walls would be built using 4x2 timbers similar to a stud wall then re-inforced with angle steel + insulated, then lined with 18mm ply + lined with 35mm celotex insulation

My other questions are what would thickness liner would you suggest to use or would you suggest a different way of lining the pond?

I would like a good size window or maybe 2 smaller windows, how would i do this?

Once heated would you expect it to cost much to keep heated taking into account the amount of insulation im using?

I have concrete floor so there no problem there

All comments + suggestions greatly appreciated
Thanks
James
 
Ok i would personally use breeze block. I would then celotex it (even the base) then i would get it fibreglassed. This will definetally reduce heat loss.Fibreglassing will also allow you to install a window or 2. You can get the windows from watsons glass wolverhampton and the frames from richdon koi. you can get windows for liner but its very expensive.
Im going to be doing this once my fish house is complete. Fiberglassing will cost more but will be more permanent fixture.
I think a ray will struggle with food with the redtail and peruno, unless you got a grabber tool and fed your ray directly (speaking from experiance)

I would finally put a top on the pond to keep heat it but also if you have an arowana it will jump!
Hope this helps

Ps ive got one of those heaters with my pond! never let me down
 
although im 23 i still live at home, cant afford to move out + have too many hobbies, my mum has said ok to an indoor pond provided its not brick / block + i do it out of timber + steel
Will probably have a 1" box section steel outer frame around the top edge + half way down + reinforcing any areas with glass with the timbers on the inside

Looking at fibreglass + would be better + i would then be able to paint it pale blue after instead of being black

The glass is no problem as a mate works with windows + said he can get any of the glass for me so all ill need to buy is the frame

Id probably feed the cats first then feed the ray, i just want to make sure they will be happy together
I know arrowana's will jump + might not have 1 as i dont realy want to leave a lid on it all the time

What do you think to having an underwater viewing bit? would be a bit like a step at one end
At 1 end i could have a glass bit where i could crawl in + see the fish underwater
If im doing it i want to put all my ideas in the bag + do it how i want otherwise i will end up wanting to change it

Will probably end up doing the tank approx 3.5 - 4ft deep + depending on what room i do it in i might be able to build it 11ft long x 6ft wide with the underwater viewing step 2ft x 2ft, just enough for me to ctrawl in + see

Cheers for the reply
James
 
I made a 300gal 6"x2" frame ply lined with epoxy glassfiber,it has 6" of fiberglass insulation bottom and sides plus 2" of polystyrene.Lid is ply and 4" celetex.Its in an unheated block shed.The 300w heater is on maybe 1 out of 5 times looking in the sump in winter.As its a grow out it only has a 3ft x1ft viewing window, cause of trying to keep heating low as possible.I think my 2 small -25-30gal in the house use alot more heating.Hope it helps.
 
I received your PM.

I'm curious as to why you'd want a crawl space instead of having windows in the side for viewing, but everyone has in his/her head what they want. Trust me, I'm pretty much the king of that party. I'm not sure how you have in mind to do it though.

You could build your tank with dimensional lumber just like your original idea. It's what I did. You don't need any blocks/bricks whatever as someone mentioned. Ponds have been built like this with 4x4 landscape timbers for decades. Just think log cabin and you have the concept. Alternating layers of lumber interlocking with each other in the corners.

Good idea on the celotex. Wish I had thought ahead to put hard foam board insulation in my walls, but fortunately it doesn't get that cold here.

1/2" to 3/4" (whatever the metric for that is) plywood over the celotex. Caulk the corners with construction adhesive like Liquid Nails or Loctite. Then contact liquidrubbergb.com and get the Zavlar liquid rubber from them. Use fiberglass drywall tape in the corners as shown in the videos on I think the australian liquid rubber site. Basically, you prime the corner with zavlar, then apply the fiberglass tape, then put another coat of zavlar to cover it. It's that simple.

Is the pond going to rest directly on the concrete or are you going to have it raised?
 
my old pond was 2x4's with plywood inside fiberglass roll in insulation with a 20mil. liner. i used white play sand for a substrate so viewing was excellant. mine was 8x8 and 3' deep. i am about to build a new one and it is only going to be 2' for ease of cleaning and viewing, especially with a stock of bottom dwellers. keeping it shallower puts less pressure out against the sides.
 
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