Pond vs Tank - The Great Debate

[Pharaoh]

How about a 540G that you could trim down to 7x3x3 relatively easily?

 

[polish]

I'de go w/ 1 big tank or like you said 2x 180's or similar... Only other suggestion would be to find some other stock for it that are better viewed from above.. but I have the feeling since you mentioned koi.. and not another ponder for new fish. You want to keep your current stock. Can't say I blame you either.

I would prolly look into doing a DIY acrylic tank over the existing pond, useing it as a sump as you stated. Not sure how.. but I'd prolly figure out some way to tie it altogether into a form of sectioned system. giving the cichlids talller sections and then shorter systems for the bichirs ect. The name of the systems elludes me atm. but I've seen a few done and they are very interesting ways to showcase the fish and the entire unit is very appealing if done right. suppose depends on how much you ant to put into such a project. but it would give you a few options for housing, and still give you areas to photograph, watch things.

All good ideas, now I just have to decide. I'd really like twin 180g tanks stacked but that would be pretty spendy. The DIY Acrylic on top of it would likely just be one big tank if I did it, I've only ever worked with gluing it a little bit so I'd want to keep it simple. Decisions, Decisions...

Also depends what pops up on Craigslist...

road trip!!

I wish.

add a window and youd be in business

As I said above, not really worth the trouble. Plus I forgot to add the only wall that isn't less than 2' from something is the one the front of my car pulls up to. The front is about 2' from my AC and Water Heater, the side is 2' from cabinets that the doors just *barely* open on now, the back is butted up against the wall, and the other is where the front of my car is. So even if I did pull some braces and put one in I couldn't make much use of it.

build a large acrylic tank up top (same footprint would be awesome) and use it as a sump!

That is also an idea, I was thinking a 7'x3' DIY Acrylic tank on top but that is a lot of time and money as 4x8 sheets of 1/2" cell cast don't come cheap. That idea has been rolling around my head though.

There's a reason ponds are not for everyone... and not all fish are good for ponds. I'd always recommend someone keeping goldfish/Koi in a pond first to see if they like the pond concept first before keeping other fish such as cichlids.

Ponds are mostly only good for larger size whereas tanks are good for viewing

Yup, if I do keep it and move all these fish out I may try some Koi. I think they would be a lot better in there.

or if you wana try somthing intresting go for the reverse pressure tank

get a tank to fit in the pond, flip it, suck all the air out so the water goes into the tank , you just then need a powerhead pointed up into the tank above and your set might be easier than a window then again ive never seen it done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_36LhwEzFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s81goz-uxU&feature=related

That is something I thought of as well. I still don't quite get the concept but it obviously works on a small scale. Not sure how a 100g tank flipped over would do though or how I'd support it inside the tank. Anything much smaller would look kind of silly.

snake_charmer has a 150 gallon (wide) but it in MI.

Thanks, I looked up the ad. Nice tank for sure but a bit far and I wouldn't need a fancy canopy or stand.

 

[alexmuw]

Get some high quality Koi and some catfish! OR try some Oscars (need soem ppl friendly fish!).

I think ponds are awesome. When ppl come over, they love looking at my big koi over my small africans, Trimac, or Festae. (Plus the Koi love being fed!)

 

[polish]

How about a 540G that you could trim down to 7x3x3 relatively easily?

The thought did cross my mind but after the cost of glass from you, labor to cut it, new frames for it, stand, etc would likely be into the price point out of my range.

Unless frames and glass cutting are super cheap, did you ever price it?

Get some high quality Koi and some catfish! OR try some Oscars (need soem ppl friendly fish!).

I think ponds are awesome. When ppl come over, they love looking at my big koi over my small africans, Trimac, or Festae. (Plus the Koi love being fed!)

I'd get cheap Koi if any, I am not into them that much.

Oh and there is a Catfish and Oscar in the pond now but they are boring to view from above.

 

[Matt724]

OKAY! solution: build an encompassing stand around the pond that will hold various sized tanks (or one large one) and have the pond act as a giant sump for all the tanks and just get a bigger/stronger filter for your pond that can handle all the extra gallonage. That way you get to keep the pond, which you worked so hard with, and you get more tanks!!!

Just an idea.

Also, as for photography, have you tried taking like a wooden plank and putting it across the length of the pond to stop the ripples, therefore making the water of the other half (half without the waterfall) still for better photography.

 

[polish]

I can't add anything around the perimeter, I built it as large as I could. Otherwise I can't walk around it or open cabinets. So if I do tanks on top they will sit on the pond itself, with some new cross boards for support and a flat plywood panel to sit on.

I measured again and forgot the inside of the pond of 7' so outside is 7' 8" since each wall is about 4". I could probably squeeze an 8' tank since it's only 4 more inches and that is the side that butts up to the AC, so nothing needs to open.

 

[frasertheking]

That is also an idea, I was thinking a 7'x3' DIY Acrylic tank on top but that is a lot of time and money as 4x8 sheets of 1/2" cell cast don't come cheap. That idea has been rolling around my head though.





That is something I thought of as well. I still don't quite get the concept but it obviously works on a small scale. Not sure how a 100g tank flipped over would do though or how I'd support it inside the tank. Anything much smaller would look kind of silly.

the concept is pretty simple, if you are bored get a pint glass and a powerhead in the sink

fill the glass up and lift it as long as you dont break the vacum it will hold water, then start up your powerhead and aim it up into the glass. the water will just circulate around within the glass,
i dunno might be worth asking some diy guys,
id think if you build a stainless stand within the pond then just supported around the rim but im not sure, honestly its probably not worth the hassle but would be cook

 

[Zfishies]

add some RBP like 15!!!

 

[Skyeler]

put a window in it

 

[Pharaoh]

The thought did cross my mind but after the cost of glass from you, labor to cut it, new frames for it, stand, etc would likely be into the price point out of my range.

Unless frames and glass cutting are super cheap, did you ever price it?

No need for frames on this tank. I could help you build a stand, or, if it is going in your garage, you could have the metal stand that came with it. All you would need to worry about is cutting it down. I would think that would be too expensive, but I haven't priced it.