5000 gal outdoor Aquarium Plan

[Conner]

Now to my question. I would like to breed Nightcrawlers and Fathead minnows and live feed all species. I'm not too concerned when the fish are small but as they grow will I be able to breed enough minnows and nightcrawlers to satisfy them. Does anyone have experience with how many or weight of food adult largemout eat. I can use a cast net to catch additional baitfish if needed but I'm trying to figure out if I can sustain these fish without having to buy baitfish every week. I will also try only to keep as many fish as I can handle.
Part two-- is there any chance that sunfish, blue gill, shiners, and minnows will be able to breed and create a self sustaining environment if provided with enough cover? This is probably a longshot since the balance would probably need to be very drastic for this the work like hundreds of bream to one bass but I though I'd ask.

I think that if you create enough cover underwater, that you should be able to sustain a breeding population of fathead minnows. Especially if you keep the number of large bass pretty low, then the number of predators to baitfish would probably be doable.

Another option, would be to make either the pre-bog section, or the bog section, large enough to hold a breeding population of fathead minnows. Then, whenever you need to feed, you just scoop out a net full of fatheads, and toss them into the lower pond.

Or, you could set up a second, smaller pond (or even use a stock tank) for breeding the fatheads, and simply transfer groups of them to the larger pond for feeding.

By the way, that is an amazing draw-up! That would be just killer if you do get to build it. Good luck!

 

[jcjones36]

I think that if you create enough cover underwater, that you should be able to sustain a breeding population of fathead minnows. Especially if you keep the number of large bass pretty low, then the number of predators to baitfish would probably be doable.

Another option, would be to make either the pre-bog section, or the bog section, large enough to hold a breeding population of fathead minnows. Then, whenever you need to feed, you just scoop out a net full of fatheads, and toss them into the lower pond.

Or, you could set up a second, smaller pond (or even use a stock tank) for breeding the fatheads, and simply transfer groups of them to the larger pond for feeding.

By the way, that is an amazing draw-up! That would be just killer if you do get to build it. Good luck!

That's a good idea I may change the design to make a minnow pool after the bog and before the main pond. How large would such a pool need to be? would 2' x 4' x 2' be enough? I'll post the new design when I finish.

 

[Conner]

I'm not really sure on the size. Maybe ask over in the native fish section to see what size area they'd need for maintaining a breeding population.

 

[TStephens]

I'm down in Greenville, SC but fish Wylie some during the summer/fall months and would love to come see this masterpiece, hell id even pay a fee lol

 

[jcjones36]

okay so I figured that my pre-bog pond is approx 150 gal. That should be large enough I think to hold a good amount of fatheads. Will fast current bother them. This section of the pond will be turned over approx 33 time an hour.

 

[jcjones36]

I'm down in Greenville, SC but fish Wylie some during the summer/fall months and would love to come see this masterpiece, hell id even pay a fee lol

I'd love to show it off but remember it's still a couple of year away. I've got some inside remodelling to finish and a front porch to build before I can get to it. And I do everything myself (except drywall) and a regular job and 2 little boys to keep track of. But at least I won't be bored

 

[jcjones36]

We caught a perfect specimen for the pond today. Just a couple years too early. Nuts! Oh Well it was fun anyways. Would it have been legal to keep this fish in SC?

 

[TStephens]

Yup 12-inch minimum on Lakes Wylie, Marion, Moultrie and all resevoirs along the Savannah River.

 

[wildthing]

good luck with this project. it will be spectacular. i built a similar project in a 16 x 24 conservatory. my filtration was gravel and water hyacinth. it worked very well. the biggest maintenance was the removal of excess hyacinth. i especially like your viewing windows. i am starting another project along these lines. my goal in the one i'm building is to grow catfish, tilapia, and peacock bass. i will also set up some aquatic turtle habitats as part of it. the viewing window would be especially attractive and useful.

 

[frasertheking]

any progress on this project ?