|
 Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
 My Indoor Pond 
#12856537 - 07/06/10 03:21 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Just wanted to share my indoor cichlid pond if anyone is interested. The necessity arose when my Oscar started reaching 9" and had officially outgrown his 40 gallon home. I had originally planned on setting up a 125 gallon aquarium, but after sketching some ideas out and talking to the Mrs, she gave me the okay to go ahead with the indoor pond. 
The pond itself is roughly 150 gallons and about 7ft long. The water return from the filter is in the narrow end, which creates a current that empties into what I call the pooling end. The idea was to simulate on a micro scale a stream emptying into a lake. The natural habit of the fish in the pond varies, and this way they can all come a little closer to "home."
The pond is inhabited by a 10" Oscar named Ludo. With him are 2 female Jack Dempseys (both around 6-7"), a Firemouth Cichlid, a Firemouth x Convict hybrid, a small family of Convicts, and 5 Silver Dollars.
On to the build..!
I had nothing more than a quick sketch and most of the details were laid out only in my mind. The base set things in motion.
Frame in place... this was the easy part.
Running my "electric" through the frame. If this outlet or power strip ever stops working I will have serious issues on my hands because the there is no access to the wall socket what-so-ever! 
Interior wall in place.
Inside view. The pond is heated, so I insulated the walls. Probably not as effective as I pretend it is.
First liner going in. Indoor pond + 150 gallons of water = potential flooding, so I did this as a precaution in case the other liner got ripped or damaged.
First liner in place.
I added foam between the liners for both extra insulation and to soften the surface of the 2nd liner. I also used foam and sand to terraform the bottom a little bit. Cichlids are somewhat territorial and these different levels in combination with rocks, plants, and woodwork in the finished pond help create different zones and break sight lines. This worked out well as they all do have their own area that they claim.
Second liner going in. I filled the pond about a third of the way for this. The pressure from the water helps smooth out wrinkles and put the liner in place.
Fun with wet shorts and a staple gun!
Second liner in place.
Exterior wall in place.
My first tiling project, ever. Absolutely loved it! 
Completion. I textured the walls of the pond the same as the walls in the room to give a "built-in" effect.
Overall, the project was very rewarding and a ton of fun. The fish are more active than they ever were in their little glass boxes, and this is now the most relaxing room in the house. Humidity was a serious issue for a while but I have that mostly under control now, at the expense of a few books that got a little thicker
|
Razzl3Frazzl3
Registered: 07/31/09
Posts: 4,630
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12856605 - 07/06/10 03:34 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Wicked, we built my grandma a koi pond 20 yrs ago and it's still going. Your JD's aren't aggressive? Mine was.....
|
Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
|
Awesome! If those Koi are 20 years old as well I bet they are huge!
Most of the aggression with the JDs are towards each other. (put 2 women in the same room for long enough... ) They avoid each other for the most part though. I was worried about the convicts mostly. They have spawned twice. Even though they are little, they can easily take on a larger fish when they are protecting their young! Amazingly though, there have been no issues. I have seen the Oscar hanging out right above the babies on a number of occasions and everybody minds their own business. I would have to imagine though, that they "worked this out" while I wasn't around.
|
KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 10,292
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12857186 - 07/06/10 05:45 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
I'm so jealous,mine is outdoors
|
Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: KBG1977]
#12857244 - 07/06/10 05:54 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
I have a little 250g outdoors with 5 goldfish in it. 
|
KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 10,292
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12857972 - 07/06/10 07:58 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
mine has two turtles,four goldfish,four catfish,and some various minnows,and snails.I Love it,and can watch it for hours!!!
|
Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: KBG1977]
#12858005 - 07/06/10 08:04 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Very cool, how big is the pond?
We had a couple frogs show up at the end of summer last year and setup camp. I am hoping they come back again this year because they were fun... we had an equally curiosity about each other.
|
 Brennus
Student of Life
 
Registered: 05/31/08
Posts: 3,230
Loc: SE United States 
Last seen: 7 hours, 25 seconds
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12859014 - 07/06/10 11:14 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Gorgeous setup. I've always been a fan of oscars - my dad always had one when I was growing up. Glad to see your Oscar hasn't eaten all of the other fish - my dad kept his with a 1.5' long cat fish. They got into it one night and the Oscar snapped its neck.
|
rustycobwebs
Stranger with gun
Registered: 12/17/05
Posts: 750
Last seen: 7 months, 2 days
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Brennus]
#12865670 - 07/08/10 04:17 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Brennus said:
Gorgeous setup. I've always been a fan of oscars - my dad always had one when I was growing up. Glad to see your Oscar hasn't eaten all of the other fish - my dad kept his with a 1.5' long cat fish. They got into it one night and the Oscar snapped its neck.
Would've paid to see that. I thought beta fights were fun.
--------------------
...Or so i hear.
|
KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 10,292
|
|
my pond is a horse troft,and I'll go out and snap a picture later
|
orangestar
Stranger
Registered: 09/11/09
Posts: 16
Loc: Houston
Last seen: 4 months, 4 days
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: KBG1977]
#12867189 - 07/08/10 02:54 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
very nice!
--------------------
|
ShockValue
Because, ShockValue.
Registered: 11/18/08
Posts: 5,008
Loc: Tipping at windmills.
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12870358 - 07/09/10 12:38 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Cool build. Thanks for sharing.
--------------------
- When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.
|
Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
|
Thanks guys. KBG, still waiting for that picture
|
Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!
Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 168,358
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: KBG1977]
#12875229 - 07/10/10 12:04 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
KBG1977 said:
my pond is a horse troft,and I'll go out and snap a picture later
is it a big round plastic one?
my neighbor sank one like this in the ground, I have one I'm considering doing the same thing with
--------------------
there are 923 words in the english language that do not follow the "I before E"
rule, there are 44 words in the english language that follow the rule. this is
the shit our education funding is paying for and these liberals want more money
for education to keep making students stupid
|
KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 10,292
|
|
no,one of these,and it's pretty decent size,but you can't tell from the pic.It's nasty now,because I have to go buy a pump,and filter.
|
Smack31
Stranger
Registered: 06/17/02
Posts: 10,680
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: KBG1977]
#12880431 - 07/11/10 01:08 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
nice turtle!
Plants are organic filters, you might not need much filtration beyond that if your bioload is low (small fish or minimal waste). My outdoor pond only has plants and just a pump to break the the surface of the water for oxygen exchange and mosquito control.
|
Stein
Stranger
Registered: 07/03/03
Posts: 35,005
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12881174 - 07/11/10 07:20 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
That's a sweet pond! When I make mine I'm gonna go as far as to make a cave in the wall with rock like edges. Then I'm gonna shove a midget dressed as a leprechaun in there. He'll have to come out and bath in the pond everyday. Might get some fish too.
|
KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 10,292
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Stein]
#12881368 - 07/11/10 09:14 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
thanks guys,and yeah,I have two turtles,and a bunch off fish in there,so it stays rather nasty.I'm going to go get a filter,and pump today,and clean it out.
|
ToiletDuk
Give me Librium or give me Meth!
Registered: 05/17/03
Posts: 81,273
Loc: Earthfarm 1
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#12881816 - 07/11/10 12:31 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Cool! But how do you keep all those Cichlids from murdering each other?
--------------------
|
Gumby
Fishnologist
Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 25,831
Loc: BRICK CITY, NIGGA!
Last seen: 5 hours, 52 minutes
|
Re: My Indoor Pond [Re: Smack31]
#13025723 - 08/09/10 11:36 AM (2 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
That is just awesome Smack. You did a very clean job with it too. I've always wanted to do that, but use glass for the sides. What are you doing for filtration on that thing? Those SA/CA cichlids are little shit machines. Ever contemplated hanging a light pendant over it and putting some floating plants like water hyacinth for extra filtration?
And you're right about those convicts! They're probably the meanest fish in there, especially when they are protecting their young. I've even had little 3 inch ones go after my hand while doing water changes.
How long have you had that Oscar now? What kind is it?
|
|
Images only 
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Shop for: 
Edit 
Reply 
