indoor water garden ponds construction

Steps to build an indoor pond ..

1- How to Build an Indoor Pond :

courtesy to : www.wikihow.com/Build-an-Indoor-Pond

Indoor ponds can be made from anything that can hold water, from a plastic bucket to a toddler's swimming pool or even a glass aquarium. Whatever your preference, consider the following when researching how to build an indoor pond.

Steps

1-Decide where you want your indoor pond to be. Heavier ponds should be located on the lower levels of your home, such as your basement.

2-Choose your pond container,and place it where you want it to be.

3- Build up the sides of your pond by stacking stones along the edges of your container until the top edge is concealed by a row of stones.

4-Run a hose from your kitchen sink or outdoor faucet to your container, and add ordinary tap water to your pond until the water level is about 3 inches(7.62 cm) from the top of your container.

5-Place a small submersible pump in the center of your pond. This will keep the water from becoming stagnant by keeping it moving.

6-Turn on your submersible pump, and add a chlorinator to the pond water while it is running, to help keep the water clean.

If you want to add goldfish to your pond, you will need to build up the sides of your pond and use an aquarium filter to keep the water clean rather than the chlorinator. Add the filter to the pond before you add the pump, and turn them on simultaneously.

7- Decide what kind of plants you want to place around your pond and re-pot them in sand or clay.

8-Finish your pond by placing your plants around the edges of your pond.

Video :

Tips :

If you want to create a sense of differing heights, place your plants in tiers so that some of them are outside the pond, while others are partially in the pond water by using stones or varying sizes of overturned pots placed so that the plants and the tops of their pots are above the water line.
If your pond is in your basement, you may want to add a heater to your pond to keep the water at a temperature that is conducive to plants. You may also want to add a plant light to keep the plants healthy and green.
If you have fish in your indoor pond, feed them a little at a time rather than all at once. This will help to keep the water clean by creating less debris to filter out.
If you have an outdoor pond, pour a few cups of water from your outdoor pond into your indoor pond to add in bacteria that will help to keep the water clean.
If you are growing water lilies, make sure you know what depth they need. Most need 18" - 24" of water.

Warnings :

Be sure to keep pets away from your indoor pond or supervise them closely; not only can a small pet drown, but a large dog can destroy your pond and even the floor along with it.

Things You'll Need :

Container of your choice
Submersible pump to fit the size of your pond
Supply of rocks or stones
Pond heater if your pond is in your basement
Plant light if the location of your pond is dim or gets less than 4 hours of sunlight in a day
Chlorinator or an aquarium water filter to keep your pond water clean

2-How to Build an Indoor Aquatic Turtle Pond

Turtles are becoming increasingly popular, but housing them can be difficult. Fish tanks do not provide them with the dry space they need and outdoor ponds expose them to threats from potential predators. If you have the space and the skills, building an indoor pond could be a great option for your turtle. Keep in mind the rule of thumb for the size is 10 gallons (37.9 L) per inch of shell. An indoor pond can be a decorative addition to your home and consists of a pre-formed pond that you can purchase in a variety of shapes and sizes, a basking area, and a frame.

Steps :

PART ONE : Preparing for Construction

1-Find an appropriate location in your home. You will need to find a large space in the house to fit the tank. Measure it out to determine how much space you have available.

Try to find a place that will suffer less damage if there is any sort of leak, that is easy to clean, and where the turtle can reside for a long time. If possible, you should also pick a site that will allow your turtle to get some natural light.

2-Determine the size of the pond. Keep in mind the amount of space for the location chosen in the house and that there will be a frame built for the pond to sit in, which will also serve as a basking/land area.

4-Purchase a liner. If you prefer not to get a pond, you can also purchase a large, water resistant liner. There is, however, a slightly greater possibility that a turtle could use its claws to puncture a liner.[2]

3-Find a surface mount pond. Surface mount ponds cost $30-$90 and are available for purchase online. You will want to purchase one slightly smaller than the space you have allotted for the pond, because you will also want to build a frame and basking area so that your turtle can leave the water occasionally..[1]

PART TWO : Building the Pond

1-Cut two-by-fours. Purchase several two-by-fours verifying that they are all of the same dimensions. Use a miter gauge to cut the wood into the dimensions that you measured out. Set up a gauge block to the appropriate length so that all of your boards will be cut to the same length.[3]

You will need a large work space with proper tools for this work. A large garage is appropriate.

2- Build the frame. Nail together beams to form two rectangles, one for the bottom and one for the top of the frame. Connect the two rectangles with support beams. Install one support beam for every foot of the perimeter of the rectangular frame.[4]

To bind the planks together, put wood glue on the edge and press together. Hold them together with bar clamps. Then nail several nails into the corner to hold them into place.[5]

3- Measure the pond. You will want to see how much wood is necessary to hold the lip and the bottom of the pond in place. Cut wood appropriately and nail into place along the rectangular frame.

4-Place pond in the frame. Fill with water to check for leaks and see how the pond fits in the frame. The pond may fit differently with water in it and adjustments may need to be made. Do not wait to fill pond with water until it is in the home. You can empty this water out before moving the pond into position. It is just to check for leaks.

5-Add a barrier around the basking area. The basking area can be of any size or shape. You will want to ensure that the turtle does not fall off the landing. Nail in a wooden enclosure around the perimeter of the basking area. Hardware stores sell small fences that could be nailed into the edge of the landing. Be sure that the barrier is significantly taller than your turtle.

Providing an area for your turtles to bask is important. Turtles regulate their temperatures, elevate their metabolism and increase the efficiency for their immune and digestive systems by basking.[6]

PART THREE : Making the Pond a Home

1-Fill the pond with substrate. Sand and fine gravel are generally considered the best substrates. Standard gravel can be dangerous because turtles are known to eat it.[7]

A deeper coral sand substrate can be substituted for soft-shell turtles.[8]

2-Build a ramp. You should provide some way for your turtle to walk up onto the basking area. Consider cutting a couple of two-by-fours and nailing them in to serve as a ramp.[9]

Alternatively hardware cloth or poultry netting can be attached to the pond, providing a ladder.[10]
Nailing shingles to the ramp can make it easier for your turtle to climb up.[11]

3-Install a basking lamp. In the outdoors, turtles leave the water to get into the warm sun. The lighting you provide serves as a substitute. You will want to make sure that the lighting is positioned correctly above the basking site.

A UVB 2.5 lamp is usually 12 inches (30.5 cm) above the basking site and a UVB 5 lamp is usually about 18 inches (46 cm) above the basking site.[12]
The basking area should only be 10 °F (−12 °C) warmer than the water temperature to encourage basking. Areas that are too hot may discourage the turtle from basking or risk exposing the turtle to hyperthermia.[13] Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the basking area and adjust the placement of the lamp accordingly.[14]

4-Add plants and other decorations. To make the aquatic pond more homey, you can add artificial or live plants such as water lettuce, water hyacinth or duckweed. Decorations such as wooden logs or artificial rocks also provide a personal touch.[15]

Be mindful not to include any plants that turtles are allergic to. Some common plants that are toxic to turtles are: azalea, christmas rose, daffodil, iris, ivy, jimson weed, mistletoe, morning glory, nightshade, and tobacco.[16]

Tips :

Turtles love shaded spaces so you might consider getting some small caves from a pet store.
Space can be made for dirt in case female turtles need to lay eggs.
If your turtle is going to lay eggs, make a nice room full of loose dirt.

Things You'll Need :