Pond style lagoon planning

[SeymourDuncan]

This is my next venture, a preform pond style reef for my office. Its a large room with one computer. Needs aqua!!

So I have a few ideas but this one is what I would love to do more than any of them.

Cut a preform pond in half and make a flat back with a built in overflow to the basement.

The pond I have is 6x8ish and much too large for my floor. Half of it sticking out of the wall would just be perfect for what I want.

Now: this is my rough sketch on my high tech program called "paper and marker" (highly suggest you download it)
The pond and where I want it cut

The pond positioned against the wall.

And the through wall overflow

The pond will be positioned from a corner, so the wall will be false, just to hide equipment like plumbing and electrical goodies. That parts not an issue.
Making a back that is flat and leak proof is my first obstacle.
ADVICE & IDEAS?

Next I think for the overflow I can just use a few modded pool skimmers and be fine.

The ponds structures will be built up and out of the water with a mangrove or 10. Lighting will be led cannons built into the wall on timers and possibly moving rails for natural light spread.

Corals maybe (probably) but I may go for a hefty puffer or something of that nature. Something different than the reefs I have

 

[Rikerbear]

Looks like a fun build. Anxious to see it come together

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Thanks! I really need help planning the flat back side

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

Wow, sounds awesome!

 

[GHill762]

Cool. I always thought a reef pond would be killer! Lighting may be tough..

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Lighting won't be as bad as makin the flat back to it.

I'll just use Kessel type cannons sticking from the wall which will be hidden by the fake landscape. Or a chandelier type deal...probably just use the wall though.

I also plan on having a viewing cycle for the pumps. I'll have a switch that turns off any surface agitating pumps for 15 or so mins to view my critters and feed.

But! None can happen until I build the back to the pond. So little holding so much back it is drivin me bonkers lol.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

You have a hard time water proofing the pond to the staight wall. I would make the hole thing pond and wall out of waky wood and plywood, then fiberglass the inside.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Well the idea is building a wall onto the pond like your talking, I like the fiber glass idea. The pond will be in a framed in box for support as well.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I can build the pond section outside and test it outdoors as well.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

It just like building a plywood tank but you don't worry about the veiwing glass. Many DIY on building plywood tanks.

 

[ReeferBob]

Seems like an adventurous idea. But also seems like a lot of work for something you will barely ever see. Why not incorporate a window into the tank - perhaps hidden behind some feature - so that you can see the tank occupants?

 

[SeymourDuncan]

ReeferBob: I think the top view will be fine for what I'm doing. When my aquariums pumps are off I can view everything down to the sand in my 90g which is deeper.

The window would be really cool though, just not easy to incorporate into a floor, now: if I could do in I. Ground pond and view from the basement that could me pretty sweet. I might as well make a public aquarium though with that much of a home remodel! Haha.

 

[tidus10]

What about a nice thicker plexiglas? Easily.bonded with silicone and painted on back to conseal everything

 

[Otter_rs]

Is that high tech blueprint program comparable with the iPhone? That's my kind of planning. As for your problem with sealing the new wall, well the big issue is combining two different materials together. Is the pond polypropylene? You can actually weld polypropylene together with special tools.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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[Otter_rs]

Compatible* not comparable.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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[SeymourDuncan]

Heck yeah it's compatible! And comparable! Its almost like you physically draw on paper!
Haha

This is the pond. I don't have a clue what its made of, most likely what you said! Haha

 

[Otter_rs]

Nice! I'll have to look into that. Haha...
Look all over the liner. It should have a triangle with a number in the middle. Probably on the bottom. That will tell you what kind of plastic it is.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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[SeymourDuncan]

When its not frozen ill flip it over. I had to put a giant ash tray fire out in it so its full of butts. Not my fault. :/

I thought about chipping it and throwing away the ice so I didn't have to clean the crap out of it lol. I will keep you I formed. This weekend might be warmer

 

[kyle1284]

i have always loved the top down view on tanks. it just adds another perspective to the entire experience.

as far as lighting....i would go with LED's with some super focused optics that are 3-4 feet in the air suspended. another idea is have a actuator that remotely moves lighting array up and down
:xd:

 

[SeymourDuncan]

This pond is not going to work in my house on account of the woman. She thinks the dogs will try to bathe in it.

So in anger I dug a huge hole in my yard and started making a landscape for my pond. Lol.
Maybe of its a dry summer ill make it saltwater hahah. Yeah right