Container Pond thoughts

[Karl_S]

This is the start of a container pond for on my deck. It is 20" deep and 4'x2'. I intend on putting 1.5" pink foam insulation around the sides and on the bottom. 2 layers on the front, back, and bottom, 1 on the smaller left and right sides. The sides and bottom as shown are 1" boards and it has 4x4 legs. After the foam will be a thin PVC sheeting with thicker PVC "lumber" for to and side frames and legs.

I'm in zone 7b, near the to of the Chesapeake Bay. Do you think I could overwinter fish? While I would love a couple butterfly koi, I know they would get too large. I will get some mosquito fish, maybe white clouds, and hopefully I'll find something showey, that won't get too large. I have had indoor aquariums most of my life, so this isn't completely new to me. I've also done a smaller spring through fall container.

 

[Stephen Noble]

That's a cool pond @Karl_S has there. Neat protected location. I guess I don't understand the foam insulation. Is it already in place under the liner or is it something you are going to add on the outside? You can overwinter some fish in there as long as there is a hole in the ice for gas exchange. One or two small (feeder size) goldfish might do nicely in there until they outgrow the pond. They will be large enough and visible from your seating area above. I wouldn't bother with any tropical or mid-temp fish like white clouds. Too much worry and hassle keeping the water warm enough even if you insulate the pond. A raised pond on a raised deck will be tough to keep warm. Is there electrical service near the pond?

 

[Karl_S]

Yes, there is power available in that corner.

The foam insulation will go outside of the wood. Outside of that will be a thin sheet of white plastic to make it look nice. So the layers, from inside out are liner, felt liner pad, 1" wood, 3" of foam insulation, then a sheet of white PVC on the outside.

The white clouds, more completely, white clouds mountain minnow, can tolerate cold water. I may add a couple temperature sensor and keep track of the water temperature at a few locations in the container for a year to see what I get. I already record other sensors around the house.

 

[Karl_S]

Meant to include this image of the foam insulation. For the larger areas, it will be 2 sheets thick, so 3" which will provide some decent insulation.

 

[RMaynard]

You could build a small hoop greenhouse over the top to help keep the heat in and reduce evaporation. A few sticks of pvc electrical conduit and some plastic sheeting... small effort compared to the insulation, etc. you already plan.

A 200w aquarium heater you can turn on if the water starts freezing over makes for good insurance.

 

[Dreyden]

I have an 18" deep 7'x6' fish pond and I live on lower eastern shore. My fish winter over just fine as long as I have my aeration and de-icer ring. They sell them online [pondguy.com] do not use a farm metal heater for livestock water!! Uses way too much electricity!
I'll send photos.

 

[Dreyden]

 

[Karl_S]

Got everything built. Need to seal the bog garden box at the top and add plumbing into it as well as the rocks. Was looking for a small piece of white liner but couldn't find one. Appears my best options are either Pond Armor Epoxy sealant or Flex Seal. The epoxy will be about 4x' the cost. The box is PVC and most of the seams SHOULD be sealed , but the center area is "wainscoting" and has groves. This meant the panel had gaps. They are caulked, but I want more protection.

Overall the bottom is just over 80 gallons and the bog is about 2 cubic feet.

 

[Hound Heaven]

It's an attractive piece of furniture, best of luck!

 

[Karl_S]

Thought I would give an update on this. I need don't more gravel in the filter and will get some more plants, but here it is as of this morning.

 

[GBBUDD]

oh boy you chose two of the fastest growing plants there are the papyrus can fill your entire pond with roots and shoots in one season and if that doesn't do the job the lotus certainly can . those poor pitchers don't stand a chance

 

[Karl_S]

It's a dwarf lotus. Oriole out of water. The papyrus is also a dwarf. If they get out of hand, they will be trimmed or relocated if too troublesome. The original concept started as a bog for Sarracenia. I have 3 other Sarrs as well, which may go in. Those are all in a common pot. Thinking of putting them all in one large finishpot.
I'm wondering how Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) and Grass Pink (Calopogon tuberosa) might do in the bog. I will try some sundew (specifically Drosera intermedia).

 

[sissy]

I trim roots of plants I start in my poind I just started 2 canas in my filter and have started banana plants and lily starts that i give away . I think now 6 of my nieghbors now have cold hardy banana plants I started that way and lots of canas . I know just planted 2 weeks ago lilac starts i had in my pond filter for 6 weeks to get healthy roots on them ,I will be starting some more hostas in it next . I seperated them but I want them healthier . The derr ate mine on the side of the house . They have been there for 20 years and now suddenly they decide to eat them WHY. I just put back in by my pond my first preformed I bought back in 2005 . It makes a great lily and frog pond . Keeps me from having to clean the left over frogs that the fish kill . I had a smaller liner pond there but it was leaking . The lily got bigger in there and I took off pieces to give them away to other ponders near me . I tell them about this sight but I guess they do not want to join

 

[sissy]

Thought I would give an update on this. I need don't more gravel in the filter and will get some more plants, but here it is as of this morning.

View attachment 169662

View attachment 169661

that fits in nicely with your porch and really does look great and you built it so that is a work of LOVE . I was amazed at when you built it that it was wood , because it looks like the rest of the porch . My brother lives where you are . He went down there when the ford plant closed in Edison on a transfer and then that plant closed there also and he has been working for Norfolk Southern railroad since