Outdoor pond in south Louisiana...what can last through winter?

[NOLAGT]

The pond would never freeze here...it usually only gets maybe into the upper 30s on a norm. I am in way down south louisiana. I am just wondering for the turtle but I am thinking he will be fine.

I will try to get pics tonight...if not tomorrow....

 

[Kdcarey]

find a turtle that is native to louisiana

 

[Muske]

I would not use plywood on the bottom, rot/mold growth. The rigid insulatiion maybe a good idea for the sides of the timbers, but soil is the best insulator.

 

[NOLAGT]

Yes I already have a RES that I have had in a pond at my last house (in ground pre fab).

I have some pics...I put a little water in to see how things did and I need to make some changes. I put plywood on the bottom but I used 3 scraps I had and its not going to work (see pics)

So you wouldn't do wood on the bottom because of rotting and mold. What would you use to get it flat on the bottom. Its yard (grass hacked with the weed eater) on the bottom so its not going to be flat. I would like it flat so I can put pots with plants and not worry about it tipping over.

As for the sides I really want to put something now...the landscaping timbers make it wavy and thats ok...but the areas in between the timbers there is nothing behind the liner supporting it. It feels like a spot that the turtles will tear up poke through. Am I right...what should I put if not plywood? Will that insulating board work and not rot on the sides?

This is the bottom where the 3 sheets of ply meet up. The ground under them has dips and stuff thats why I wanted the plywood but a single sheet. Now I dont know what to use...maybe some dirt to fill the yard under the liner?

 

[Taz2478]

nice work. filtration?

 

[amehel0]

use levelling sand

 

[NOLAGT]

Yep I went to lowes and got some sand to fix the bottom up and not use plywood. I also got some light blue foam bored for the sides...not styrafoam...I think this is a closed cell so it wont take in water. We will see how it last.

For the filter I picked up a tetra pressure filter 1500 with the 9w uv and I will run it with a mag 18 T'ed off for any excess flow. I can run 750gph through the filter outlet and the water in the pond comes in just a tad under 300gal by my measurments. I might also throw another power head in there to add some current so there will be less collecting on the bottm.

I have 2 RES now and I will probably pick up 2~4 more turtles (rio grand RES, maps, painted). I also plan to add a few koi maybe 4 ~ 6. I know the koi will be too much one day but im sure ill get a few years out of them....if the turtles dont eat them first lol. I had one of the RES with koi in another pond a year ago and he left them alone mostly....he is about 8". I wont go with baby koi so they are pretty quick. The other RES is about 2" so he has some growing to do before he catches a 6~8" koi.

 

[frasertheking]

pond looks amazing

fill that sucker with plants and half your filtration is done .

 

[NOLAGT]

I plan to put a few pots of iris but thats about it. My turtles will eat anything that is in the water. Once my little girl (20 months) is older I will put it in the ground and ill probably have 2 pools.


I am filling it with water again now...will have some more pics later today.

 

[NOLAGT]

Posted a bunch of pics here

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1741851#post1741851