Logistics of a pool pond?

[Oscar Mike]

I've always told people the first thing I'm doing when we get our own house is buying a temporary pool pond while digging one in the backyard or building a plywood tank. Well that time has finally come. We're not moving in for a month but I just purchased the first piece of furniture. A Bestway 14x8x3.5 steel frame pool for my 24" pacu and catfish.

My wife was fine with it at first until realizing my plan was to take up the whole garage. The only other option is putting it in the backyard during the winter and killing half our grass. I'm starting to have second thoughts like maybe a pool this big wasn't such a good idea.

This is basically the only place online I can ask about this without sounding completely insane. How feasible is it to keep a 2k gallon pool in my garage for a year or more?

I'm in central CA where it's over 100 degrees for most of the year, gets down to the 30s but never snows. How difficult would it be to maintain proper temps in the garage or backyard? Is an in-ground tropical pond even possible here?

Also, how likely is it that my pacu or Achara will poke a hole in the liner? Are there any other cheap temporary options while building a plywood tank? I really want to get him out of this 240 and need somewhere to put him while setting up the tank.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[ruincccc]

not able to answer your question directly, but you may need to plan for potential moisture problem if were to house your pool pond in the garage. I had my pool pond in my backyard shed for about a year, which caused a huge mold problem because of the excessive moisture.

 

[Oscar Mike]

not able to answer your question directly, but you may need to plan for potential moisture problem if were to house your pool pond in the garage. I had my pool pond in my backyard shed for about a year, which caused a huge mold problem because of the excessive moisture.

Thank you, water damage is my biggest concern. I was planning on covering it with clear plastic sheets to prevent evaporation, and there's a metal security screen on the door leading to the backyard so I could leave it open with a fan. I'm sure it would still be humid though.

There isn't a suitable wall in the house long enough for an 8ft+ tank without having a window partially behind it. So really my only options for a big pond or plywood tank are the garage or backyard. It would probably cost a small fortune heating during the winter. It stays room temp in my current place so I don't even need heaters but the 240 is definitely going in the new garage.

 

[Fishman Dave]

There will be a number of things that can be done to insulate the garage and the pond to keep temperatures reasonable. And of course there are things that can be done to minimise water loss from any indoor pond regarding covering it and the two things together will be what keeps down humidity or condensation, for it is when the warm moist air meets the cold, say from a garage door that the most “water damage” can occur.
No, having a pond in the garage is not a crazy idea.
Mine is in a wooden outdoor insulated shed which only needed a new roof after 10 years and hopefully I get another 10 before needing to do it again, and mine is here in the uk where winter temps get to -10 and it’s in the shed uncovered, so max condensation.
As for a pacu in a liner, I had to double line my pond as the pacu kept chewing the creases, as well as catching me out by chewing the pump cable, but if the bestway has no creases then you should have no issues. Personally I would not be concerned with the achara poking holes.

 

[Oscar Mike]

There will be a number of things that can be done to insulate the garage and the pond to keep temperatures reasonable. And of course there are things that can be done to minimise water loss from any indoor pond regarding covering it and the two things together will be what keeps down humidity or condensation, for it is when the warm moist air meets the cold, say from a garage door that the most “water damage” can occur.
No, having a pond in the garage is not a crazy idea.
Mine is in a wooden outdoor insulated shed which only needed a new roof after 10 years and hopefully I get another 10 before needing to do it again, and mine is here in the uk where winter temps get to -10 and it’s in the shed uncovered, so max condensation.
As for a pacu in a liner, I had to double line my pond as the pacu kept chewing the creases, as well as catching me out by chewing the pump cable, but if the bestway has no creases then you should have no issues. Personally I would not be concerned with the achara poking holes.

Well at least someone doesn't think I'm crazy lol. It's an oval shape so no creases on the sides but I think there is on the bottom. It has a cutout for plumbing so I'm hoping to use an external pump and sand filter with no wires inside. https://bestwayusa.com/bestway-power-steel-14-x-8-2-x-39-5-above-ground-pool-set-56622e It retails for $500 but I got it for $80 unopened on an auction website called BidRL.

The house was built in 2018 so should be decently insulated but I'm thinking Styrofoam behind the garage door and a thick weather strip at the bottom. Maybe Styrofoam under the pool too.

Do you have any other ideas to keep it insulated or protected from water damage? Dehumidifier? How about mildew resistant paint for the walls? I'm also planning on epoxying the floor before moving in.

 

[Trouser Cough]

I would suggest that you read the reviews for that product before you go all in. I agree that it looks like a smoking deal on a large pond but that mfg appears to have some pretty bad rust issues w/ their product and there's at least one review to indicate that a seam delaminated and tank contents were dumped. If this were mine I might try digging a hole in the backyard and placing the pond in the hole such that you could stabilize temps more naturally. Maybe build some kind of gazebo thing over the top so you can hang out back there and enjoy the pond. Not sure I'd put it in the garage or in the house though.

 

[Oscar Mike]

I would suggest that you read the reviews for that product before you go all in. I agree that it looks like a smoking deal on a large pond but that mfg appears to have some pretty bad rust issues w/ their product and there's at least one review to indicate that a seam delaminated and tank contents were dumped. If this were mine I might try digging a hole in the backyard and placing the pond in the hole such that you could stabilize temps more naturally. Maybe build some kind of gazebo thing over the top so you can hang out back there and enjoy the pond. Not sure I'd put it in the garage or in the house though.

Oh wow I just noticed that. I haven't actually paid for it yet and can still back out but have to pay a $20 restocking fee. I might wind up just doing that and buying a smaller Intex or maybe a fiberglass aquaculture tank. It was only supposed to be temporary until I build a plywood tank in the garage or dig a pond, hopefully no longer than a year. Just not sure how feasible it is to heat an outdoor pond to 76 degrees during the winter.

 

[Trouser Cough]

[QUOTE="Oscar Mike, post: 8504673, member: 79039") Just not sure how feasible it is to heat an outdoor pond to 76 degrees during the winter here.[/QUOTE]


Hot tubs are pretty popular in northern climates and I doubt it would be anywhere near as difficult as long as you insulated the tank... which shouldn't be difficult either.

 

[AR1]

intex is way better than bestway. my intex 1700 gallon pond has been running for months. it has a 14 inch pacu, raphael catfish and two irredescent sharks. no leaks and issues.

 

[dogofwar]

A pond in the garage can work. The key is to cover it with rigid styro and (if possible) around it with other insulation, unless you're going to heat the whole room. My fishroom is a finished (insulated) detached garage with a split unit HVAC system. I only heat tanks that need tropical water (in the winter).