Oscar Pond?

[nc_nutcase]

I've been shopping for ways to create a large environment for Oscars and probably a Pair of Green Terrors. The design I modified from something I found online will potentially create an approx 550 gal indoor Oscar pond (5.5' x 5.5' @ 2.5' deep - 567.2 US Gal). I have a billion ideas and want nothing more than to tell you every one (yes I get obsessive about my projects) but will save you the ramblings unless prompted.

So the question... experienced Oscar lovers... if you could provide your Oscar with such an environment... what would you do with it regarding décor? Also any other ideas or points to consider on such a project are very welcome.

(Filter wise I plan to use two Magnum 350s with a UV light incorporated into it. Will also have a 3rd Mag 350 on it at times as now I have one I use when cleaning tanks that will 'live' on the pond when not off cleaning elsewhere.)

 

[Ben]

sounds great
as for decor,i think it should be the same as you would have in an aquarium,natural gravel and some big rocks(make some caves)and possibly driftwood,plants (as im sure you know)are out of the question as the oscar would eat them

HTH
DD

 

[nc_nutcase]

Any Pros/Cons in using sand as opposed to gravel? My thought here is primarily to protect the interior liner. I’m sure heavy rocks/wood/me pushing down on gravel has the potential of puncturing the liner which would in turn... piss me way off...

For that reason I’m considering a sand bottom, Gluing (siliconing) slate together in such a way to make a 3 dimensional cave system with large and small holes for both large cichlids to hid in as well as fry/crawfish/goldfish (well quarantined, I know they don't 'need' them but if I go out of town or have company for a weekend its nice to be able to just throw a couple net full’s in with them and not have to worry about them for a couple days) and whatever other creepy crawlies I put in there. I know plants are a huge no no... but I've gotta. I came up with a system that has worked quite successfully in my limited experiments (its a new idea still and I only have but so many tanks ) in short what I do is build a box out of slate that is twice as deep as it is wide (length can be whatever) with no top to the slate box. I've been using 6" deep and 3 " wide. Then simply put two inches of gravel in the bottom and insert your plants as usual. Then pour 3-4 more inches of gravel on top of that and hope its enough. If ya have one of those fish who just enjoy destroying plants… nothing will save them. But this method seems to keep them rooted until destroyed. Also if the tank is spacious enough and the fish have other things to play with (like crawfish {that‘s a joke}) they are less likely to destroy plants (less likely doesn’t mean they wont though) Anything we put in with large cichlids (and often small ones!) they are likely to move rearrange / disassemble / destroy / eat / juggle... who knows. I highly enjoy the effect plants have on fish (visually at least) so I'll take the risk. Worse case scenario I waste $15 on plants and a couple hours on clean up. Heck I look forward to the weekends so I can blow time and money on them (not really how I looked at it until now but...)

Okay someone needs to put a limit on me... I’m babbling too much... this started asking for pros/cons regarding sand.

 

[Ben]

lol, babble all you want
the only thing that i see bad with sand is that you see all the poop from the oscars,and theyre poop machines so it wouldnt be a pretty sight to see, unless the filter is mega powerful and will suck up the poop

DD

 

[nc_nutcase]

more babble after research and consideration...

I agree with the visible poop not being such a delightful welcoming. They make a fabric to go under a liner for an outdoor pond. Its function is to protect the liner from sharp rocks, roots and rodents. I can put the same fabric on top of the liner to protect it from the gravel, etc. So sand isn't as important now.

For filtration I plan on using 2 Magnum 350s full time and possibly a third if needed. With that being said, I've planned out building an under gravel filter out of PVC pipe which will sit on the bottom of the pond (literally on top of the fabric which is on top of the liner), then bury it in gravel. This protects the liner which is why I considered the sand and also deals with the poop that settles to the bottom that DD didn't like about the sand idea. The under gravel system will be powered by one of the magnum 350s as opposed to an riser tube/air stone/air pump system (I HATE those damn vibrating air pumps!).

I'm still shopping for other ideas for decor. I'm mostly looking for any concepts which Oscars might enjoy in the wild but cannot be reproduced in the confinements of a 'small' tank (as all of our aquariums/tanks/ponds are small compared to the Amazon River Basin). What can I give them in a 550 Gal tank that I can't in a 125. I know there were lots of little extras I got when I got my house that I couldn't have in my little apartment... Any ideas?

 

[Ben]

okay so filteration wont be a problem

hmm, i dont think there might be anything outof the ordinary that youculd put in a 550gal that you can put in a 125,(remember that alot of the members on this site have 500gal+ home aquaria) i could only probably recomned boulder like rocks which the oscars wouldnt be able to move. ill post if i think of something

also,i was wondering if you were going to put your pacus in the 550gal pond as well?

DD

 

[nc_nutcase]

Who is going where is still a bit up in the air. I want to have the pond up and running for at least 2 weeks probably 4 before I truly stock it with it's residents to be. Initially my plan is to complete structural construction (finished work added after I make sure it doesn't explode will allow it to double as a coffee table), get it lined, filled and filtered, run it a week, then add plants (I have a trick that seems to work to keep plants with cichlids but this will be it's ultimate test) and run that for a week while playing with temperatures and heating ideas during that period. Then at 2 weeks add a kazillion (prolly more like 200 combined) guppies and goldfish (which will be quarantined in 2 29 gal tanks 2 weeks before they touch the pond). Then somewhere between week 3 and 4 add fish.

As to whom will go in... My goal is to have it as an Oscar pond with possibly a couple (2 or 3 max) other cichlids. I’ve seen Pacu almost 4' long and that scares me. I had a pair years ago that seemed to 'stop growing' at about 14". I can live with 2 - 14"ers in there but not 3 - 3 footers. So Im most likely going to keep them in 'smaller' tanks to discourage the growth spurt I anticipate seeing in the fish who get the pond. A huge part of me wants to just go Pet Store hopping and get 2 or 3 Oscars from 5 or 6 shops that are all 1" - 2" babies and grow me a dirty dozen from baby to adult in the pond. When/If possible I'll try to work my existing Oscars into the pond as well. This will open up the 125 for the Pacu until I do my next project (which hasn't been chosen yet but my ticker is tickin...)

From what I can see in the 125 Gal I have 2-3 months left before it gets dangerous. At that time the convicts will move into a 29 Gal of their own to spawn their lil brains out. I'm also not sure if the convict pair in the 55 Gal Terrarium are going to make it (I've only had them 3 or so days and they aren't perking up the way they should have) So if they don’t make it the mature convicts get that space. Regardless as long as I don't buy anything but the Oscars to add to what I have, I have plenty of space. Besides if not I ran across this 3.5' deep 8' x 12' kiddie pool that will fit in the other room in the basement... just gotta get rid of those big white boxes that the girlfriend keeps putting clothes in...

One of these days I'll keep my nose out of my tanks long enough to locate my digi camera software and post a pic gallery. Not that there are a line of people wanting to see my stuff, but dammit I’m proud! Okay, quick side question... besides DD, when I ramble this much do you guys really read it all? Not that it would matter, like I said, I'm proud, I'll type it anyway, lol.

Thanks...

Oh... PS... Since the last post I've scratched the u/g filter idea and am leaning back towards sand. I got a lot of pointers in sand maintenance playing in the chat room on this site. Also... FYI... materials were purchased today and construction began. I anticipate it being finished by tomorrow night, the liner is selected and will be picked up Monday (hopefully I get rained out of work ) and will be installed early next week. So by next weekend there will either be a big box full of water in my basement and I'll be smiling like a fat dog... or there will be a pile of lumber on a wet spot and you'll get to see me cry for the first time in years "bye bye pishie tank

 

[mitfull]

good luck with the project .. i read read it aswell .. lol .. but being new to oscars i cant really offer any input .. hope to see some pictures soon ..

 

[Erised]

Sounds like someone has got big plans there!! That sounds absolutely love though.
Afraid I cant help you with anything, seeing as I'm not into cichlids, but the topic just drew my attention So yes, some people do read through all the rambling

Good luck with it all! And hurry up getting that cam working for us all

 

[Blacky]

im really into DIY stuff and love these type of problems

how about sand and gravel

the one main thing you need to worry about is protecting that liner, cause if oscars start moving rock ect they may cause a tear or hole ect

if you line the bottom with sand and then add the rocks the sand will be a sort of cushion when they move things about you wont see the sand or poop cause the gravel will catch it all and hide it.

as far as decor goes i would just have large rock the cant move and drift wood if you like the plants how about get those ones that live in pots under the water but grow about it like a fern or sumfin you could even go as far as creating a feture wall out of it if it going in the corner have it like a rock pond at the bottom of a cliff make the wall in the room a rock face with greenery grow from it ect ect ect

just some more thoughts for ya

 

[nc_nutcase]

Sand and Gravel I think would negate each others primary 'good' quality while still providing the 'bad' quality. It still leaves gravel to puncture the bottom as well as makes me deal with sand which I foresee being harder to clean. Because you know regardless of what I put on top or bottom (sand or gravel) within a week its going to be a mixed up, blended pile after they settle in a bit. So far I'm leaning heavily toward sand as it's more intelligent to error in the side of safety even if it makes more work for me to keep it clean.

I like the idea of incorporating a wall on one side with greenery and even a waterfall. I've decided to make the pond in sections and focus on the basic structural unit now, next add an exterior to the box, then building something that can attach to the back wall containing greenery, waterfall maybe even a cage for the Ball Python.

Although I haven't priced or purchased it yet, as of now I plan on not putting any rocks in at all but instead use large chunks of wood (treated for fish tanks) to supply cover for them. So sand base, log decor, planted heavily filtered 6' x 6' @ 2.5 deep (approx 550 Gal, as the water level will only be about 2' deep) Pond with a Dozen Oscars with future potential of an attached water garden with waterfall. Sorry, I just like painting that picture in my mind (gives me motivation to get back downstairs and finish construction!.

 

[SHANTYMAID]

Sorry cant offer any input, but get filming or clicking soon cant wait to see

the film

Shanna

 

[nc_nutcase]

as of now all there is to see is a heap of lumber and hardware. The interior walls are constructed but not assembled. My liner is due to be here Friday so assembly will be done by then, liner added Friday or Sat, water added immediately after that... and I got the camera to go as far as uploading pictures... just have to find the stupid disc with the software for editing! But pics next weekend... I promise...

 

[DannyBoy17]

Whoa whoa whoa, tear the liner? What are you using, saran wrap?

Our pond liner is nice and strong, We just tossed big rocks into hours, and when we emptied it a while after, we found no tears.

I'd say go with a tough liner, with black sand. Thats just because I love black sand. I think riverbed gravel would look spectacular as well though.

DB

 

[nc_nutcase]

That’s great to hear (toughness of liners). This will be my first experience with a pond so I'm not sure how tough they are. The one I'm getting is 20 Mil and is white on one side/black on the other. I plan on using it so the white side is visible. I was planning on an off white sand making the Oscars stand out more, but... black sand does sound cool. Maybe even a 60-40 mix? How evenly would the colors blend? would it end up a speckled blend of have streaks (naturally both but which primarily)