Bunch of Info, need suggestions, thanks

[Summers]

Hello , , ,my name is Tim and I want to build a pond or is it an aquarium. I can very easily be long winded so I shall keep this pretty much to the point. I have a desire to build a half-barrel pond for my front porch.

Givens today:

No electricity
Solar powered pump with battery
Unsure of battery (12v / 18 w) life when being used without sunlight
Controls gives me 1hr, 2hr or 4hr settings and continuous
Time of day for startup is memory determined
Pump flows 200 gal/hr with 8ft lift / ½” ID tubing
Provides 2 sources of power
#1 = pump (12v – up to 18w
#2 = LED light outlet (12V 8w)
Half- barrel (wine or whiskey) not purchased yet
Mfg states 20 gallon (25” dia. x 15”depth)
But math says 32gal – not sure until I get it

Surface area = 491 sqin.

Water feature
Level 5 - Top – Porcelain Pitcher
Level 4 – small bowl
Level 3 – larger bowl
Level 2 – larger bowl
Level 1 – Large base bowl spills into half barrel liner


My plan:
Purchase internal canister filter [Tetra Whisper in-tank 40i (40gal)]
Remove internal or eliminate internal motor
Water flow = Pump – Whisper with “T” for lift to water feature between these
Run pump on 4hr memory on my work days during afternoon
Run pump (when sunlight prevails on days off for duration of day)
Note: I live in San Diego area of So Cal
Use LED outlet for Biorb 12v / 2.7w air pump – aeration stone (12” or 14”???)
Install baffle at water spillways
Whisper installed with spillway same as Level 1 base bowl – water feature
Baffle lessens water turbulence
Add both underwater and floating plants
Add fish

Problems or questions seeking advice, suggestions or comments:
How much fish to stock with the partial filtration system & air stone
Article #1 – 1” per 30 sq in of surface area
Article #2 – 1” per 5 gal unfiltered water
Article #3 – 1 fish per 6 gal
What fish to stock
Conditions – no heat no chiller ambient air, evaporation and limited water flow
Feng Shui desires – 2 goldfish / 1 black goldfish
(Note: I realize they get big and not the choice so, gold colored and black colored)
Possible – guppies???? Which are tolerant of warmer water temps????
Mosquito control – water additives, mosquito fish, flathead minnows, ????
I would like to stock 2 – 3 otos too
What about snails???? I am totally dumb here , , , Like do you figure ‘em into the 1” per gallon
Rule , , ,etc

And the local cats, bunches of ‘em here - I got those electronic devices that scar ‘em away

I appreciate any and all input/feedback on this project. I have a few of the items now but probably won’t have it completed until closer to Aug or Sept (aquarium and garden first <smile>) Remember to have a great day and have fun, fun, fun

Tim

[huffmagx]

Here are some of my thoughts in no particular order :

Before you add anything live I would recommend doing a tempreture study of the water that you plan on putting the fish in for a couple of days ( min.) to see what the temp. range ( day and night) actually is that will let you know if you can keep fish outside in your area at that time of year without a chiller or a heater.

Depending on the color of the inside of the bowl(s) you plan to use for the black fish they may not show up when viewed from above particularly if you have plants.

Cats are very good "fisherman" even if you have the scare em away devices sometimes hunger will over ride fear and they might fish in your bowls. Plants or some screening might provide the needed cover for fish to survive.

If you go with guppies stay with one sex or the other to prevent them breeding and over populating the size of your bowl(s) OR get both sexes allow them to breed and plan on losing some to the cats but as they overpopulater remove them to another aquarium and at the end of the season have an aquarium to house the survivors.

Donate the survivors to friends/local LFS if they take them in your area this could happen with goldfish too as they have been known to breed in smallish spaces but usually they need to be sexually mature I think 2-3 years old for that to happen guppies a matter of months.


I am sure there are other things to consider but thats all I can think of right now. Good luck!

[Summers]

thanks for your input :) , , ,the bowls are only around 4 - 8" and are used for the water feature like a water fall into the half-barrell pond , , ,but good advice for the half barrel substrate color , , ,I will ponder that , , ,I agree on one sex too , , , gon'na have to do some strategy thinking on cat probability , , ,I am gon'na ebay some stuff to raise the bucks to start sooner I think , , ,again thanks , , ,

Tim

[huffmagx]

I know how you feel I hunger for the sound of water outside too and a few colorful fish darting around in it would be icing on the cake!
Good Luck and post some pictures on what you come up with , I look forward to living vicariously through you!!