ray ponds or tanks

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john C

john C

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 4, 2007
958
29
61
ohio
I am currently working on a fish room for my rays. I know that there are a lot of experienced ray owners that are using ponds of some sort. I am thinking of getting a 480 gal acrylic tank i have a relative with a plastic fabricating business. Now i am having second thoughts about acrylic tanks for my rays. It just looks like ponds would be so much easier than tanks maintenance wise, i know it would be a lot cheaper. I do want to have a good appearance if i choose ponds. I have seen some pics of ponds with tile for the inside they look nice in my opinion. What about some kind of dyi DAS tank? I am just thinking about the pros and cons of these two.

A penny for your thoughts.

Thanks,
John
 
I personally like to see the rays when they are active from the side view. Ponds in my opinon do not allow for this. But I know there are alot who like the look of the ponds. Personally if I am keeping rays I want to see more then just the top because they really do have a lot of personallity.
You could build a really nice plywood tank and just add in the plexi or glass viewing window just as easy as building a pond.
 
I had a pond for several years that was exactly what David has described.

The downside is that I had two pond liner leaks over the years. Not difficult to replace but, it was a huge pain in the tail end.

If I were to do it again, 300 gallon rubbermaid tubs would line by basement.

Colin
 
Colin i actually have one 300 gal rubermaid that i plan on setting up when basement is done. How would you do filtration? wet dry fx5 or what.I also do agree with Dr. suds about being able to view the fish. is there any difficulty knowing if the fish is sick do to the fact that you are viewing the fish from the top?

John
 
I kept my breeding group of motoros in a pond for years with no issues (other than the leaks). I never had an instance of a sick fish. However, I did miss not being able to see them through a tank environment.

For filtration, I built a large wet/dry and placed it on a stand above the pond. I hung a large submersible pump into the pond and pumped it up into the wet/dry and let gravity return the water.

The rubbermaid tubs have threaded fittings. I would plumb a line into the pond and place a pump outside of it to run the water up to the wet/dry.

Where in Ohio are you? I still have all of this stuff (wet/dry, bioballs, internal and external pumps, fluidized bed filter that I placed on the wet dry, etc.) that I need to get rid of. You could have it very cheaply. It is a 50 gallon rubbermaid container with a 35 gallon trash can full of bio-material.

For a reference, I am approximately 2 hours from Toledo.

Colin
 
Thanks Colin
Our friend Pat set me up on 40 gal of bio balls i was actually trying to come up with a gravity feed wet/dry design with 5 gal buckets i cut out the top of the lid so that there is only the rim remaining on the lid this makes them stack perfect for the top i was thinking of using a plastic sprinkler head to dispense the water on entire top of the surface. I also wanted to use a smaller rubermaid above the 300 that would run with the same water for future pups. nothing is concrete about filtration this is defiantly not my expertise. If i need it for the next pond or tank i will definitely let you know. Maybe we can meet some time i will have to invite you over i should have something running by the first of the year. I just need to install the floor and minor electric work. i know you have down sized your collection, but you still have some rays?
John
 
john C;1207155; said:
Thanks Colin
Our friend Pat set me up on 40 gal of bio balls i was actually trying to come up with a gravity feed wet/dry design with 5 gal buckets i cut out the top of the lid so that there is only the rim remaining on the lid this makes them stack perfect for the top i was thinking of using a plastic sprinkler head to dispense the water on entire top of the surface. I also wanted to use a smaller rubermaid above the 300 that would run with the same water for future pups. nothing is concrete about filtration this is defiantly not my expertise. If i need it for the next pond or tank i will definitely let you know. Maybe we can meet some time i will have to invite you over i should have something running by the first of the year. I just need to install the floor and minor electric work. i know you have down sized your collection, but you still have some rays?
John
Click to expand...


I use a 350 gallon rubber maid like pond. I use a large eheime can filter for my pump. What I do is, The eheime pulls the water out. Then feeds it into a in-line 32watt UV. Then into the can filter. Then can filter pumps to a wet/dry that sits on the pond. Then gravity feed back into pond. Works great for me.
 
I am actually ray-less for the first time in 10 years. It kind of sucks.

Work is getting crazy and the kids are growing quickly. I am planning a new house and a large custom acrylic tank in the near future. It should get interesting.

Let me know if you need anything. I probably have it laying around.

Colin
 
Ray-less man a dedicated guy like you without rays, you must be slipping just kidding. I understand about being busy. I am a self employed contractor slammed with work right now and it has rained three days witch is not helping, but it has allowed me a little more time to work on the fish room.

Brad i wrote a thread about filtering the 300 you said you were going to post a pic. If you can drum up a picture and you have time i really would appreciate it.


Thank you for everyones experience
John
 
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