The ]v[onster has begun!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You can do a sump on an aquarium without bulkheads, but it would be a lot harder to do it on one of those ponds.

Bulkheads aren't hard to do, really, and since the ponds are plastic, they'd be really easy to drill through. You can get bulkheads pretty cheap at www.glass-holes.com.

As far as pumps, the cheapest I've ever found were on craigslist or ebay. You might be able to find a decent priced pump at harbor freight, if there's one near you. You'll just want to make sure whatever pump you buy is rated for continuous use.


Another option, which isn't quite as good, would be to not filter the water. You could just add a small 500gph or so powerhead in the bottom of the ponds to keep the water moving, and add a bunch of water lettuce, hyacinth, or lotus. The plants will help filter the water, and the pumps will keep it from becoming stagnant. This would be a much cheaper option to get the enclosure ready sooner. You could always go back and add filters later.
 
np

conner, didnt think of that. im just not sure. hmmm....

caiman have a nasty habit of poo'in in thier water though. hmmm.....
 
Well, you'd need to have a more frequent water change schedule, but it would make the initial money-out investment a little cheaper. Plus you could add a caiman sooner.

Another thing to consider, is that if you use bulkheads and plumb the ponds to a sump, you can install a drain in the sump so that you can drain and refill the ponds without ever entering the enclosure. Whereas with canisters or no filter, you have to get in the enclosure to empty and refill the ponds.

Just some food for thought...
 
Or, you could do a single bulkhead in the bottom of the enclosure, with a valve that you can open to drain the pond, and then just toss a hose in there to refill. OR, you could install a hose along the ceiling, with a spout hanging over top of both ponds. Then, you drain through the bottom bulkhead, close it off, then turn on the water and it rains from the ceiling, refilling the ponds. That way you don't need to enter the enclosure to change the water...
 
Conner;4345747; said:
Then, you drain through the bottom bulkhead, close it off, then turn on the water and it rains from the ceiling, refilling the ponds. That way you don't need to enter the enclosure to change the water...
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ooooh, make it rain! that sounds like a cool feature...
 
I thought about a waterfall kit, because it would add filtration as well as a waterfall for interest and humidity, but I was trying to offer suggestions where he wouldn't have to enter the enclosure to deal with cleaning it.

That is a good suggestion though.
 
snakeguy101;4346848; said:
what about doing something like this:

http://www.google.com/products/cata...63GInCwwXPrbT7Aw&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

it is rated for 1000 gallons and is under $100. I doubt that it would keep the water quality pristine but I am willing to bet it would do the job for a caiman.
Click to expand...
prob is i still have to buy a pump

if i got to buy a seprate pump might as well go with a sump(if i can figure out bulk head thing, would rather do a pvc overflow if i find out how)

now i got to find cheap pumps
 
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