My Idea For a Ray Pond

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cichlid_starter

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 31, 2009
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Indianapolis
So maybe this should go in DIY but I think I will get the answers I'm looking for here a little better.

So I want to do a plywood build. A 6ft x 3ft x 1.5ft open top. I would do layers of tarp and then tile the whole inside. I would only fill it at about 75 - 80% and brace it however I have to to make it work. My MAIN question is WILL this work? And some other questions would be: How many rays (generally speaking) and what would be a couple good tank mates in this kind of setup?

If this is totally stupid let me know but bring me down gently. lol.
 
Tarps won't hold water in..... at least it didn't hold water off my leaking balcony! I'd say use a pond liner! Either PVC (cheaper) or the EPDM (a little more costly). I built one myself for cichlids.... used sand as substrate so you can see your fish. You can place tiles on the bottom but I wouldn't adhere anything permanently.
 
cichlid_starter;3488454; said:
So maybe this should go in DIY but I think I will get the answers I'm looking for here a little better.

So I want to do a plywood build. A 6ft x 3ft x 1.5ft open top. I would do layers of tarp and then tile the whole inside. I would only fill it at about 75 - 80% and brace it however I have to to make it work. My MAIN question is WILL this work? And some other questions would be: How many rays (generally speaking) and what would be a couple good tank mates in this kind of setup?

If this is totally stupid let me know but bring me down gently. lol.
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if ur gonna build it out of plywood, i would make it 8X4X2.. just my .02
 
I thought about that as well but I think my space might be too limited for that. I'll measure it out and see.
 
Consider surrounding the sides with house plants or a bookshelf. Make it appear as a part of your house, not just a box in a room. There are some very well done plywood builds here and in the DIY. Don't be afraid to ask those that have "gone before".
Good luck. -FM
 
FireMedic;3489548; said:
Consider surrounding the sides with house plants or a bookshelf. Make it appear as a part of your house, not just a box in a room. There are some very well done plywood builds here and in the DIY. Don't be afraid to ask those that have "gone before".
Good luck. -FM
Click to expand...


That's a great idea. I will probably model the build after mdstarks frame work on his current build. Plants and shelves would be great with that.
 
tarps are made for a temporary solution to rain - not for constant water exposure/or being submerged in water.
As others mentioned above-pond liner(rubber) or fiberglass would be best.If you are looking to tile it you would need to investigate even further.Mortar will stick to wood and concrete/cement board but they are not gonna hold water on their own(concrete is porous-has tiny holes) and will eventually leak and fall apart if the correct grout is not used also.(grout is what goes between the tile) Hardibacker board may work? Its supposedly totally water proof but I am sure when the comapny tested it,it wasn't the inside of a pond etc. ~ you would still need to cover all screw heads and seams with fiberglass tape and morter again b/4 tiling.
I have done plenty of tiling but I would be lieing if I was to say I did the inside of a pond.So I am just giving you some food for thought on what you should be on the look out for b/4 just "doing" it and regretting it later.
I am sure it can be done because of pools/hot tubs/spas and ponds I have already seen in tile....just not 100% sure what they use to ensure its 100% water tight/water proof.
If I had to guess-keyword-guess-I would say that you would have to waterproof the initial cement or wood with a resin base/coat(s) and then you could begin to tile. However I also read on here that cement can mess with ph and mortar is cement. So look into that also
 
will do. Thanks for all the advise everyone. I want to do this right so this is all good info to have. My idea is progressing into a proper project!
 
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