starting my pond build

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spadoc79

spadoc79

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Sep 24, 2010
1,193
2
68
tallahassee, florida
well since my friend got me a 3 inch RTC this week I've decided to start my pond build I've been wanting to do....I was gonna just do an 8'x8'x32" above ground pond but after pricing materials and checking liner sizesi'm gonna do a 12'x6'x36" in ground pond. I started the digging today and will have that part finished tomorrow, i'll pick up the liner and and tarp this week and get it set in the hole. next week ill order pumps and im gonna make my own filter. i hope to have the build completed and running by end of december so i can have it cycled by spring so I can drop in the RTC, Lima, CK that I already have and whatever else I get between now and then.

heres where im at right now
pond1.jpg

pond2.jpg

pond3.jpg
 
spadoc79;4659868; said:
well since my friend got me a 3 inch RTC this week I've decided to start my pond build I've been wanting to do....I was gonna just do an 8'x8'x32" above ground pond but after pricing materials and checking liner sizesi'm gonna do a 12'x6'x36" in ground pond. I started the digging today and will have that part finished tomorrow, i'll pick up the liner and and tarp this week and get it set in the hole. next week ill order pumps and im gonna make my own filter. i hope to have the build completed and running by end of december so i can have it cycled by spring so I can drop in the RTC, Lima, CK that I already have and whatever else I get between now and then.

heres where im at right now
View attachment 557963

View attachment 557964

View attachment 557965
Click to expand...

Your project sounds exciting. A few of questions for you before you dig much further, though.

1] Are you going to have this pond stocked during the winter months? I thought I'd ask this as some have had a pond stocked during the winter without it being deep enough to keep it suitable for their fish and lost a few of their wet pets doing so.

2] Also if it's not going to be stocked during the winter, have you thought about where and how they will be kept during the winter indoors?

3] Have you thought about where your frost line is in the ground, for the area where you live? It may have some bearing as to how deep you make your pond. You may have to go 4 feet deep as opposed to 3 feet deep. Not going deep enough for your RTC is looking for trouble during the winter and with a 12 ft X 6 ft pond he's going to grow emensley in one season. You can find out how deep the frost line in your area is by contacting your city water department or city engineer's office. They should be able to tell you. It's better to be safe than sorry, so I'd check to be sure and not guess when it comes to ponds for wet pets.

I wish you much success in your quest for making a pond for your RTC and I hope he enjoys it tremendously. Good luck.
 
not sure if ill keep it stocked during the winter months or not...i do plan on heating the pond using 2-- 1.5kw heaters, i do believe those will keep it warm enough and if not ill go bigger on the heaters. i should have it up and running in time for the cold days of january so i can be prepared for next cold season.

BTW when you say frost line are you talking about how far in the ground the cold will reach?
 
wow, looking forward to see more updates of the project.
 
The frost line is really only in states that see freezing temperatures regularly in the winter. I don't think you'll get that in Tallahassee, will you?

As long as it is several feet deep, that will help stabilize the temperatures. If it is going to be partially shaded during the day, that will help as well.

Heaters may be needed in the winter, depending on the fish you keep and how cold it can get. What are the usual temperatures in winter?

Another option to help hold in heat would be a greenhouse enclosure, permanent or temporary, covering the pond.
 
Big ambition, always welcome on MFK.

As for heating, sounds ok but ignore this point, on the build insulate the pond and cover it in winter. If you heat without covers, your effectively heating air?
 
^^^^^it is mostly shaded and the temps here in the winter can dip into the teens at night and low highs of mid 40's but thats for about 2- 3 weeks. i think the heaters im gonna use will be fine.

i didnt get alot donetoday but i did get alittle done and i also found a water line i gotta reroute. i gotta get an axe so i can chop a few roots also

pond4.jpg
 
Why the change is size, the 15x20' liner was a better deal?

I'm with Yanbbrox and Conner, a cover of somesort will be the most effecient use of those heaters. A temp. green house for the winter will allow you to enter the enclosure to feed and observe that beast.....
 
A cheap and easy way to do a greenhouse type cover is to build a frame out of pvc (slightly pitched to shed water), and cover it with either black or clear plastic. This will help hold in moisture and heat, protect the fish from predators, and will be easy to lift/remove when you want to see the fish.
 
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