My DIY "Pond" & Tank combo...LOAD WARNING

[Superlaz]

Well I recently moved to a new home and don't have the yard space I used to...my old house had a large yard and I had an above ground pool as a pond. My new place has a smaller patio area instead of a yard. Bigger house, just smaller yard. Anyways, I needed some extra space for my fish, as i always have something growing out somewhere...So i decided to build a pond..nothing large, basically the same as a large tank...I started Last Wed (6/20) and finished Sunday (06/24), and by finished I mean filters running, and everyone in...

This was the general idea:

I decided to use this old level tank that I had...I had 2, sold one and kept this one....

The pond is 10'L x 2'W x 30"H those are the dimensions of the inside measurements..the actual space for the fish including the filter which takes up about 20" of the pond. I made this in 3-4 hour intervals. It was the only way I could...a few hours each day after work...

I didnt take as many pics as I should have, but I wanted to get this done ASAP, and it was just me...so here we go...Basically 2x4 and Construction grade Plywood @ 1/2" for the inside.

After the basic support was completed...spread out the Liner and started stapling away...

This is the Filter area, I cut a seperate piece of liner for this specific part....

I decided to leave the filter Liner for last as I wanted to make sure the drain was properly tightened...

So I began to do the outside of the pond....

My daughter inspecting Daddy's work....

Then deciding this doesnt make a good playpen....lol

I then placed the Last piece of Liner, Tightened the drain, Covered the top edge of the pond with 2x6 and varnished it...Placing the tank on top of the pond was not fun...its one piece, not seperate....and ALL GLASS quite heavy...

Heres the finished product:

FIlter Area:

Last tank level overflows straight into the pond:

The tank itself:

 

[Euge]

wow very unique and interesting setup. Do the tanks overflow into the pond?

 

[Superlaz]

Each tank overflows in to the next...they each have their own Overflow with filter media and Bioballs, So when the water from the previous tank reaches the next tank it is clean..The exception to this is the last tank, which has a 2" pipe Overflowing straight into the pond. Its all a complete system...water goes through all the tanks, Overflows into pond...reaches the filter, then is pumped through the U.V and re-circulated into the pond and Tank.

 

[fote03]

That is awesome. Did you make the tanks?

 

[Dr Joe]

Congrats , You've made something to be proud of !

Can you tell us what the filter is made of (just id the stuff in your diagram)?

Where are you located?

Thanks for sharing,

Dr Joe

.

 

[Superlaz]

No the tanks were from a LFS that went out of business...they had 2 of this same set-up...got them for $75 ea. I sold one, and Kept this one...


This is the one I sold, exact design...gives you a better idea of how the oveflows go...

Shot with Canon PowerShot S50. at 2006-11-09

 

[Superlaz]

Filter:

Water drains into the Filter sump, goes through Filter media (3 different types of Sponge/media from Coarse to fine) Supported by Bioballs which are all submerged. I have a powerhead in the sump Pumping water with air (via Airline) into the Bioballs..the water goes through one more sponge and is then pumped back into the tank, going through a U.V sterilizer on the way. No heaters in th etank right now...Im in Miami, FL..and the tanks are on a steady 82 degrees to 88 degrees throughout the day.

 

[Superlaz]

Top tank has a few female bettas
second tank has a small Gold Severum
Third tank has some baby P.Bass and Oscars (also a small Senegal)
and the last tank has my pair of oscars..
The pond itself has my Cichla temensis which I moved from the 150 to the pond...the 150 is at the entrance of the house and was spooking my tems way too much...not a prob anymore...

 

[unknownuza13]

Very impressive setup. It takes me five days just to think of what I need to get done and you finished the entire project in that time. Well done

 

[Superlaz]

THanks!