raised indoor pond
- Thread starter oscar1
- Start date
How big, how deep, does your basement have a drain? I'm still trying to get the damn scanner working. How much money do you want to spend?
You could build it with bricks or wood. I think I am going to build one with timbers (6"x6" or 8"x8" maybe even 6"x8")and then just put a pond liner in it. I had a friend do the same thing and he used carpet padding to keep the liner away from any sharp objects. I would like to put it in the corner of my basement(half as much building supplies). I have also seen sinder block ponds sealed with some kind of epoxy. The only thing I'm not to sure on is a filtration system.
You will need a python for filling, draining,etc. If you use existing walls you risk seperation at the joins and water wicking into your walls. I should have the scanner working sometime tonight and will post a diagram of one that is 2"x10" and 4"x4" post construction that is very solid.
Cinder blocks should not be used above 2' tall and need to have at least 1/2 the cells concrete filled. They are a real pain if you need to move them later. Full timbers are expensive.
I suggest going 8'x10' external dimensions as going 8'x11' means buying 12' long wood and a 15'x20' liner instead of 15'x15' and that can mean $50 dollars more just on the liner.
A 8'x10' x2.5' pond will still contain over 1500g and indoors you can save money by not using pressure treated wood.
A 4250gph pump runs $169 at Ace hardware and a pair of good filters can be made from a couple 44g storage tubs giving you almost 60 gallons of bio media and 17 gallons of sponges. they just sit inside the corners of the pond and you put the pump intakes inside them, If you use lava rock as media the pump, pvc piping, fittings, screening, eggcrate, sponges, and media will cost less than $250 complete. A breakered power strip and underwater light set will add less than $50 more. $600 or so for everything if you shop around a bit.
Cinder blocks should not be used above 2' tall and need to have at least 1/2 the cells concrete filled. They are a real pain if you need to move them later. Full timbers are expensive.
I suggest going 8'x10' external dimensions as going 8'x11' means buying 12' long wood and a 15'x20' liner instead of 15'x15' and that can mean $50 dollars more just on the liner.
A 8'x10' x2.5' pond will still contain over 1500g and indoors you can save money by not using pressure treated wood.
A 4250gph pump runs $169 at Ace hardware and a pair of good filters can be made from a couple 44g storage tubs giving you almost 60 gallons of bio media and 17 gallons of sponges. they just sit inside the corners of the pond and you put the pump intakes inside them, If you use lava rock as media the pump, pvc piping, fittings, screening, eggcrate, sponges, and media will cost less than $250 complete. A breakered power strip and underwater light set will add less than $50 more. $600 or so for everything if you shop around a bit.
cinder block can be used with no cement needed all you need to do is use a landscape retaining wall adhesive(titebond or liquid nails) and fill the block with 2a modified i have done this before and it works really good
Timbers work the best unless you want a permanent install. 
We used timbers with rebar at 12" spacing, lined with 1" blue foam, and covered with 45mil epdm. Bottom drains feed to the filtration, which is a NEXUS, from there it leads to a 3000 GPH external pump, throgh a stainless sterilizer, and back to the tank. install a valve to drain, python will take all day with a tank that size, and waste lots of water you will need to refill it. 
Jonathan...
We used timbers with rebar at 12" spacing, lined with 1" blue foam, and covered with 45mil epdm. Bottom drains feed to the filtration, which is a NEXUS, from there it leads to a 3000 GPH external pump, throgh a stainless sterilizer, and back to the tank. install a valve to drain, python will take all day with a tank that size, and waste lots of water you will need to refill it. Jonathan...
I saw an outdoor cinderblock aboveground pond crack so I am leery of them though I have never tried the titebond adhesive, I have seen wicking problems in a minnow pond that was attached to a cinderblock garage wall. I like full timbers but when I priced them they were expensive. If the basement had an existing drain I would say install a drain valve, since it doesn't a python or even just a drain hose connection to the pump seems in order. I have never used a python myself. the pumps I have used will usually raise water a max of 13' through a 3/4" line but the only times I have built indoors the ponds were above ground level, they were filled by a hose the first time and by a bilge pump from water barrels there after so that the water was dechlored in 50g batches, a real pain. there were three barrels total as each was filled it was treated and the little pump (1200gph) was dropped in. The other indoor pond had well water with a 250g heated cistern that was proffesionaly installed. Any way here is a plan for a 8'x10'x2.5' pond with materials list to look over.
Materials needed,
6) 10' long 2x10s
6) 8' long 2x10s cut to 90"
2) 8' long 4x4 posts cut into 6 lengths each 28 1/2" long
2) 8' long 2x4s cut into 6 lengths each 28 1/2" long
1) 10' long 2x4 cut into 4 lengths each 28 1/2" long
2) 10' long 2x8s miter cut to 45 degrees at each end
2 8' long 2x8s miter cut to 45 degrees at each end
2 1/2" wood screws
pond liner adhesive
one roll of roofing felt
one pond liner (15'x15')
that will do for the pond itself, I like an inch or 2 of medium rounded gravel on the bottom.
A 4250g pump is available for $169 at ace hardware and two drop in filter boxes can be made from 44g storage tubs ($15ea @ Bi-mart) using a sheet of light diffuser and a little 1"pvc pipe, they will each old 18 gallons worth of sponges and 30g worth of biomedia, (I use lava rock). That should be sufficient as long as you don't crowd you pond
Materials needed,
6) 10' long 2x10s
6) 8' long 2x10s cut to 90"
2) 8' long 4x4 posts cut into 6 lengths each 28 1/2" long
2) 8' long 2x4s cut into 6 lengths each 28 1/2" long
1) 10' long 2x4 cut into 4 lengths each 28 1/2" long
2) 10' long 2x8s miter cut to 45 degrees at each end
2 8' long 2x8s miter cut to 45 degrees at each end
2 1/2" wood screws
pond liner adhesive
one roll of roofing felt
one pond liner (15'x15')
that will do for the pond itself, I like an inch or 2 of medium rounded gravel on the bottom.
A 4250g pump is available for $169 at ace hardware and two drop in filter boxes can be made from 44g storage tubs ($15ea @ Bi-mart) using a sheet of light diffuser and a little 1"pvc pipe, they will each old 18 gallons worth of sponges and 30g worth of biomedia, (I use lava rock). That should be sufficient as long as you don't crowd you pond