14 replies to this topic

[geemaril]

hi all,
i am in the middle of digging a pond thats gonna be approximately 30,000L. for filtration i was thinking
2xHZS-750's both with pre-filters and possibly a sand filter. there will be a 2 foot wide shelf all the way around, the shelf part will be 2 feet below the surface. it then slopes down to five feet deep in the pond centre.
the shelf will be used to sit pots of plants so they are closer to the light and the lillies dont need 5 foot stems to reach the surface.
also when i can be bothered starting it there will be a bridge across the middle and an observation deck in one corner.
i was considering stocking it with koi, but they just seem so typical but majestic all the same. i was also considering some tropical catfish(SARTC)or large cichlids(fronts) .

one of the few problems i have is the large amount of heating ill need for a pond this size, any suggestions????

also is there any bird netting that doesnt make the pond look like @#%$?

thanx
Elliot

[Brett4Perth]

Thats a lot of digging.

Brett

[geemaril]

yeah i rekon, but the result more than makes up for it.

what would you put in a pond that size?

elliot

[jayrock2508]

depends if you want to just keep or breed,if you put fronts in with lotd of rocks,you might get a few fry,but if you put a couple of nice catfish in there you will find heaps in there in 6 mnths,a year.how cool would it be to drop a colony of peps into a pond or pool!im considering it as ive got a colony of 4xfems & 2xmales,but im obviosly wary of losin em too!but im leanin towards it.lol

Jay

[geemaril]

sweet idea,
maybe if you trial it first with regular bristlenose, imagine how many babies youd pull outa there in a years time
i wonder how long it would take you to sell 10,000 baby bn
i rekon if u wanted to do peps in the pond, u should wait till you breed them in a tank and just put in some of the fry. that way it doesnt really cost you anything.

you never know, in 2 years time it might the only zebra pl*co breeding pond in the would, now that would be sumthin to see . everyone has a dream. that would be mine
lol
Elliot

[jayrock2508]

haeting is definatly the biggest issue here,but im ready to go as far as plumbing in a pipeline from something like an oil heater in a box ,through the pond????
or maybe solar???

Jay

Edited by: jayrock2508 at: 2/21/04 12:09 am

[geemaril]

hrmmmm, solar
not a bad idea, even though the systems are expensive it would work out cheaper in the long run due to the free electricity.

cheers,
Elliot

[me]

Hey my dad owns his own pool company so if you are after any pool equipment ie ; Filters, solar heating, large amounts of sodiam bi-carbonate (Ph Buffer), pumps anything of the sort he can either recommend you to someone or more than likely supply you.
he may also know places to get large pond / pools you are after.

If you would like his contact details please email

He is located in the Fremantle area but does have a Vehicle.

[me]

Oh and also im sure he would have some ideas for heating the pond?

[mtchye]

Hi, thats a big pond - digging my 3000 litre pond was already enough of a headache...

The heating system i would recommend would be solar based. A friend of mine with much experience with these things used to have a pergola over the pond, with clear plastic sheeting hung like curtains around it to sort of shield it off from the wind and keep the warmth in. A pump pushed water up to the roof of the pergola through a whole network of black poly pipe which absorbed the heat from the sun. There was also supplemental heating in the sump of the pond using electric heaters (several of them) connected to a central thermostat. I believe you can also get high wattage aquaculture heaters which might be a better idea.

Hope that helps and happy digging!

Visit the:
Perth Cichlid Society Forums

[Kimbo]

Wats an observation deck like?

[geemaril]

its basically gonna be raised decking along one side and slightly over-hanging the pond with a railing. so you can see and feed the fish from one spot so the fish learn to congregate at that particular spot so everyone gets a feed.

Elliot

[anchar]

If you want any large hollow logs etc for your pond give me a buzz. I have nice, huge pieces which are far too big for aquariums. I also have a lot of water plants.

merjo

[geemaril]

great thanx for the offer. possibly interested in the wood (depending on space and money leftover) but extremely interested in the plants . are the proper pond plants like lillies and bog plants or are they aquarium plants.
appreciate the help.
cheers
Elliot

[anchar]

All bog plants plus some submerged....not aquarium plants.

merjo