Saltwater Swimming Pool...With Fish???

[TheOne]

There was someone that had made an indoor above ground pool into a saltwater tank. Not sure where that thread went. I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper just to buy a house at the beach and go swimming with the fishes that way, ha.

 

[TARHEEL78]

How are ya now?

Good N you?

 

[Marco S]

There was someone that had made an indoor above ground pool into a saltwater tank. Not sure where that thread went. I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper just to buy a house at the beach and go swimming with the fishes that way, ha.

Maybe when California falls into the ocean I will have beach front property, but until then I don't think I'll be anywhere near a beach.

 

[Letterkenny]

Good N you?

Not so bad. Now let’s pitter patter now.

 

[sscbobby]

I know up here (nj) during the summer my pool can get upward of 90 deg during the summer evaporate like crazy. And then I'd have to flush the water with cooler water to make it not a bath. But some cooler summers the water could be like 70 especially if we have cloudy or rainy weeks

Yes correct my tank temperature indoor swimming up to 95 degree. I just brought a chill to get down the temperature

 

[CheckeredPants]

A good majority of public aquariums use natural sunlight to keep their tanks lit and larger equipment than you’ll find through any R2R sponsor to maintain them. I wouldn’t see this project any differently. Swimming in fish poop?...that’s what the ocean is. As long as you have the right equipment this is doable. I’d turn the attention of research to larger public aquariums and see their setups. I may be wrong here, but no one on this form has tanks that compare to the volume you’re talking about. It’s 100% doable.

 

[Marco S]

This has been done before but only for a day.

If the kids that gave that girl $1,000 just for eating a fish say it's too expensive to maintain...then it's probably too much for me. Lol

Thanks for posting this video though, that's pretty awesome!!!

 

[TARHEEL78]

Not so bad. Now let’s pitter patter now.

Let's get at er!

 

[count krunk]

STOP

Take the extra money you would spend and instead build a custom tank that is 200+ gallons

 

[Righteous]

You have to choose either a sanitary pool, or a giant outdoor aquarium that will quickly turn into an algae farm.

As others have said, a “saltwater” pool just uses NaCl to generate chlorine. It does NOT contain any other ions like magnesium, etc that seawater has. It’s totally different. A saltwater pool will still run chlorine at levels of at least 3ppm chlorine. It’s the only way to maintain a sanitary environment. This will certainly kill any fish. It also has the effect of keeping your pool sparkling clean, and algae free.

Now if you want fish... then you can’t have chlorine... and outdoors under the sun means lots of green algae. That is unless you have some massive export system for nutrients, which is what public aquariums use... like 10 foot tall skimmers, etc.

And public aquariums don’t let people go swimming in their tanks, because it’s just not sanitary... for the fish or for the humans.

As for swimming with fish poop in the ocean... the ocean is slightly larger than your pool will be. That means someone with hepatitis swimming in the ocean isn’t likely to transfer it to someone else.... that person in your pool?? Well I wouldn’t want my kids swimming in it.

 

[RandyC]

Even if it was doable to get this running long term based on water chemistry and temperature, I'd worry about all the things humans would bring into the water. Things like sun screen, makeup, hair products, lotions, beer, etc.

@Righteous agree with the germs...that pool would probably be a disease factory!

 

[sscbobby]

I realize this may be a stupid question and have done absolutely no research on it...but I'm going to ask it anyway. ;Happy

I am planning on putting in a swimming pool next year and was looking into the benefits of saltwater pools with sand on the bottom. I never really thought about it, but just saw an old video of Tank'd where they built a diving pool in someones house. It was more like a river that went through several rooms and was really cool. I know that is a TV show and some of what they do is questionable and probably just for TV, but what if???

Has anyone ever looked into or does anyone current have a swimming pool that they keep fish in? If so, what are the challenges and what type of fish would be OK to keep. Also, what type of budget am I looking at? I already planned on between $35 - $45K, but could probably throw in another $20 - $25K if needed. Anything more than that I would probably just save for the Bucket List once I decide it's time for that.

To be clear, I am talking about a swimming pool with fish, not a diving tank. Any info is much appreciated! ;Happy

I bet indoor swimming pool tank cost alot money
Here my indoor pool with a reef inside the house . That where I keep all baby animal lover at.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Not so bad. Now let’s pitter patter now.

Let's get at er!

Monday can't come fast enough for you guys......

 

[Marco S]

STOP

Take the extra money you would spend and instead build a custom tank that is 200+ gallons

OK...I'll stop dreaming now and come back to reality.

I am planning on a 300 + gallon tank soon anyway, just figured combining it with the pool project would be really cool and probably around the same cost as doing both.

You have to choose either a sanitary pool, or a giant outdoor aquarium that will quickly turn into an algae farm.

As others have said, a “saltwater” pool just uses NaCl to generate chlorine. It does NOT contain any other ions like magnesium, etc that seawater has. It’s totally different. A saltwater pool will still run chlorine at levels of at least 3ppm chlorine. It’s the only way to maintain a sanitary environment. This will certainly kill any fish. It also has the effect of keeping your pool sparkling clean, and algae free.

Now if you want fish... then you can’t have chlorine... and outdoors under the sun means lots of green algae. That is unless you have some massive export system for nutrients, which is what public aquariums use... like 10 foot tall skimmers, etc.

And public aquariums don’t let people go swimming in their tanks, because it’s just not sanitary... for the fish or for the humans.

As for swimming with fish poop in the ocean... the ocean is slightly larger than your pool will be. That means someone with hepatitis swimming in the ocean isn’t likely to transfer it to someone else.... that person in your pool?? Well I wouldn’t want my kids swimming in it.

You make some very valid points...thank for killing my dreams. Lol

 

[Letterkenny]

Monday can't come fast enough for you guys......

You can go ahead and summit Mt. What's-Yer-Point any time now.

 

[Faded]

It's not saltwater but Ohio Fish Rescue on YouTube has a pool full of monsters. Pretty dang cool

 

[lapin]

If you ever get the chance to get behind the scenes at a large public aquarium you can get some idea of what it takes to run a large tank. Maintaining the system would require time.1 full time person could prob do it. Next is money.
Maybe just build one of the surf parks with a wave maker for that reef break experience

Keçiören Outdoor Aquarium | Ocean Aquarium | Big Aquarium | Tunnel Aquarium | Sea Aquarium

Zoo and Aquarium Design

Notes on zoo and aquarium exhibits, and design issues concerning visitors, care takers, animals and materials.

zooandaquariumdesign.blogspot.com

 

[meatgrinder]

Those are some good concerns...maybe I could do a section of the pool separated with acrylic so parameters would be easier to keep in check and I wouldn't be swimming in fish food or poop.

Edit: The temp would be a problem since I am in AZ and it is over 100 for three months straight. Cooling would be pretty expensive. I do have a large family room that I rarely use that is right next to the garage and could potentially sacrifice both and use the space for a pretty large indoor pool, but that would probably get really expensive and I would have to park in the uncovered driveway...probably not worth it in the long run.

Such a cool idea to dream about, but yeah. I don't see it as realistic.
If you put this indoors, you'd probably destroy your house from the humidity of the evaporation... not just from mold, but the integrity and warping of ceiling/floor joists

 

[MombasaLionfish]

To bad I was really looking forward to a build thread.

 

[Albert Bazaar]

This would be a traditional swimming pool in a traditional shape, (large oval or rectangle of some sort) and used for swimming without requiring scuba gear. It would go from shallow to deep and not have viewing windows for starters...