I live in south florida and I am considering setting up a pond in my backyard. It will be 12' long, 3' wide, and 2 or 3' deep. What kind of filtration or water pumps will I need for this? I plan on keeping 4 alligators (NOT, just kidding) some turtles and maybe a couple large fish. Thanks
new pond
- Thread starter crabbyjack
- Start date
I haven't tried it yet, but I liked the idea of useing a plastic storage container as a pond filter. You just cut a hole in each end for your plumbing, and filll it with filter floss or what ever you want to put in it. I'd think it would have to be in the water though, doubt the lid would be water tight.
My filters are hidden in what looks like a flower pot...pretty nifty! 
Anyway, being that you live in Florida you dont have to worry much about cold. The pond definately wont freeze solid, but what will you do when its 100+ degrees outside and your pond is only 2ft. deep? The poor creatures in your tank will fry
Anyway, being that you live in Florida you dont have to worry much about cold. The pond definately wont freeze solid, but what will you do when its 100+ degrees outside and your pond is only 2ft. deep? The poor creatures in your tank will fry
First in South Florida, it doesn't get to 100. 92 is usually the high for the summer. I have two ponds here and in the sun but I use water lilies and other floating plants and it stays pretty much in the low 80s in the dead heat of summer.
Just make sure you have floating plants and some shade if possible. Are you going to have waterfalls or anything like that. If you can describe your pond plans a little, it would be easier to figure out filtering.
If you could go a little deeper 2.5-3 ft, you could probably house tropical fish if you are so inclined.
Just make sure you have floating plants and some shade if possible. Are you going to have waterfalls or anything like that. If you can describe your pond plans a little, it would be easier to figure out filtering.
If you could go a little deeper 2.5-3 ft, you could probably house tropical fish if you are so inclined.
The only problem with the tropical fish is that then you couldn't have koi or goldfish because the tropies would come up missing. 
I guess florida isn't too warm, but when I went there on vacation in '99 it was over 95 for all 6 days I was there. It just seemed horribly uncomfortable because as you know, 95 in florida is warmer feeling than 95 in other regions.
I guess florida isn't too warm, but when I went there on vacation in '99 it was over 95 for all 6 days I was there. It just seemed horribly uncomfortable because as you know, 95 in florida is warmer feeling than 95 in other regions.
Thanks for the advice, I will definitely shade some of the pond. To aerate the surface I was going to us two fountains. I have a marine tank and use natural filtration, is anything like this possible in the pond world?
Generally, ponds over 10,000 can fair well on their own w/o man-made filtration. Under that is considered an ornamental pond which really should have proper filtration.
Now some places in Florida (like Orlando) get very warm, high 90's and such. The more inland the warmer it will get. South Florida (Miami/Fort Lauderdale area) don't get nearly that hot. There is always a cool breeze blowing off the ocean that keeps things, well, bearable
However, with the humidity it feels very hot.Crabby Jack,
Are going to be using tap water there? The reason I ask is that several years ago, before the ponds we set up our lawn watering system directly from the canal. Now I fill the pond directly from the canal. This is really nice, no chlorine, chloramine or anything like that and the fish really seem to thrive with that water.
As for your filtering, you will probably need some sort of filtering system (probably not elaborate). Most of mine is mechanical, I don't have to do hardly any biological filtration.
Are going to be using tap water there? The reason I ask is that several years ago, before the ponds we set up our lawn watering system directly from the canal. Now I fill the pond directly from the canal. This is really nice, no chlorine, chloramine or anything like that and the fish really seem to thrive with that water.
As for your filtering, you will probably need some sort of filtering system (probably not elaborate). Most of mine is mechanical, I don't have to do hardly any biological filtration.
Brian, that makes total sense. I understand what you were getting at now, it was the same way when I lived in Virginia Beach. The closer to the water you lived, the cooler it seemed. I figure that nice breeze helped things along. 