Thinking (ghetto) pond, some noobish ?'s

[CTU2fan]

So I think I'm finally going to take the plunge sometime after Christmas, I want to get the pond up and running before spring comes and it gets hot. It's going to be an above-ground frame pool. This will be in Florida so some of my ?'s might be specific to Florida or at least down south...

1. I've got 2 spots to choose from. One is on the south side of my house (side yard). It's pretty shady. The other spot is in the back, west side, gets lots of sun, basically full sun from noon to sundown. I'm leaning toward the first spot to avoid green water and being in the FL sun sweating while I watch the fish.

2. I was thinking of burying the pool. The one I'm eyeballing is 2.5' deep and I thought burying it about 2' down would help insulate it, and also make it a bit more pleasing to the eye then having a big pool plopped in my side yard. But if the insulation gained won't be worth much I won't waste the effort digging.

3. What about heating? I'm looking at a 10' and a 12' pool, so either ~1500G or ~2100G. Is heating either of these realistic, without breaking the bank? I'd probably only have to heat it for 4 months or so, but if it's not worth it that's fine as the main inhabitant is probably going to be a Florida gar and I'm fine with going with natives only, or maybe some tropicals in summer only. I'm in central FL, Daytona area, and it rarely gets below freezing...I doubt the pond would go below 55F or so without heating.

4. I'll probably rig something as far as filtration goes, likely some kind of trickle filter with a big bucket/trashcan full of pot scrubbies, but I'd like to utilize plants if I can, at least for nitrate control and eliminating those algae blooms. If I use the more shady spot are there any common plants that will do a decent job in that regard?

 

[Flash]

So I think I'm finally going to take the plunge sometime after Christmas, I want to get the pond up and running before spring comes and it gets hot. It's going to be an above-ground frame pool. This will be in Florida so some of my ?'s might be specific to Florida or at least down south...

1. I've got 2 spots to choose from. One is on the south side of my house (side yard). It's pretty shady. The other spot is in the back, west side, gets lots of sun, basically full sun from noon to sundown. I'm leaning toward the first spot to avoid green water and being in the FL sun sweating while I watch the fish.

Why not indoor? If that's not an option, go towards the shady side. A UV might still be needed. But to help reduce the chance, try and get lots of plants. Water lillies are good. Get some plants to help cover the surface.

2. I was thinking of burying the pool. The one I'm eyeballing is 2.5' deep and I thought burying it about 2' down would help insulate it, and also make it a bit more pleasing to the eye then having a big pool plopped in my side yard. But if the insulation gained won't be worth much I won't waste the effort digging.

I'd try and dig it in. I'd keep 2-3" above ground. The reason is so that water would not run into the pond, and it'd be easier to deal with that.

3. What about heating? I'm looking at a 10' and a 12' pool, so either ~1500G or ~2100G. Is heating either of these realistic, without breaking the bank? I'd probably only have to heat it for 4 months or so, but if it's not worth it that's fine as the main inhabitant is probably going to be a Florida gar and I'm fine with going with natives only, or maybe some tropicals in summer only. I'm in central FL, Daytona area, and it rarely gets below freezing...I doubt the pond would go below 55F or so without heating.

Central Fl, eh? I wouldn't heat it. Natives won't need heat. For tropicals though, I'd try and heat it, or keep them in the summer, or when it is warm out.

4. I'll probably rig something as far as filtration goes, likely some kind of trickle filter with a big bucket/trashcan full of pot scrubbies, but I'd like to utilize plants if I can, at least for nitrate control and eliminating those algae blooms. If I use the more shady spot are there any common plants that will do a decent job in that regard?

Wet/dry seems good here. I just bought a trashcan to make a trickle filter today. Scrubbies will be the media as well. Try to put plants in the pool and filter. My pond will be indoor, but I'll still have a plant filter, as well as plants in the pond. Not sure of specific plants, but someone with more plant knowledge will chime in.

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[CTU2fan]

Thanks, no indoor isn't an option...we've got a pretty small house and I'm already planning to add another big tank, if I did an indoor pond my wife would drown me in it.

I'm definitely putting plants in, I was planning on maybe some water lilies and other floating plants, water lettuce maybe. If I put it on the south side it will get a decent amount of sun in the morning but be fully shaded after noon, I think that will help keep the heat down in summer too.

 

[Muske]

Don't use a bucket for bio., way to small. Use a garbage can or a stock tank for the filter. Most plants will grow w/a couple hours of direct light a day. I would also second the first, south side spot. The west side will get hammered w/sunlught and heat that will just cause head aches. For heating, if it is only going to be a few months, maybe a temp. greenhouse that can be set up in the fall and taken down once it warms back up.

 

[saltiery]

suggestion...go as deep as possible....you are creating a heron feeder

 

[Dr Joe]

!.) South side

2.) Bury it, for all the above reasons, plus your filter can be gravity return. Use construction sand as a base (carpet can work if you have good drainage and no sharp rocks/shells in the ground) under the pond just as if you were setting up a pool.

3.) Go DIY solar (think how hot the water in your hose gets...now picture it coming from 50'-100' of black painted 1/2" PVC), it can be used to cool the pond in the summer if it gets to hot, and get a pool cover (bubble wrap type (find on freecycle) and cut into several sections to partially cover the pond to keep it cool or warm.

4.) A bog is great for a pond and you can use the dirt from the excavation to raise it for a gravity return . Plant local cattails, papyrus and other quick absorbers in the bog. Put cattails & reeds and even flowering plants (that can take water or keep the pots barely in the water) in pond pots filled with 1" gravel and submerge in the pond on a pedestal (old weathered cement blocks are good (new ones need to be cured)) and keep away from the edge as critters will use them as stepping stones.

Since water lettuce and hyacinth have been put on the 'hit list' by Florida I can't suggest using two of the GREATEST filtering plants ever!

Gars are great, and some bream for them to chase around would be good, and a few bullheads to keep the bottom clean wouldn't hurt either

Plant bushes around the pond to help keep critters out and I string monofiliment across the top about a foot off the surface to discourage the big birds. Raccoons are a whole different story.

Any probs or ??? you know where we are .

Dr Joe

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[Dr Joe]

suggestion...go as deep as possible....you are creating a heron feeder

Aw...Herons are pretty.

My pacu pulled one into the pond once and it never came back

Dr Joe

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[CTU2fan]

Thanks Joe, I was actually considering a bog but not sure if space will allow. I was thinking 10-12' diameter pond and maybe a 6' bog, using the outlet that's in the pool (with a better pump), pump the water from the pool, to my filter, and have it overflow into my bog and then back to the pool. I wondered about hyacinth, if I can find some I'll use it.

I have pretty good drainage, I was high and dry all summer while half the county was under water.

I was thinking solar heating, is it really as simple as pumping water through some black pvc? I assume you're looking for a lighter flow rate, to give the water time to heat up in the pvc. I'd probably put it on the roof so my pump will need some head.

I don't see many herons around, but I do have a fair hawk population, not sure if a hawk would bother the fish?