How to Create an Indoor Fish Pond

Creating a small pond is an alternative to keeping fish as pets in an aquarium for those up to the challenge. It can add a different element of beauty and relaxation to your home, condo or apartment that only takes some design imagination and minor building skills. The one shown is one I created for my third floor apartment several years ago and measured 4 by 5 feet complete. Yours can be any size depending on space and weight (1 gallon of water = approx 7 pounds)

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pre-formed plastic fish pool 3 X 4 or larger
• Sheetrock or plywood
• Sheetrock screws
• Drill
• Saw
• Two by fours for frame
• Pond pump
• Pond filter
• Tubing for pump & filter
• Aquarium starter bacteria
• fake brick or rock for walls
• Large plastic aquarium plants

1. LOCATION - First figure where you wish to place your indoor pond. It is best located by a load bearing wall. They look especially nice below a photo wall mural of a forest or tropical jungle. Try not to locate the pond in direct sunlight unless you wish to grow live plants for which you will need 6 hours of light a day. Otherwise you will have problems with algae.

2. THE POND - Go to your local home building store to the garden section or your local landscape supply and purchase a pre-formed plastic pond of the size and shape you wish.

3. FRAMING - Set the pond where it will go and measure for the wood box frame you will be putting around it. Measure length, width and height adding an inch to the height. The size of the box frame will depend on the size of the pond. You will want at least a space of 6 inches around the pond sides. It may be more than 6 inches depending on if you wish to surround the pond with potted plants etc. or not. When you shop for wood get enough plywood/sheetrock to cover the sides of the frame and surround the top of the pond. You will trace and cut out the pond space on the top piece.

4. FINAL ASSEMBLY - Assemble your frame and cover it in plywood and place it over your pond in the spot it will stay.

5. DECORATING THE FRAME - Put your decorative faux brick or rock pieces on the frame according to package directions. Other finish such as stucco will work, too. It all depends on the look you want. If using decorative rock it is OK to overlap a little of the pond edge for a more natural look. When finished wipe out the pond with a damp cloth making sure all debris is out of the pond. Let this set about 24 hours to make sure all fumes have gone from the adhesive.

6. POND FILTERS & DECOR - Place pond filter and pump where you want them in the pond. They can be masked by plants. Place large plastic aquarium plants in the pond. These can be weighted by putting the bases in cloth bags filled with pebbles. Decorative rocks purchased at your local landscape shop in the pond are optional. Add decorative plants live or plastic or silk outside the pond if you like.

7. WATER - Add water to the pond, aquarium starter bacteria and let the filter run for a week. Replace water as it evaporates.

8. 
    
   Koi In Indoor Pond

   FISH - Go to your local pet shop and purchase goldfish or koi. Unless heated, the pond is not suitable for tropicals. Do not mix goldfish with koi. Koi grow much larger and will starve out the goldfish. Use the formula of one inch of fish length to one gallon of water to keep from stressing the pond environment with fish waste. Feed fish once a day on pond fish food or flakes only enough for them to eat it all in 5 minutes. DO NOT OVERFEED.

9. MAINTENANCE - Clean the filter once every two weeks and add water as it evaporates. Do a 1/3 water change once a month. If algae becomes a problem use any of the anti-algae chemicals or other methods to control it recommended by your local pet shop.

Tips & Warnings

• This project also goes good on a porch, balcony or deck. If exposed to the outdoors make sure all materials are weatherproof.
• Double check all measurements.
• If you rent get permission from your landlord before doing this project.
• DO NOT locate this project in the center of a room unless the floor is well supported. WATER IS HEAVY - 1 gallon weighs about 7 pounds - a 100 gallon pond will weigh 700 pounds plus the weight of the frame contents.
• NOT for families with small children as it could pose a drowning hazard

[lawrencek]

on 9/11/2008 how did you build the frame with the 2x4's?

[JL1543]

on 1/28/2008 Oh, wow, this is quite interesting. Very nice article addition.