Hey all,
So I got the ‘okay’ to get an above-ground pond for my south/Central American cichlids. I’ve been dreaming of this pond for them for a long time, and really think it would make my fishy friends much happier (as the current tank they’re in is majorly overstocked ).
I LOVE watching them and interacting with them, so my hopes was to build our own pond with a viewing window, however, trying to keep the costs down and use wood only doesn’t sound like it would work.
I was going to settle for a 800gal pond kit ($2,700) from KimsPonds, but called her and she didn’t recommend trying to install our own window, and that she has dabbled with window ideas before, and figured the pressure would be too much. They look amazing, and come with everything (liner, filter, pump), and can be assembled in minutes. However, I found pentair sells fiberglass tanks with windows, the largest available being 720 gal without the fixin’s ($2,400).
I figured I could make a wood facade for it (they’re rather... ugly) and buy the equipment myself (maybe $700 more expensive).
Which would you choose to do?
I can keep both of them forever and both would be easy to take with me when I move. I’m leaning towards the one with the window.
As far as cycling it, would mosquito fish and crawfish be good in the beginning? After putting the water in, I was going to start by adding substrate (not sure what’s best for ponds), plants (submerged and floating- open to suggestions, but I have hyacinth and water lettuce already), and driftwood, which I will probably need to buy more of and let it cure (the big pieces take forever!). Then add mosquito fish, crawfish, snails, and maybe some of my smaller convicts. After everything is in order, I plan on introducing the big guys, starting with my pair of Oscars, since the pond idea was mainly for my large female.
I need to decide who’s going in the pond and who’s staying in the 140gal and 75gal
Please hold off on judgments, as I’m already aware of how cramped my tanks are, and I’m trying to solve the problem. Below are fish currently in my 140gal and 75gal.
Female Tiger Oscar 11”
Tiger Oscar 9”
Male Vieja Syns. (hybrid maybe) 11”
He’s the tank *******
Vieja Syns. (X?) 8”
Royal acara 8”
Blood Parrot 8-9”
Blood parrot 6-7”
Blood parrot 5”
Male JD 7”
Female JD 5-6”
Common Pleco 14”
Common pleco 7”
Leopard pleco 7-8”
Albino H. nemurus 6-7”, I love him
Pictus catfish (x4)
Unknown amount of convict cichlids of various sizes that I’m trying to get rid of.
Crawfish
Snails (bladder/ramshorn/mts/nerite).
Who should I put where?
How do you heat something that size?
Any advice on cycling?
Is the window a big mistake due to algae?
Is it possible to have a sustainable population of mosquito fish as snacks for the big fish within the pond?
What are some good plant ideas?
I’m suuuper excited that it’s finally happening and I can give my buddies more room.
So I got the ‘okay’ to get an above-ground pond for my south/Central American cichlids. I’ve been dreaming of this pond for them for a long time, and really think it would make my fishy friends much happier (as the current tank they’re in is majorly overstocked ).
I LOVE watching them and interacting with them, so my hopes was to build our own pond with a viewing window, however, trying to keep the costs down and use wood only doesn’t sound like it would work.
I was going to settle for a 800gal pond kit ($2,700) from KimsPonds, but called her and she didn’t recommend trying to install our own window, and that she has dabbled with window ideas before, and figured the pressure would be too much. They look amazing, and come with everything (liner, filter, pump), and can be assembled in minutes. However, I found pentair sells fiberglass tanks with windows, the largest available being 720 gal without the fixin’s ($2,400).
I figured I could make a wood facade for it (they’re rather... ugly) and buy the equipment myself (maybe $700 more expensive).
Which would you choose to do?
I can keep both of them forever and both would be easy to take with me when I move. I’m leaning towards the one with the window.
As far as cycling it, would mosquito fish and crawfish be good in the beginning? After putting the water in, I was going to start by adding substrate (not sure what’s best for ponds), plants (submerged and floating- open to suggestions, but I have hyacinth and water lettuce already), and driftwood, which I will probably need to buy more of and let it cure (the big pieces take forever!). Then add mosquito fish, crawfish, snails, and maybe some of my smaller convicts. After everything is in order, I plan on introducing the big guys, starting with my pair of Oscars, since the pond idea was mainly for my large female.
I need to decide who’s going in the pond and who’s staying in the 140gal and 75gal
Please hold off on judgments, as I’m already aware of how cramped my tanks are, and I’m trying to solve the problem. Below are fish currently in my 140gal and 75gal.
Female Tiger Oscar 11”
Tiger Oscar 9”
Male Vieja Syns. (hybrid maybe) 11”
He’s the tank *******
Vieja Syns. (X?) 8”
Royal acara 8”
Blood Parrot 8-9”
Blood parrot 6-7”
Blood parrot 5”
Male JD 7”
Female JD 5-6”
Common Pleco 14”
Common pleco 7”
Leopard pleco 7-8”
Albino H. nemurus 6-7”, I love him
Pictus catfish (x4)
Unknown amount of convict cichlids of various sizes that I’m trying to get rid of.
Crawfish
Snails (bladder/ramshorn/mts/nerite).
Who should I put where?
How do you heat something that size?
Any advice on cycling?
Is the window a big mistake due to algae?
Is it possible to have a sustainable population of mosquito fish as snacks for the big fish within the pond?
What are some good plant ideas?
I’m suuuper excited that it’s finally happening and I can give my buddies more room.