How many gallons?!?!

[bra8ndy8]

Is a 18 ft length 13 width and 3 1/2 depth?

[lellison]

6126.55 U.S. gallons I believe. wow.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/calculator.php

double check. Is that how big your pond is???

[bra8ndy8]

LOL Heck I don't know.... I tried and kept getting different numbers!!! We have almost finished forming the above ground pond.....level with the patio in the front yard.

And I kept telling my husband, everyone regrets not making it big enough.

[guppyfreak2]

Length x width x depth x 7.5 = gallons 6142.5

guppyfreak2 added 0 Minutes and 32 Seconds later...

http://www.bonniesplants.com/how_to/how_many_gallons.html

[bra8ndy8]

Thanks! ;)

Now anyone want to help me with the DIY filter..... I was thinking about doing the 100 gallon stock tank waterfall?!?!

[Kat]

I'd go with a 150 gallon stock tank or larger. I'm using a 100 gallon tank on only 800 gallon pond.

[pam916]

Is this a pond or a swimming pool, lol? Pics/

[alta678]

X2 :D

[bra8ndy8]

A pond.........I'll remeasure today, but I think that's right!

They say that your biggest regret on a pond is that u didn't go BIG enough :p:

[Trippy]

That's 7 gallons less than Lake Dallas:D

[alta678]

With the drought in this area probably true!!!! :hehe:

[budwick weiser]

So are you making a mud hole for yourself brandy?
Posted via Mobile Device

[lellison]

wow, that is huge! Tell your hubby great job! He spoils you :hehe:

:npics:

[bra8ndy8]

Thanks!!! Well the new measurements are in.........


And I don't know how to make a diagram!hehehe So bear with me!

It is 19 ft long
13 ft wide.....
And the depths
are
29 31

28 30
Inches

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g141/bra8ndy8/l_910f0ef7eaa94b78be6e3c40ca606657.jpg

Here's a phone pic!!!


Ok people HELP me with the filter......and any other info you feel like throwing my way!!!!!!!

[AndrewH]

4620 gallons with those dims ;).

Very nice start. And if I had the room and permission, mine would be that big too :D.

What DIY filter are you wanting to use? I'm sure we could all come out for a Saturday afternoon wine drinking trickle filter build party :drinking4::happydrunks:

[greeneyed]

So are you making a mud hole for yourself brandy?
Posted via Mobile Devicehttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EUcs5uycpQk/RjmTXlqaYJI/AAAAAAAAALQ/gcIzBnQhtKw/s400/redneck-swimming-pool.jpg

[bra8ndy8]

Well I have invited yall out all the time!! hehehe I liked the Stock pond/ waterfall one.....but didn't know if it was gunna filter it. So help........I did the big part......so now HELP! LOL

It wasn't going to be that big about Half.....but then my husband rolled the liner out my brother and law gets, and I was like "Hummmm We got it, why waste it!"
And we had the railroad ties........so it we have no money in it, except for the top wood......and the water!!

[alta678]

That's a really nice pond, Brandy! Do you hire out your husband? :hehe:

[bra8ndy8]

You can have him! hehehe

[xtc]

one freakin picture?!!

http://karisblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/weak-man.jpg

[Kat]

That has turned out really nice & you'll have fun stocking it. Many different ways to filter, so I don't really have any suggestions other than the Skippy style.

[bra8ndy8]

My brother in law used my camera for my nieces cheer competition....and I just got it back! I will take more......but it's just a tub with water in it! hehehehe


Thanks Kat! I will need planting suggestions and help soon.........and you defiantly know how to do that TOP NOTCH!! I have a brown thumb!

[bra8ndy8]

Well I think it's official.....
I am going to go with a Skippy......I'm gunna do the 150 gallon, and if the pond starts getting crowded I can add another.
The site says that a 150 will do 4500 gallons, so it should work!
http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

Hey and I can probably get the floor scrubbers at wholesale since I have that hook up! LOL
I haven't seen what size pump. But I have a spa pump......size and brand IDK at this second.
Would this work??

[Kat]

I don't know a lot about pumps. You may want to ask on www.Koiphen.com (http://www.Koiphen.com) forum or www.AmericanPonders.com (http://www.AmericanPonders.com) forum to see what people recommend. There are cost effective pumps & then there are some that cost an arm & leg for electricity.

That would be good if you could get floor scrubbers wholesale. My Skippy is filled with the plastic bath scrubbies that I got at a flea market 3 for $1. Haven't been able to find them that cheap since & wish I could get more.

[AndrewH]

At 4000+ gallon, if you plant and stock it correctly you shouldn't need any type of filter (over stock the plants and slightly under stock the fish at least at first). Course a filter never hurt either :hehe:

[bra8ndy8]

Well I want to do some Koi...........and I don't know the first thing about plants! So If anyone knows any easy hardy ones! Pipe up!

[AndrewH]

According to Kat, Kio will need better water quality than most fish, so a filter of some type would be recommended.

Seems Kat would probably be the best pond plant info source as well ;)

[Kat]

KOI & PLANTS don't mix well. When the koi get bigger, they will uproot & knock over plants making a mess of the water, shredding plants, etc. Many people have found that they need 2 ponds, 1 for koi & 1 for goldfish with plants. Koi will also grow rapidly, beautiful fish but be sure to read up on their requirements. I don't know how many posts I've read where folks are asking what they can do to keep their koi out of their plants. I started with baby koi & bog plants. Eventually took the bog plants out. Eventually found new homes for the koi because they just got too big. Now that pond is perfect for a few lilies with my watonai goldfish.

As for "hardy" plants, depends on what you are looking for. Hardy lilies require a minimum dish pan sized pot & you can grow tropical lilies quite easily in our zone. Bog plants that do well for me are taros, Umbrella Palm, dwarf Papyrus, Pickerel Rush, bog iris, Parrot's Feather, etc.

Lots of helpful info
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/
http://www.americanponders.com/forum/index.php
http://www.victoria-adventure.org/

Victoria Adventure is a massive site with lots of articles on plant cultivation, so be sure to check them out.

[bra8ndy8]

Thanks hun! I will start my reading!

As far as the Koi.......I was going to seperate the Koi and the plants with some type of screen or eggcrate, trial or error!

bra8ndy8 added 12 Minutes and 33 Seconds later...

Hey I also heard that Dallas Discus, John Drum or something?? He raises Koi.....anyone know?

Also is it best to have rocks for the bottom? I was wondering if Ceramic tile would work? Broke but no sharp edges?
Just trying to not go broke!! LOL

[Kat]

No rocks on the bottom is recommended as it is more difficult to clean up around them. Have fun with the challenge of keeping the koi out of the plants when they are bigger fish.

[AndrewH]

Build a rock wall within the pond. Heck you have plenty of room to section parts off ;).

[bra8ndy8]

Ok.......well we got a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank....and I am going to fill it....and have a waterfall !
But I need to know what size pump I need.....and where the best place to get one is??

[ElijahTurtle]

Home Depot has pumps for ponds but the better pumps are in the plumbing area, not with the pond stuff.
I would shoot for close to 3500-4000 gph range at a bare minimum for your pond size or multiple smaller pumps. You really want to turn your pond over at a minimum of 1 time per hour, closer to 1.5X to 2X per hour would be better.

[cichlidkeeper]

if you get some parrots feather, i would like to get a few pieces. i have seen it put in biofalls, covering the bioballs or rocks. it starts to grow out of the water and flower. for pond plants look here- www.liveaquaria.com (http://www.liveaquaria.com)

[AndrewH]

Any pic updates brandy? Did you get your plants in there yet?

[bra8ndy8]

I started a new thread with the updates, up and running, and plants!

bra8ndy8 added 0 Minutes and 46 Seconds later...

if you get some parrots feather, i would like to get a few pieces. i have seen it put in biofalls, covering the bioballs or rocks. it starts to grow out of the water and flower. for pond plants look here- www.liveaquaria.com (http://www.liveaquaria.com)
I haven't got any yet....but if I do, you can have some!

[ElijahTurtle]

Brandy, I saw some large bunches of Parrots feather on eBay pretty cheap today. The auction had 5 or 6 large bundles of it.

[bra8ndy8]

I saw that......I ordered like 6-7 bog plants from some guy who offered free shipping and got some really nice plants. They should be here on Tuesday!

[ElijahTurtle]

Sweet, I plan ordering some as soon as I start the dig. I have plenty of empty containers to grow them in outside till it is up & running.
Still waiting on Tax return so I can buy my liner.