Stock Tank Pond Substrate?

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Clam Manson

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 17, 2014
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Arlington, MA
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Set up a 300gal stock tank in my back yard. Running a 1200gph pump into a homemade waterfall filter with some rocks and scrubbies, thinking about using a rain barrel i have had as much bigger multi level filter but that's in time. Right now my main question is regarding substrate. I don't really like the look of the bare bottom and I wanted to plant some lillies and whatnot and not have them all in pots. What would be the pros and cons of adding some kind of substrate? And would sand or gravel be better?

If it is legal in my area I wanted to keep some native species, sunfish and bass I don't know yet. I want it looking good and running/filtering as efficiently as possible before I really stock it. I have about 12 comets in their to keep the cycle going and I used a bunch of media from the set up I moved them out of to jump start things.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Substrate in a pond will collect debris and eventually become a nightmare to clean, requiring draining the pond.
In time the stock tank will get covered with algae and look just fine.
 
I would just put a few bigger rocks on the bottom. Gives fish some cover, and will help you disguise the pots on the bottom. You can also move them pretty easily, they wont trap as much crap as something like a gravel bed would, and you can take them out and powerwash then if needed


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I agree with Joe.

Also if your 300G stock tank is Rubbermaid like mine, you most likely have a threaded inner/ outer 1 1/2 inch diameter drain with plug. With substrate you will have made that drain effectively useless.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I figured it wasn't the best idea that's why I asked here to see if anyone could point out some positive aspects of adding it. I probably will just go with some bigger rocks and pots etc. I'm just looking for a more finished look so Ill look around to get some ideas. I know nothing about mud ponds but have seen them talked about. Has anyone ever used mud in an above ground pond before? Does that even make sense?

I have plenty of pumps so I'm not too worried about the drain but that is definitely something to consider.
 
I have lilies in my ponds, and stocktanks, they need deep substrate for the root systems, so pots are really the best method. Without pots you might need deep substrate that would take up a good portion of the volume of the tank.
Once the lilies spread out, the pots virtually disappear anyway.

The lilies are also easier to remove for overwintering in pots, my ponds and stocktanks freeze solid in winter, so portability is needed.
 
I made an PVC overflow with the drain in my 300 Rubbermaid stock with a drip system....making an backwards L shape.... Then I would use pool filter sand
 
Duanes those are some nice pics! Looks like you got an awesome set up. I was definitely planning on Lillie's but I also want something that's gonna grow real tall out if the pond to place in the back (opposite side of the drain), some kind of bog plant? Any suggestions on what would be good and would they need to be elevated somehow?

SandNukka do you got any pics of your set up? Right now I just fitted a garden hose to the pump which I put into the bucket with some media overflowing back into the pond. I want something nicer though. I've seen people stack milk crates with different media. I've also seen bags filled with media. The hose comes from the top but I stuck it all the way into the bottom but I want better and more efficient flow over the media what ever it is I plan to use. So any ideas on an efferent filter system would be great. I've done my fair share of searching around here and have gotten some great info. I was thinking a bulkhead on the bottom of some kind of buckethead might be the best idea for flow with stacked milk crates for different levels and overflowing back into the pond.


Thanks again for the help folks.
 
I have papyrus, elephant ear and cattails to provide plants that emerge, the papyrus (AKA umbrella palm can grow @4ft the cattails higher.
I also grow them in pots, because the papyrus & elephant need to overwinter inside, the cattails can freeze.
papyrus and elephant ear n the foreground
.

inside, I use papyrus to help control nitrates in sumps and refugiums

 
Il try to get pics up Tom I only have 1 fx6 on there haven't added my sump yet but il be using the return from my fx and have it trickle down back in as an above sump..... My current stock is about 30 5-7 red bellies and caribe piranhas
 
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