Want To Build, indoor pond in basement

[headlessblade]

Yes i want to build an indoor pond in my basement 8'x4'x4'... (i dont know if this will work or not)
I have been researching material/prices and the cheapest way to make it is as flows

2x sheet of Plywood 1/2"x4'x8' (cut in 4 pieces fits perfectly) @ $11.79/sheet = $23.58
9x 2"x3"x8' Studs Whitewood (for support along the side of the ply wood) @ $1.35 = $12.15
NO BASE (rest on carpet floor, which rests on concrete, which rests on the earth) @ $0
2x heavy duty tarp 16'x20' (will fit the lenght of pond inner total 16' and width is 12') @ $22 = $44

Total cost of LUMBER ONLY (@ homedepot online prices)= $79.73

(i didnt find out screws and possibly rope to hold tarp to lumber through grommets)

OK what do you guys think? Am concerned about water evaporation, and how the moisture may affect my house cause its all wood? what do you think? PROS and CONS and PROBLEMS !PLZ. TX

 

[me_wee_todded]

hey bro if i were you i would go a little shorter, remember water weighs alot and that is sitload of pressure to be put on wood.

im doing something similar to this in my garage except bigger. let me know how you plumb the thing if you figure it out before i do

 

[me_wee_todded]

oh and also that will be alot of evaporation, do you might want to get like a dehumidifyer or something so you dont get mold

 

[headlessblade]

amt hinkin just have a homemade w/d on the side and thats the end LOL
a pump to pump it out and a pump to pump it back in.. and maybe one pump to push the circulate the water sot hat the poop will go next to the OUT PUMP

i THINK ill just buy another tarp and cover it during the times am not there and have like one hole int he middle for a light using a timer... kinda like a TP u know... ill just fix it so the condensation will go back into the water...

my main concern is the structure itself, and the house LOL

HOW HIGH IS URS?

 

[Dr Joe]

Yes i want to build an indoor pond in my basement 8'x4'x4'... (i dont know if this will work or not)
I have been researching material/prices and the cheapest way to make it is as flows

2x sheet of Plywood 1/2"x4'x8' (cut in 4 pieces fits perfectly) @ $11.79/sheet = $23.58
9x 2"x3"x8' Studs Whitewood (for support along the side of the ply wood) @ $1.35 = $12.15
NO BASE (rest on carpet floor, which rests on concrete, which rests on the earth) @ $0
2x heavy duty tarp 16'x20' (will fit the lenght of pond inner total 16' and width is 12') @ $22 = $44

Total cost of LUMBER ONLY (@ homedepot online prices)= $79.73

(i didnt find out screws and possibly rope to hold tarp to lumber through grommets)

OK what do you guys think? Am concerned about water evaporation, and how the moisture may affect my house cause its all wood? what do you think? PROS and CONS and PROBLEMS !PLZ. TX

100% for effort...BUT... (and don't get me wrong, cheap can be good in the right places...just not with G/F's presents and fish tanks)

How do you get 8'x4'x4' with 2 sheets of 4'x8' wood? It has to have a bottom or pressure will push liner out underneath the sides.

Your talking approx. 950g / 8000lbs of water, 1/2" plywood is way to thin for a 4ft high tank. 1" with bracing for that size tank is nominal.

Tarps are not waterproof, especially the cheap ones, one thin spot and (see above). Consider a pond liner (home depot sells it (atleast here it does)) or using www.sanitred.com .

Stainless steel screws are a must here.

Evaporation can be a concern, You can have a top for it when your not viewing. Dehumidifiers work but they also pull water out of the tank too (so to speak).

Do you own your home?

4ft high causes maintenance problems too (hard to reach bottm).

Your right, a good W/D is the best way to go.

Dr Joe

.

 

[headlessblade]

oppps i guess made a mistake on how many sheets... yea i guess 4' is to high, maybe 2 feet? LOL yea am gonna cover it with a tarp, pond liner is expensive, lol if the cost reaches the same as having a used 150g tank ill just go with the tank lolz good advice

what do you think would be a good dimensions? using the kind of CHEAP material i have above?

that paint stuff on that site prolly cost a fortune lol

 

[Dr Joe]

Your dim.s whre for a 950g tank...

If you use enough bracing, 4'Lx2'Hx3'W will get you 179g and only 1500lbs of water.

There tarps will not work long term.

Dumb question, have you thought about a kiddie pool? With the blow up top ring $50-$90, search this forum for "cheap pond".

Dr Joe

.

 

[headlessblade]

lolz like i said just looking into stuff.. i actually have an old bath tub with enamel coating i even pluged it lol so its fill with water and some feeders (they live there 24/7/365) i might just lug that XXXXlbs tub to my basement if anything LOL free ~?75g tank? ...

i was going to just use all 2"x3"x8' and make a 8'x4'x3'(lxwxh)... that way it would be 3inch thick walls... the pool liner is wat might cost me...

 

[Dr Joe]

Tub's probably 55g-60g.

That will solve all your probs.

Good luck.

Dr Joe

.

 

[headlessblade]

no this is on the floor...if i am going to make it the pool liner is the way to go(i didnt even know they made such a thing LOL i only knew about tarp).. hooking up an exhaust fan is a good idea, that should take care of the mold/mildew and the condensation... i have a bath tube in my back yard the top is frozen (it doesnt freeze all the way) right now with some feeders... if i was going koi i would do it outside... I am building this but it is not permanent, since am using wood, could just take it apart, but wood tends to decay. using bricks is better just i would still use wood to hold them up (if you know wat i mean)... this whole project is cost dependent, from wat i researched with the help of comment the most expensive thing is POOL LINER... I have to do much more research, since i rather waste my time reading than, building and figuring out the flaws after... I GOT THIS Idea into my head after cheken sent me this link to this petshop in the queens, ny area ( http://www.fishtown-usa.com/ ). I have not been there yet but i will go there this week sometime i hope. HERE IS THE PICTURE IN THE 4th QUADRANT!! http://www.fishtown-usa.com/about.htm it looks like it's made out of 4x4 posts and tarp