Daily Log of Constructing a Tropical Fish Pond
- Thread starter lousybreed
- Start date
Well I got back to the house tonight and the wood is still wet with water sealant. It is drying really slow. It hasn't been too warm here and the garage was closed up so that could be slowing the process down also. I am going to put the wood out in the sunshine to see if that will speed up the drying. I put too much sealant on the wood, I think that is why it is taking so long to dry. I still have a little more to paint with the sealer and then I will be done.
Good tip on the steel wool, but I have already water sealed the wood. A couple days too late! And honestly I don't think I would have had the drive to apply another coat. I really hate the staining and sealing part of this project.
On a positive note, I dreamed up a solar water heater for my pond. When I get some more time I will draw up a little sketch and see what you guys think. Just to get everyone thinking, here is what it will involve: a cheap heater, a timer, a powerhead and lawn irrigation stuff.
Good tip on the steel wool, but I have already water sealed the wood. A couple days too late! And honestly I don't think I would have had the drive to apply another coat. I really hate the staining and sealing part of this project.
On a positive note, I dreamed up a solar water heater for my pond. When I get some more time I will draw up a little sketch and see what you guys think. Just to get everyone thinking, here is what it will involve: a cheap heater, a timer, a powerhead and lawn irrigation stuff.
Ok so here is my idea on a solar water heater. I get direct sunlight for about 4 hrs on my pond. I would make a box about 4 foot by 2 foot. I would buy some irrigation hose (1/2" hose only $7/100ft) and pack as many passes of hose as possible. Then the warmed water would be discharged to the pond.
My first idea was to buy a cheap heater and remove the heating element and solder the powerhead to the leads. That way if the pond was already warm, the system wouldn't turn on. but that is too much work for me. here is how I would like to work it:
Determine the times when the sun shines on the area near the pond.
Set timer to turn on during that time frame.
The water would then be heated by the sun and it should give the pond the extra temp it needs to keep it tropical....Once the sunlight is done the pump would turn off. This could really extend the amount of time I could keep tropicals in the pond. Take a look at the drawing and let me know what you think....
My first idea was to buy a cheap heater and remove the heating element and solder the powerhead to the leads. That way if the pond was already warm, the system wouldn't turn on. but that is too much work for me. here is how I would like to work it:
Determine the times when the sun shines on the area near the pond.
Set timer to turn on during that time frame.
The water would then be heated by the sun and it should give the pond the extra temp it needs to keep it tropical....Once the sunlight is done the pump would turn off. This could really extend the amount of time I could keep tropicals in the pond. Take a look at the drawing and let me know what you think....
You're using a fairly low-flow powerhead I'm assuming? I'm sure there is some mathemagics you can use to figure out how long W volume of water needs to stay in X feet of tubing to be raised Y degrees with Z amount of sunlight. Your design makes a lot of sense.
Actually, with the steel wool, you would use it to sand the varnish or whatever. Then add the final coats. It's something you use between coats of paint, not on the bare wood.
Ye ask and ye shall receive....Well its only one pic but it's finally coming together! The wood went together pretty easily but I do have some tips.
When you get near the end of a board it will crack if you overtighten the screw. Use a small drill bit and pre drill the hole first and your problem is solved.
After all the sanding the boards all shrank a little so I had to recut all the short support beams. No biggie though.
I am going thru like a 1/2lb of screws for each side! Lots of screws and one hot dewalt drill.
I dont have pics of the back but each long board has 3 screws on each support board. The tops and bottoms were secured with 3 screws at each junction and a couple between support beams. This beast weighs an easy 70lbs. When finally assembled it will top 300 lbs easy! Heavy duty all the way....
I didn't do the steel wool thing.....I was slacking and I really wanted to finish that part of the project. I will definitely do that for my next one though.
It is about 25 inches tall and exactly 5 foot wide.... What do ya think?? Does it look sturdy??? I am scared that this thing will break when I fill it with water.
OK I got another side together. There are some pics of the screw pattern and how I kinda assemble it.
First pic. This is how I align the boards. I start with the two outermost support beams and stack the boards on top. All screws go in from the back so there are no screws from the outside. I align the support beams with a square and make sure they are perfect. I then drill one screw in each board after they are aligned.
Then I go to the other side and as you can see in the 2nd pic I have to use a clamp because they dont align perfectly. Drill one screw in that side, check the alignement and then drop all the screws in! In the second pic you will see a peice of plywood. that is used to put pressure on the boards as i drop screws in them. When you have the boards clamped you have to put all your weight on it to flatten out the boards. When you step on it you will hear pops and this is just the boards aligning. I use cardboard to protect the front of the wood.
3rd pic is the boards and the pre drilled holes to reduce wood cracking. Actually it eliminated wood cracking. Before just by driving the screws into the wood I was getting some nasty cracks....
4th pic shows the screw pattern
5th pic shows how I am going to join all the sides. Both top and bottom will get the 90 degree joiner. There is one int he corner boards and a bare one in the open. I bought the extra heavy ones because they were way thicker. The other joiner in the pic (left of corner joint) will be used in the middle of the two sides for added support.
5th pic...2 down 2 more to go.
First pic. This is how I align the boards. I start with the two outermost support beams and stack the boards on top. All screws go in from the back so there are no screws from the outside. I align the support beams with a square and make sure they are perfect. I then drill one screw in each board after they are aligned.
Then I go to the other side and as you can see in the 2nd pic I have to use a clamp because they dont align perfectly. Drill one screw in that side, check the alignement and then drop all the screws in! In the second pic you will see a peice of plywood. that is used to put pressure on the boards as i drop screws in them. When you have the boards clamped you have to put all your weight on it to flatten out the boards. When you step on it you will hear pops and this is just the boards aligning. I use cardboard to protect the front of the wood.
3rd pic is the boards and the pre drilled holes to reduce wood cracking. Actually it eliminated wood cracking. Before just by driving the screws into the wood I was getting some nasty cracks....
4th pic shows the screw pattern
5th pic shows how I am going to join all the sides. Both top and bottom will get the 90 degree joiner. There is one int he corner boards and a bare one in the open. I bought the extra heavy ones because they were way thicker. The other joiner in the pic (left of corner joint) will be used in the middle of the two sides for added support.
5th pic...2 down 2 more to go.
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Costs and Waterfall woes....
Total costs so far:
Stain $30
Water protectant $20
6lbs of 2 1/2" screws $32
2lbs of 1 5/8" screws $14
Paint brushes $13
Sand paper $15
Metal connectors $15
Wood $110
So far total cost: $250
Estimated additional costs:
Liner $90
Pump and sponge filter $40
Waterfall $30
Plants $50
Extension chord $20
estimated complete cost: $480
Or $0.80/gallon.....Pretty cheap compared to an aquarium.
I really need you guys to think of a way to make a water fall for essentially a wooden box.......I am kinda lost!
Total costs so far:
Stain $30
Water protectant $20
6lbs of 2 1/2" screws $32
2lbs of 1 5/8" screws $14
Paint brushes $13
Sand paper $15
Metal connectors $15
Wood $110
So far total cost: $250
Estimated additional costs:
Liner $90
Pump and sponge filter $40
Waterfall $30
Plants $50
Extension chord $20
estimated complete cost: $480
Or $0.80/gallon.....Pretty cheap compared to an aquarium.
I really need you guys to think of a way to make a water fall for essentially a wooden box.......I am kinda lost!
