Cheap deck pond ideas

[learn2turn]

I want to set up a cheap cheap cheap cheap DIY pond. Filtration would be simply a powerhead (already have) with a DIY filter like some polyfluff in a tupperware container. One gold fish or a couple other small fish. One or two plants.

I'm hoping to find a container in the 30-50g range for <$50.

I found black planter at lowes listed for about $20 http://www.lowes.com/pd_93182-1569-PP2615_4294857870_4294937087?productId=3047495&Ns=p_product_price|1&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Pond%2BLiner_4294857870_4294937087_?cm_cr=Fount ains%20and%20Ponds%201.2-_-Web%20Activity-_-Fountains%20and%20Ponds%201.2%20A2%20Activity-_-SC_Fountains%20%20Ponds_Area2-_-49116_3# (http://www.lowes.com/pd_93182-1569-PP2615_4294857870_4294937087?productId=3047495&Ns=p_product_price%7C1&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Pond%2BLiner_4294857870_4294937087_?cm_cr=Fount ains%20and%20Ponds%201.2-_-Web%20Activity-_-Fountains%20and%20Ponds%201.2%20A2%20Activity-_-SC_Fountains%20%20Ponds_Area2-_-49116_3#)

That's cheap enough that I just might do it but if I could find something one size up for a tad more, that would be cool.

75-100g stock tanks are bigger than what I want. The smaller stock tanks are only 12" deep. I'm hoping for 18-24" deep or at least 15". (Live next to woods and coons look for food on my deck).

Ideas?

[davcheng]

Home Depot has faux half barrel containers that I've been using as a container pond (with plant only filtration) for three years now. You could give that a shot? Don't know how many gallons it holds though, but I think its more than 20g.

[Taysius]

Home Depot has faux half barrel containers that I've been using as a container pond (with plant only filtration) for three years now. You could give that a shot? Don't know how many gallons it holds though, but I think its more than 20g.

I'm curious to hear more about this. Do you keep any fish in it?

[learn2turn]

Those faux whiskey barrels are around $50 and are still not much more than 20gal. I did a quick calc guessing the average internal dimensions and it came out almost exactly 20gal.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&productId=202103755&navFlow=3&keyword=whiskey+barrel&langId=-1&searchRedirect=whiskey+barrel&storeId=10051&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.integration. endeca.EndecaDataBean%4057bbb563&ddkey=Search

Does look nicer than the plain black but for over twice the price, I'd want more volume.

It would be a good idea if I weren't cheat a cheap #$%@. If I saw one on sale or used, I'd snatch it up.

-l2t

[learn2turn]

I calculate this to be about about 30gal, $15 and more attractive than plain black
http://www.target.com/s/ref=in_se_pagelist_btm_next?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&fromGsearch=true&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&searchRank=target104545&keywords=outdoor%20planter&searchPage=4&rh=&searchSize=30&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin% 2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin (http://www.target.com/s/ref=in_se_pagelist_btm_next?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&fromGsearch=true&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchRank=target104545&keywords=outdoor%20planter&searchPage=4&rh=&searchSize=30&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin% 2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin)

It says it's terracotta but some how I doubt it's real clay at that price. More likely some plastic that looks like terracotta. If that's the case, I found my cheapskate deckpond.

[texasguy]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-32-Gallon-Latch-Totes-Set-of-4/14138967#ProductDetail

$32 for 4 32g tubs. They might have those drainage holes in the bottom but if you found something to plug them it would work

[learn2turn]

Those rectangular storage tubs are just a bit too unaesthetic. Also, a rectangular shape will surely bow out.

That planter at Target I think was a red herring. There's another one at the same price in a different color and the dims are in cm and not ". I think that one is a typo and it's linear dims are 2.52 less than they say it is.

[verbal]

Those rectangular storage tubs are just a bit too unaesthetic. Also, a rectangular shape will surely bow out.

That planter at Target I think was a red herring. There's another one at the same price in a different color and the dims are in cm and not &quot;. I think that one is a typo and it's linear dims are 2.52 less than they say it is.
The 24&quot; dia(12&quot; radius) would be about 37 gallons if it was a cylinder. The 12&quot; would only be 4.5 gallons.

[Kentucky Koi]

I would at least go 300 gallons at the smallest. You can go to a local farm supply store, rural king, tractor supply, etc. and buy a rubber maid stock tank. They are $114.00 here, I don't know what they are out there. It has a 1" thread drain on the bottom that you can glue or fit a pump too, and connect the pump to a filter that will gravity feed back into the tank.

-Eric

[learn2turn]

The local pond/aquarium store has probably a 1/2 dozen or more of those 300g stock tanks in the parking lot. Bang for the buck that would be a great deal. I just don't have room for it.

Maximum dimensions 36x24"

[dixienut]

i use a rubbermaid stock tub 100g at TSC stores for around $60.00

[learn2turn]

The stock tanks would be a great deal except the dims just don't work. The rubbermaid 70 is 40.5" L x 32" W x 24" H but I only want it to come out from the rail about 24". The next smaller one is 1/2 as deep.

What I'm hoping for is something like 40x24x18 or 40x24x24 or 36x24x18 or 26x24x24.

[dixienut]

perhaps a tote from walmart,.. or where ever

http://www.nextag.com/muck-bucket/compare-html





http://img01.static-nextag.com/image/FORTEX-IND-Fortex-Multi/1/000/000/721/959/72195918.jpg

[musaboru]

Those totes are excellent and cheap. I have used them before and they do not bow like rubbermaids do.

The thing you gotta watch out for is, the rope handle will degrade over time and the bits and pieces from it can get in the water. They also stay sturdy for years too with little UV damage from the sun (well that may depend on which brand you get).

[moby goby]

I've used one of those totes the past two summers and haven't had a problem. Of course, two summers may not be long enough for the rope handles to begin degrading. I also didn't like the cord being in plain view, but that's going to be an issue with any cheap container and I suppose it can be remedied with proper placement of plants!

[learn2turn]

I saw one of those 20gal totes in someones yard. Anyone know where purchase one retail?

[dixienut]

any farm store or horse supply store carries them as they are for hualing out manure,..lol then they started making cheaper knock offs for walmart and the like as containers for ice and pop holding,..
the link can find them for you,.. or you can order one from most places,.. i believe they are 17-18 gallons,.. not real big but they are nice,.. and the handles you can cut them off if you don't like them,..

where are you located?

check this out and endter your place so see one in your area and call them to see if they have them in stock

http://www.tractorsupply.com/buckets-pails/70-quart-muck-bucket-burgandy-red-2229286

[saveone]

I checked out the link to tractorsupply. You can get a 5.00 off e-coupon on the site. That brings the muck bucket down to 9.99. That is a cheap pond :)

[Kentucky Koi]

The local pond/aquarium store has probably a 1/2 dozen or more of those 300g stock tanks in the parking lot. Bang for the buck that would be a great deal. I just don't have room for it.

Maximum dimensions 36x24"

Where are you? I actually need a few more tanks. :D:

Then build it. Make it out of 2x6's. I've done it before, and it works great. At 3'x2'x and (assumed) 2' deep, thats 90 gallons. The perfect size for a couple of goldies.

-Eric