6 replies to this topic

[Jamil]

Hi, I was wondering If i could use 8mm glass or aluminium to line a pond and selleys glass silicone, the reason i ask this is because i can get glass basically free from my stepdad's factory, and i dont really wanna pay $150+ for a liner.

Also has anyone ever used washed white sand from Soils Aint Soils in their tanks or ponds and is it ok for the fish?

The pond will be 2000x1000x1000mm LxWxH. 2000L

Think I'll get natives now instead of Pbass, I'm thinking in getting Barramundi, Saratoga, Australian Bass, Salmon Tailed Catfish, Archer Fish, Murray Cod, Red claw Crayfish.

I'd love a lungfish as well but i found a place that sells them exports them but they are in Australia, and they where $550 each!

Do i need a heater for this type of pond and could it be 2000x1000x400mm? or is this too shallow? Cheers Jamil.

Edited by Jamil, 20 July 2011 - 02:39 AM.

[theonetruepath]

Glas is not ideal. 8mm glass way, way too fragile. Seriously heavy duty glass maybe but the price goes berserk.


Aluminium maybe but sealing it would be tricky.

I would just line it with pond liner.

600mm is better, and heating is expensive. You could build a poly roof coil plus pump and heat exchanger.

Pretty well all the species you mention will die without a heater.

[werdna]

White washed sand is fine. I use it all the time.
It will need a clean though.

If the glass is fully supported I cant see there being problems using it as a liner, but it definately isnt ideal.

Maybe you should get the glass, sell it on here, then use the proceeds of the sale to fund the liner!
I am sure there will be people needing panes of glass to repair tanks!

[aussiemcgee]

"The pond will be 2000x1000x1000mm LxWxH. 2000L"


pond size seems very much on the too small side; especially given the size those fish can grow also their space requirements.

For size def go the liner but the proper rubber one not the PVC glorified builders plastic, even the largest prefab fibreglass pond (much like the one in the classifieds at the moment) is still only ~3000L which would be ablsolute minimum. Although depth would be the limiting factor with these styles.

heating def a prob, got a aquaponics mate using a pizza oven with coiled pipe, pool blanket on the water, pool polyroof top heating and a gas hot water system as a last resort just to keep his barra going! and thats in 12000L (heaps more stable than 2 or 3000L)

I wouldn't put sand in the bottom, over time it will go anoxic and be nothing but dramas for ya

[Jamil]

Yeah, I'm going to put the pond on hold for a bit and stop digging atm, and I might do what werdna said, Cheers Jamil.

[Lachy]

Having worked with Broodstock barra for aquaculture purposes, 2mx1mx1m will not be big enough for all those fish.
A fully grown female barra requires a vast amount of space just for herself. the pond will need some serious heating if you want them growing well, up around 28 - 29 for the barra.

Lachy

[Shane_H]

You'll get temps above 28-29 throughout summer wihtout heating in Perth. During winter I reckon try keeping it abouve about 21-22 with either a PVC roof coil or a couple of tank heaters. The Barras should survive the winter at 21-22 without shutting down.