My Monster Pond Project

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man I love your design and ambition to want to build a pond like that!

I also think it sucks that for most people heating a pond that big is pretty much impossible since it costs a fortune! Hopefully one day someone will come up with a cheaper way, but right now it just uses to much damn electricity! I would listen to they guys in this thread, they know what they are talking about. You can build a pond for your tropical fish but it will probably have to be a lot smaller so you can afford to heat it.

Does this sound right to people?
 
idk how handy you are, but in relativity to your heating problem, I suggest building a green house around the pond, that way all you need in the winter is a space heater to keep things up to par, and an enclosed environment will keep evaporation to a min and you could experiment with different pond plants that would do well with the increased humidity. It's probably going to be a big investment, but I think that in the long term it would outlive an expensive pool heater by alot.

Otherwise, in the winter, the best thing you can do is cover your pond with the blue bubble mat stuff that people put on their pools.

OR, go all native fish and that way, all you need is a de-icer in the cold months. Some native fish are actually really cool
 
Here's an option. How about building an above ground indoor pond? I know a lot of members have done it with success and heated.
 
First off love the ambition to house your fish properly. That said your plan simply will not work. Add on another zero to that 600 and maybe. But u will be paying 600 a month to heat it all winter long. Infact I doubt u can get a liner for under 600. Sense you want to house tropical fish I too suggest a indoor pond. Check out my build over in indoor ponds. It's the 1500gal one. I hate to say it but you really can't complete anything near the size you want with your budget but I'm sure we can help you figure something feasible out
 
My big problem is the rules set by my parents right now. It was hard enough to get them to let me do this. They will never let me build something inside and they won't pay for heating. And building a green house is a great way to solve the problem, but how on earth would I do that?
 
Something I considered doing was, because our weather is only real bad de a month or two, having a big tarp strapped over the pond to keep all the heat inside and having a few lights under the tarp so they can see. And having a smal opening to put food inane check the temp
 
charles-n-charge;4865696; said:
My big problem is the rules set by my parents right now. It was hard enough to get them to let me do this. They will never let me build something inside and they won't pay for heating. And building a green house is a great way to solve the problem, but how on earth would I do that?
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You might want to see how big of an aquarium that they would let you have inside and go from there. Odds are the tiger shovelnose is going to have to go and possibly the arowana, but you may get lucky, and your parents might let you make a bigger indoor pond. This is really your best option as far as keeping it close to your budget while avoiding shrinking the pond way too much and having to spend a bunch of money to heat it during the winter.

Fact still remains that a budget of $600 probably isn't going to be enough for an indoor pond, let alone building a greenhouse in addition to an outdoor pond.
 
mqktandy;4865491; said:
First off love the ambition to house your fish properly. That said your plan simply will not work. Add on another zero to that 600 and maybe. But u will be paying 600 a month to heat it all winter long. Infact I doubt u can get a liner for under 600. Sense you want to house tropical fish I too suggest a indoor pond. Check out my build over in indoor ponds. It's the 1500gal one. I hate to say it but you really can't complete anything near the size you want with your budget but I'm sure we can help you figure something feasible out
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I'm glad someone else said this before me....

Sorry dude, but your plans, stock list, and budget won't work. Don't want to be Debbie Downer. But a, used pool pump will only make your parents regret even more for allowing you to dig a huge hole in there back yard. That said, your can still go other routes.

Natives and cold water species should be first on stock list.
If u really need to house your current fish, a green house will be the best thing for an outdoor project. Sell it as a Solarium to your parents.
Reduce the footprint and save up for a high effecient pump.
 
yeah thats not gona happen for 600 bucks.. here is what i did when i lived at home. i built and landscaped (so not to look cheap) a small 100 gal. pond learned ALOT. sold off my fish and tanks joined the real world worked a year or so , bought a house of my own! and set up a nice pond with no rules but my own. now I can have all the tanks ponds and stock i want! I would hold out man.. thats a big project for mom n dads house.
 
ive already got the liner. parents have an above ground pool and they are getting a new one so i get the old one (still in good condition). i just need to find a pump and heater. ill just have to tell them that ill help pay for the heating cost. besides that i think its a do'able project, but i think i will go a little smaller. maybe 15x15x3 or so, dont know yet
 
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