New Indoor Pond!! Questions????? Comments????

[tschuesler]

I am looking for some opinions on a pond inside my basement.  I am using concrete blocks and a firestone liner 45 mil.  Does anybody think I should Should concrete them in place ?  I have seen people build ponds above ground outside and indoors and only use sand to fill the holes.  Thats actually where I got the idea.  But they only stacked there blocks 2 blocks high and we are going for 3 blocks high.  The blocks are 8"x 8"x16".  So that will be 24 inches deep.  I live in NJ and the winters get kinda cold.  We just built a new outside pond and apparently its not as deep as we thought so, I don't want to risk my turtles lives.  We have had 1 disappear and 1 die.  I have a 2 ft high fence around the pond so something or somebody took the one out.  I just purchased a Cyprio Bioforce 1000 UVC with a Titan 800 pump, anybody ever heard of this filter and pump??  Oh and also I am attaching to this pond a smaller section for our baby RES.  Let me take a pic of the set-up so far.  We are waiting on the liner and pump and then I will add 8"x16" pavers to the top row. http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1178.jpg[/IMG] 

[FL.AlligatorSnapperMan]

That looks like its gonna be awesome. I would fill the block with concrete around rebar rods cut to size at least anywhere a corner is. You own the house im guessing. Your basement is on a solid concrete foundation? The floor isnt wood and suspended on trusses is it? Thats a lot of weight. After all the concrete you havent even got the water in it! Thats gonna be a fun project.  I've never been in a basement.   I would definently use concrete to fill the Masonary Block w/reb rods. It might be overkill but if I build something I want it to be tuff and done right plus thats not that much $$$ concrete. Play it safe.

[~Cindy~]

So is it a inside pond? If not then you would need predator protection and turtle escape proof. Ie fence under and over the pond

[FL.AlligatorSnapperMan]

 Basements probably get pretty cold huh ???You might wanna cut to fit a piece of 'fiber air conditioning/Heating duct board' to the floor so it acts as a thermal barrier because concrete sucks up the cold.  Its about 30 bucks a sheet around here . I made a jacket for my tank and my filter out of the stuff.  Its hard to main tain temp. out side but the consequence is far worse where you are at. You probably need 1-1/2 of a piece unless you would want to double layer it.  TurtlePhene,  i think, showed me a good web-site for some high watt rated digital heaters.  Do you remember that site T.Phene or am I going crazy?

[TertelPhene]

lol, i dont think it was me, maybe you're going crazy?  lol j/k

that looks like its going to be fun.  watch the humidity though, all that water in your basement can cause mold, dampness, damp smells, and warping of wood.

[tschuesler]

Basements probably get pretty cold huh ???You might wanna cut to fit a piece of 'fiber air conditioning/Heating duct board' to the floor so it acts as a thermal barrier because concrete sucks up the cold.  Its about 30 bucks a sheet around here . I made a jacket for my tank and my filter out of the stuff.  Its hard to main tain temp. out side but the consequence is far worse where you are at. You probably need 1-1/2 of a piece unless you would want to double layer it.  TurtlePhene,  i think, showed me a good web-site for some high watt rated digital heaters.  Do you remember that site T.Phene or am I going crazy?

 
My basement is heated so therefore it should get cold, not like outside thats for sure.  The full length is heated.  I also have 2 dehumidifiers running at all times normally.  So hopefully the humidity levels will be ok.  Thanks guys for your input.  About that website you guys were talking about before with the heaters I checked themout already and the largest heater is out of stock, so I am trying to find about 800 watt heater for a back-up.  And where do i get fiber air conditioning/heating duct board from??  How big is it???  Like sheetrock?

[tschuesler]

Oh and bye the way yes, the floor is solid concrete, with tile on that.  Really thank you for all your ideas.

[TurtleKing]

Yes, you should look at reinforcing the concrete blocks if they are just stacked there. With that much water you will have a lot of outward force on the walls. If you don't want to concrete them or grout, you might be able to surround it with 2x6's or something of that nature boarded together.

[FL.AlligatorSnapperMan]

Im not sure the exact measurements of the duct board but it lays flat perfectly in the bed of a full size pick-up truck on top of the wheel wells with the tail gate down. If you dont have a truck you could just cut it into sections to put in your car and when you put it back together on the floor in your basement tape the seems with AirConditioning Foil Tape. You could even cut pieces to line the walls of your tank from the inside with it which would make it even more efficient. They also sell this stuff called 'Mastic' which is like a white paste that you apply with a paint brush to the corners and areas where one piece meets another. It dries 100% after about a day, it insulates and fills any gaps in the board. Its also really tuff stuff. Make sure you get Mastic #2 its white.  If you get Mastic thats Grey its meant for metal Duct not Fiber Duct, just make sure you get the stuff for the FiberGlassDucT Board.  Now where do you get all this you ask.  Lowes probably wont have it. Lowes will have the foil tape probably but you'll need to go to a 'AirConditioning and Heating Supply store'.  Everytown has one nearby somewhere. When you tape the seams with foil tape use and ID card to squgee out any air and force it down good and tight. Duct board comes in 1 inch thick pieces and 1-1/2 thick pieces.  It might be cheaper where your from. Airconditioning is a big money maker in Florida.

[tschuesler]

The pond is coming along heater is in place, filter and pump are in.  Just need to trim up the liner, and glue the caps on.  I found a 800 watt titanium heater, I forget the name .  There is now a smaller section in the front for the hatchlings we have.  That has seperate filtration, pumps and heater.  Heres a few pics.  We sized it down beacuse of it being in the basement.  All is good.  Tell me what you all think!!!
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1254.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1239.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1252.jpg

[RunescapePlayer]

Looks awesome! 

I love your idea for your hatchlings. I would have never thought about that.
How are you going to do the basking areas?

Keep up the good work! 

[tschuesler]

I've put alot of monies into this so later on I might get an islandscape for the center of the large pond.  Here are some more pics.
all thats left is to paint the outside walls and the caps.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1266.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1267.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/tschuesler/100_1262.jpg

[RunescapePlayer]

Your pond is looking fabulous.

I noticed the little filter for the hatchling turtle part of the pond.
I used one of those, and it wasn't very good.
Hopefully it will work better for you.
Good luck! :]

-Philip 

[Bullfrog]

WOW  Great indoor pond.
You have to be a true Turt lover to have that set-up

[FL.AlligatorSnapperMan]

once again....NIIICCCEEE