nc_nutcase
Fish Addict
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- Feb 25, 2005
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I recently completed construction on an (approx) 6’ x 6’ x 2.75’ 550 US Gal indoor pond.
The liner was added and it was filled… and it had a very minor leak… but any leak is a major concern…
I took a week off… located the leak… adjusted the liner so the leak was in the excess liner and cut off… It has about 200-250 Gal in it now… I still need to adjust the liner some more to smooth out the floor and walls… then will fill it to max capacity (600 Gal) and let it sit for a week… it will be full by this evening… if it proves to have no leaks… I will continue…
First thing I will do is lower the water level to 4-6 inches... This will give between 65-100 Gallons… Next I will add heaters and filters… then add substrate (sand) and décor (driftwood, wood I acquired from a local stream, clay pots and a couple rocks)…
I want to cycle it at this lowered level to speed up the cycle. After it is cycled I will add 50 Gal every 3 or 4 days until it is full. I will consider it ‘still cycling’ until it is at it’s full mark (550 Gal). At this point I will probably let it sit with cycling fish in it for another week or two to ensure it’s stabilized.
If anyone has any experience cycling bodies of water this size I would love to hear your input. I have several established tanks now so about a dozen stockings of ‘old gravel’ will be added, rocks from established tanks, etc… Should I add the ‘old’ water from my established tanks to the pond when I do water changes on the est tanks?
I’m choosing to cycle the pond with fish for the primary reason, I’ve always done it this way. As to what fish I will cycle in it, I’ve yet to decide. I am going Friday to talk to the manager at a trustworthy LFS to see about bulk discounts on different options. After the cycle his complete I will happily keep any fish well treated until… well... Until the Oscars eat them…
Initial stocking will be a TON of guppies (probably 1,000) and possibly a ton of ghost shrimp (this will be added as soon as it reaches it‘s full mark). Then I will add 12 baby - juvenal Oscars. When they are big enough to mix with my existing Oscars I will add them (3 - 5-6 inchers) as well as 2 medium Pacus (they are 7 inches now and seem to grow just under an inch per month). I may add my pair of convicts as well…
It’s going to take some impressive self control… but I am committing to NOT overstock the pond. Once I see the Oscars grow to near full size and get a feel of it’s stocking limits, I may add some other larger cichlids (Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, and my girlfriend is dying to get a red tail cat, which I know will eventually need an even larger environment… but I saw this 1200 Gal kiddie pool for only $250! Anyway…). But that is all at least a year away so why think about it now…
*If you have experience with large tropical environments please give your critic. If you aren’t experienced but see something I overlooked or think of a way to improve my plan… again… please jump in. I’ve never done a fish project this big and have already screwed up several things, so if you can save me another screw up please do!
There are pics of this project and my other tanks in my signature, but you can just click here.
The liner was added and it was filled… and it had a very minor leak… but any leak is a major concern…
I took a week off… located the leak… adjusted the liner so the leak was in the excess liner and cut off… It has about 200-250 Gal in it now… I still need to adjust the liner some more to smooth out the floor and walls… then will fill it to max capacity (600 Gal) and let it sit for a week… it will be full by this evening… if it proves to have no leaks… I will continue…
First thing I will do is lower the water level to 4-6 inches... This will give between 65-100 Gallons… Next I will add heaters and filters… then add substrate (sand) and décor (driftwood, wood I acquired from a local stream, clay pots and a couple rocks)…
I want to cycle it at this lowered level to speed up the cycle. After it is cycled I will add 50 Gal every 3 or 4 days until it is full. I will consider it ‘still cycling’ until it is at it’s full mark (550 Gal). At this point I will probably let it sit with cycling fish in it for another week or two to ensure it’s stabilized.
If anyone has any experience cycling bodies of water this size I would love to hear your input. I have several established tanks now so about a dozen stockings of ‘old gravel’ will be added, rocks from established tanks, etc… Should I add the ‘old’ water from my established tanks to the pond when I do water changes on the est tanks?
I’m choosing to cycle the pond with fish for the primary reason, I’ve always done it this way. As to what fish I will cycle in it, I’ve yet to decide. I am going Friday to talk to the manager at a trustworthy LFS to see about bulk discounts on different options. After the cycle his complete I will happily keep any fish well treated until… well... Until the Oscars eat them…
Initial stocking will be a TON of guppies (probably 1,000) and possibly a ton of ghost shrimp (this will be added as soon as it reaches it‘s full mark). Then I will add 12 baby - juvenal Oscars. When they are big enough to mix with my existing Oscars I will add them (3 - 5-6 inchers) as well as 2 medium Pacus (they are 7 inches now and seem to grow just under an inch per month). I may add my pair of convicts as well…
It’s going to take some impressive self control… but I am committing to NOT overstock the pond. Once I see the Oscars grow to near full size and get a feel of it’s stocking limits, I may add some other larger cichlids (Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, and my girlfriend is dying to get a red tail cat, which I know will eventually need an even larger environment… but I saw this 1200 Gal kiddie pool for only $250! Anyway…). But that is all at least a year away so why think about it now…
*If you have experience with large tropical environments please give your critic. If you aren’t experienced but see something I overlooked or think of a way to improve my plan… again… please jump in. I’ve never done a fish project this big and have already screwed up several things, so if you can save me another screw up please do!
There are pics of this project and my other tanks in my signature, but you can just click here.
Keep up the goood work 
