Hello...I have been seriously thinking about building a 1000+ gallon outdoor pond with cichlids or maybe even koi...I am located in austin, texas....and I am worried about the hot summer weather...which gets in the mid 90s as well as the fact that the only location for my pond would be in direct sunlight for about 8 hours a day...what do you guys think...is it doable?
Outdoor pond in Central Texas
- Thread starter LiquidRider
- Start date
I live around Dallas, Tx. I have a pond and lots of people around here do. Mine is in full sun and it is only about 400 gallons. I've never had a problem with it getting too hot for the fish, the water always feels cool to the touch. I don't know about keeping the cichlids, though. Adding lots of water lillies shades the water.
I live in San Antonio, Texas and have a couple of ponds (~2000 and 300 gallons in-ground) that get a little more sun than that. i keep Madagascar cichlids which happen to like our summer weather (winter is a different story). The ponds get direct light most of the day, consequently they are fairly green. I do use, however, aquatic plants to control nutrients- the key to prevent algae blooms that may kill your fish is not overstocking (which I don't adhere to- you know do as I say not as I do). Using barley straw (If I remember correctly) clarifies the water better than UV sterilizer can (believe me, I tried). I don't mind a little of green, I get lost of zooplancton to support my fry- which unlike African cichlids- are not vegetarian.
Good luck-
Good luck-