I have had an empty 140 gal tub "just sitting around" for over a month now. We've had a difficult time determining exactly where we wanted it to be situated. Finally, we decided on our covered carport. The carport is open on two sides so it has a relatively constant breeze - important in our semi-tropical climate (New Orleans, Louisiana) where the temperature outside during the mid-summer to late fall is generally at, or above 90 deg F. The carport will also provide good indirect sunlight, but no direct sunlight.

So far we have only the tub. I am now looking at filters, pumps, spitters (even a UV spitter), etc. I would welcome advice on specific products, but information regarding the flow rate I would want to get through the filter/pump would be fine. Also, we have seen several pump/filter setups that allowed for a very small fountain. The tub is (oval shaped) about 45" x 35" (best I can guess without going now to re-measure it) and about 26" deep - I will want to provide some supplemental aeration but don't know if the fountain would be more than I really want as it may not be feasible in such a small space. It may be better to simply do airstones or perhaps both ?

I have studied a lot of information on "Ponds" - but mostly the data I have discovered relates more to the much bigger "in-ground" versions. This "mini-pond" is really more like an outside rubberized-plastic aquarium. In fact the tub is made by TuffStuff and is designed to be a watering trough for livestock (so it is water-safe, for sure).

I intend to build a retaining wall (stackable landscape bricks) around the tub for aesthetic value - but this will conceal an external filter/pump if I choose to go that way.

Again, any tips are much appreciated. We would like to get this all set up in the next couple of weeks - so we can introduce the fish into the "pond" diring mid-fall when the weather is beautiful and we can spend a lot more time outside. Wintering the fish will not be an issue - and I already have a shop fan for the carport so we can keep the water (somewhat) cool next summer.

Do you have a Lowe's in your area? The one we have here has lots of supplies for ponds - some very small. They have tons of info - you might look there. Each pumps tells how much it pumps per hours or something like that.

Hello! My pond is only about the size of that. I can tell you what I run in my pond. Last year I had a submersible filter and pump by Pondmaster. It was the 190 which did ok as I didn't have many fish. This year I upgraded!

I'm now running a Cascade 400gph pump up and out to a Fishmate external filter. This setup has been a dream for my little pond! The filter has bio media on the bottom and a sponge filter on top for catching the debris. It also has a UV right in it. I did not have on once of green water this year. That setup gives me approximantly 10 times the filtration that I actually need for the gallons that I have. Also, the pump has two control valves. You can run the filter and a fountain from it and control the flow rates to both. I would recommend getting one of the bell fountains as they do not splash. I think it comes with a bell. You won't have to worry about too much turbulance from that distracting you fish views or water loss due to splashing. I have a bell on it and then the water that runs from my filter I run into two streamlets that I got a Lowes. They around about 2.5 gallons each and make perfect veggie filter. The water runs out of the filter into the first streamlet filled with hyacinth which further catches the debris. Then into the second where I have set up a mini water fall with rocks and more plants, then there is about a three inch waterfall until it gets back into the pond. I didn't need to use any further areration devices this year. You would just have to watch in the hotter weather since warm water holds less o2.

I got both items at www.thatpetplace.com. I really shopped around at prices and they were by far the best. My pump was around $60.00 I think and the filter was $110. You can't beat that for a filter and UV!

I have heard some people complain about the Fishmate filter as you have to clean it fairly often. I do mine once or twice a week. I don't mind cleaning it at all. It takes about three minutes to do and I can stare at my crystal clear water while I'm doing it.

Well, I'm posting a pic cause I just figured out how to do it! Here is my 18 inches of clear water! See the rocks all the way on the bottem! I'm so excited about my clear water...can ya tell?


Here is my mini waterfall in my second streamlet.


I'd be happy to help if you have any more questions!
Ash

Forgot to mention that my husband customized the first streamlet. The filter has two output tubes on it for the clean water to flow out. We cut holes in the streamlet, cut two pieces of clear tube to fit the outflow holes and used aqauarium sealent to seal it all together. That way, my filter box is covered by rocks and there are no tubes visible going into the streamlet. I can get pics of that if you think you'd be interested.

Ashley and Larry, I have the exact same filter, the fishmate with the 8 watt uv bulb, on all of my 160 gl black tubs outside, and it is really a breeze! I am very happy with those.
At first I also cleaned the filters once a week, which is really easy, I just tilt the filter in a direction outside the pond, wash all the sponges and lava rocks in the flowing water, and once its coming out clean, I direct the flow back to the pond. 2 min tops!
Then I came into the love of water garden plants, so I got a 30 gl rubbermaid in green from nnnnnn for all the ponds, cut a 2 inch whole in the upper part of that thing, filled it up with water lettuce, water hyacinth, and dumped a bag of those blue bioballs in it..Since the fishmate has two outlets, I direct one of it directly in the pond, the other one goes into the water garden below, and through the cut hole also back in the pond. It looks really natural, hides the filter (its green, so you notice it not that much anyway), and I was able to cut down on the filter cleaning to every 3 weeks!

Wow I really like the pics Ash - wonderful job!

Thank you Ash & Andrea. We are ordering the Fishmate filter along with the pump you recommended. It should arrive by next weekend, and we will go from there.

Thanks Lachfa!

Good luck DivineGF

Thanks Ash. The filter and pump are due in tomorrow or Friday. We are simply going to try to get the hardware all set up this weekend and get the water circulating. I am looking at the streamlets you mentioned (we have both Lowe's and Home Depot). I am also still considering the secondary tub idea offered by Andrea - allowing overflow from that to flow back into the tank. I am getting the "stone" to build a retaining wall around the tub and that will be the "heavy work" for my weekend. As the wall is being "laid out" I will then have to choose between the streamlet idea and the tub. Either way, both ideas allow for all the advantages of live plants without having to include them directly in the tub with the fish.

The vendor for the pump "thinks" the fountainhead is a fleur de lis as opposed to the bell. I will simply have to get my hands on the product to know for sure.

Either way, I really just want a tiny flow through the fountainhead - to provide some motion to the water surface. Any aesthetic value provided by the fountain will simply be icing on the cake.

Thank you all again.

By the way, as I have forgotten to mention it, I simply love the pictures you published of your pond, Ash. It gives me something to strive for.

Larry, it sounds like you will have your work cut out for you this weekend! Either way you go with the veggie filter (the streamlet or the tub) I think you will be pleased. Trying to imagine your setup, I think maybe the round 30 gallon would tie into the overall look better, as opposed to the irregular shape of the streamlets. The one thing I really like about the streamlets though is that they are shallow. That allows the hyacinth roots to occupy the whole thing. The water has to pass through the root balls and it gives me more filter media just in the roots.

I found my pump box and one the back it shows that it acutally comes with three fountain heads and one was the bell. Hopefully yours will too!

Glad you liked the pictures! The whole thing is getting bulldozed next year. We are starting the "big dig" All that hard work and stone moving down the drain! I'm really excited about the new pond. It is going to be a system of ponds with a contemporary look. I wanted something really different. I'll have to post my sketch of it as soon as I get it done. It is going to be semi raised with wooden sides. It will basically go from the filter box which will double as a planter (with sort of zen garden bonsai tree theme) into a square veggie filter, into another square pond with a feather rock fountain that I'm working on, into the first pond which will be about 600 gallons, then into the next which will be about 800 gallons...more if I can get away with it

I'm really excited! We'll probably only get up to the 600 gallon one done. The 800 one will have to wait!

Ash

BIG, BIG, BIG - they say you can never go to BIG!

Bought another 160 gl tub today......Well, well, this time I just try the extra rubbermaid as the main filter, and see how it holds up. It should do, though. I filter a 600 gl pond with a 40 gl veggie filter and a UV, and the water is perfect all the time....Or maybe just for the looks of it a little spill way....Darn, those choices are killing me!

Well, got the retaining wall up around the tub. Got theprimary pump and filter going - also running a small fountain off the primary pump.

Then hooked up a smaller pump to a 'turtle spitter" and a small pre-formed waterfall.

We'll give it a day or two and then begin to introduce the fish.

It's not complete, yet, still some aesthetics to work out - but it came a long way over the weekend.

Glad to hear it. I hope you can post some pics of it!

Once I get the kinks in my back worked out - and can stand up straight again - I will try to find the camera and do just that.