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

 

[drunktank]

is there any ventilation or windows etc? if so then you'll be okay. My friends got a 150g rubbermaid tub in his basement which is a saltwater ''tank''

Although i'd personally either purcahse the plastic pond, or make it out of concrete blocks and rubber pool liner. I'm not a fan of wood + water.

 

[headlessblade]

i was thinkin about using blocks just didn get to yet lolz there is only ONE window... Pool liner stronger than tarp? or theythe same thing?

oh yea where can i get pool liners? CHEAP?

 

[cali_reef]

I think Alti in NJ have a bunch salt water ponds in a basement for coral propergation. You should do a search for his thread.

 

[jhale]

that does not sound like enough structural support for that ammount of water.

 

[KathyC]

Indoor pond

Aside from what has already been pointed out, you'd be taking a chance use a swimming pool liner as they are frequently treated with fungicides & algecides during manufacturing. They are not necessarily fish-safe.
A tarp may be useful as an underlayment for a liner to protect it from splinters, screw heads and sharp corners. Polyethylene tarps become quite brittle when used as a 'liner', IMO I'd doubt it would last 6 months without splitting.

Would this tank be for FW or SW fish?

The most appropriate liner would be 'pond liner'. It too is polyethylene and at a minimum it should be 20 or 30 mil thick. The better quality EPMD liners are 40 to 60 mil, but they are quite expensive.
Keep in mind that to line the pond you will have a lot of liner that will bunch up in your rectangular corners, so you would require a liner a minimum of 22 x 16 (or 18) foot for an 8 x 4 x 4 pond. You'd also have to be very neat in folding the material into the corners so that fish don't get caught in there, never mind the detritus that will accumulate. (This is where you'd use up the 'extra' yardage)

A preformed pond or a collapsible show tank might be a better way to go.
Best of luck with your project!

 

[cali_reef]

that does not sound like enough structural support for that ammount of water.

I wanted to see 2x3's and 1/2" ply hold up 1,000 gallons of water, it would have been very interesting :idea: :Yikes: .

 

[Domboski]

Check out this forum: http://z8.invisionfree.com/Sharks_and_Rays/index.php?showforum=11

These guys have shark and ray ponds and can help out.

 

[duke62]

i hope you do not have drywall in ur basement and if u do it better be green board other wise the evaporation of water will cause mildew on ur walls

 

[NYreefNoob]

indoor pond

ok i have built a few out door koi ponds for my mom over the year's. a few thing's i learnt. get a uv {atleast had to for outside} ill find out exactly where, but i do believe she got here liner at a hardware store. maybe it was hd. but ill check. last one i built was 8x6x6 with a 4' waterfall. is this going to be for fw or sw ? might really make a differance in type of liner. pre-wash liner either way.{ make liner secure in case you ever have to get into it} thought about seeing if landlord would let me build one at my house now for outside. be interested in following this thread once you decide what to do. id definately use block as the frame or support though. or buy a kids swimming pool. one of the small one's that are 3' or 4' deep. be alot cheaper to do and will give you about everything you need.

 

[DallasNYC]

Is this for salt water or fresh water?

For 4' high, you will need 4 sheets of plywood. The bottom and two long sides will all be full sheets, and you could cut another sheet to make the ends.
At 4' high there will be alot of water pressure, 1/2" ply might be strong enough, as long as you had plenty of studs spaced like 12"-16" on center. Not just at the corners. I also think you should go with the pond liner. Especially if you decide to do some plumbing, there all sorts of special bulkheads, and such, made to work with the pond liners. So all and all, I think your initial cost may more than double.

I only wish I had a basement! I’ve thought lots about having some sort of lookdown saltwater tank if I had. My thoughts were more on the lines of somehow bonding together a few circular tubs in a three sided clover shape or something, then throwing a liner inside it all to keep it water tight.

 

[jhale]

For 4' high, you will need 4 sheets of plywood. The bottom and two long sides will all be full sheets, and you could cut another sheet to make the ends.
At 4' high there will be alot of water pressure, 1/2" ply might be strong enough, as long as you had plenty of studs spaced like 12"-16" on center. Not just at the corners. I also think you should go with the pond liner. Especially if you decide to do some plumbing, there all sorts of special bulkheads, and such, made to work with the pond liners. So all and all, I think your initial cost may more than double.

I see the costs more than doubling, I would budget a minimum of $500 to $600 for the project. I would use 5/8" ply, 4x4 for the bracing, and the best and thickest pond liner I could find. the last thing you want is 958 gallons of water turning your basement into a swamp.

 

[LeslieS]

maybe a REALLY REALLY BIG dehumidifier should be included in the budget

 

[cali_reef]

maybe a dehumidifier should be included in the budget

I don't think a home dehumidifier will handle evaporation volume from a 1,000 gallon tank.

 

[headlessblade]

THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT YEA i need to lower the height
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

What brand/type of liner do i need? i read the other post it's kinda vague... THe liner is the most expensive part of this...

 

[headlessblade]

oh yea its fresh water... for flowerhorns

my bro gave me another idea, what if i use wood, use those concrete backer boards, and and tile it LOL what you guys think?

 

[jhale]

oh yea its fresh water... for flowerhorns

my bro gave me another idea, what if i use wood, use those concrete backer boards, and and tile it LOL what you guys think?

the tile will crack at the grout joints from stress and there will be 900+ gallons on the floor.

you can do the project, just do it right, don't underestimate the presure of that much water.

 

[jhale]

pond liners

http://www.pondliner.com/EPDM.htm

 

[KathyC]

I'd guess those are 6 x 6's in the pic. Take a look in the yellow pages under pond/pond supplies to find someone local to you. The liner material is usually sold from rolls, and frequently they carry it in different widths. Get the thickest EPDM material you can afford.
Another option is to purchase a 'pond kit'...HD & Lowes carry them at the best prices. They come in a variety of sizes and usually include the liner & filtration system and sometimes the underlayment. (please do not skip the underlayment, it is critically important in an installation like this).

Are you going to use it as a grow out tank, for spawning or simply viewing?

I'd suggest you go no higher than 30 inches or it is going to be a pita to clean. I would also skip the bottom drain (asking for trouble indoors) and use a Python to clean it, get some light-weight rigid tubing to extend it, or buy the Python Ultivac (approx 47.00).

Yes, I have an outdoor pond, and yes I had to build a temporary indoor tank last year for my Koi. It was 4' x 4' x 30".

 

[tosiek]

Aside from construction i would look into getting rid of all that condensation from the evaporation. Make sure its good ventilation or your gonna have a bad mildew problem or something else thats not as easily cured by taking out the tank and opening the doors for a bit.