Finally a "proper" pond!

[Fishtanker]

I've had this 8 gallon container sitting around outside for a month or two, and it just looked so sad...so...empty. I had a couple of aquarium plants in there, just to see how they do (mixed reviews so far), but today, I took the plunge and got $30 worth of plants. WOW that was worth it! I've got a tiny solar water pump, and while it's no Niagara falls, it does it's job of keeping the water non-stagnant adorably well. $17 to China well spent, in my opinion. I put it in a yogurt cup, with a sponge and some gravel to A) not get clogged up and B) do at least a little bit of filtering.

So equipment:
-1 40 gph solar water pump
- 8 gallon container

Flora:
the ones you can see: mini cattail, water hyacinth, a pretty pink-lavender water iris, creeping jenny
Ones you can't see: java fern, A. renekii, ludwigia glandulosa, baby sword plant, willow hygro, 2 types of lillies, iffy if those will make it

Fish:
planning on adding a pair of male feeder guppies, they've colored up really really well, and I owe them a nice big home after keeping them in a too-small bowl

and one of the future inhabitants:

Thoughts? Advice? Funny jokes?

 

[j.w]

That looks really nice and the little fish will love it!

 

[addy1]

Very nice, those fish for sure will love it.

 

[Fishtanker]

How long should I wait to add the fish, since I just added the plants, or does it matter? From what I can tell, readings seem great for the guppies, but it's just been one day.

 

[buckry]

Cool, my aunt has a whiskey barrel with guppies in it. It's really cool.

 

[fishin4cars]

I like the little pond but in time your going to seriously out grow that little container. Malle guppy would be a good choice for size and mosguito control but they are a tropical species so would need to be brought in for the winter or when temps dropped beloe 65 degrees. You might want to look into white clouds. they like cooler water, will show up as well if not better than male guppies and they get about the same size. two or three in that size container will be fine.

 

[Fishtanker]

I would've gone white clouds, but the only ones I could get my hands on were mostly dead and dying. The guppies I've got a very close to the wild type, and as far as I can tell, quite hardy. They've thrived in 65 degree water. I've had my pair of males for a couple months now, they've grown, but as still only about 1 inch long. Pretty though, and I don't mind not being able to see them as much, since I already know what they look like. I'm not really worried about bringing them in, that would be easy enough.

This is probably about as big as I can get. I live in an apartment, probably going to be moving in a couple years, so I'm trying to not do anything too permanent so I can move it easier when I do move.

 

[addy1]

Good planning, that is a great set up you have and very nice for where you live.