Outdoor Saltwater Pond in WI

[tico mike]

I was trying to design the last of my landscaping for next summer and was wondering if there are any fish/sea creatures that could take it outside in WI/MN for eight months or so? How about if I kept the ice away? I have three ponds/waterfalls/streams now and wanted to try saltwater. I'm willing to try to chill the water to about 60 degrees or so using the ground and pumping water in loops underground which would keep it warmer in the winter. Does this sound feasible? Devin? Devin's Dad? Anyone?

[the_colonel]

If you can pull this off, I'm moving into your basement.

[tico mike]

JP, I'm not starting this until we get your pond done. That's why I said summer and not spring!

[the_colonel]

Here is some interesting reading:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/marine/cwcbrochure.pdf

I'll keep looking for more info, but it looks like you could keep things like cod, and tuna. When they outgrow your pond, the grill is only a few feet away.

[Havre]

There are several species of starfish and anemonies from the temperate waters of Oregon and Wash. state. But you would probably have to heat the water somewhat... Actually I think you need to ask Derek for a referral to a good psychiatrist.

[clownfishcrazy]

Yes you could do an outdoor saltwater pond but you would most likely have to move the inhibitants in for the winter, unless you could design it to have a green house over it in the winter. If you want something exotic I would go for some temperate sharks and sting rays. If you are interested in sharks and rays then I would reconmend picking up Aquarium Sharks & Rays by Scott W. Michael. You might be able to even do a tropical pond but you could only use it for a few months, but if you had it small enough you could heat (300 gallons) it and keep it open longer (you could even keep some hardy corals). You can do pretty much anything if you wanted, but make sure that it is managable. You also have to keep in mind that if it rains it could throw off your salinity, and falling leafs ect. could be dangerous too. So you would want to have some type of protection but make sure that it isn't blocking out all light. If you really want to do it you could always start out with a pond of damsals and see how it works out, a pond full of green chromis would look really cool! You could also figure out a way to incorporate an acrylic wall into your pond so that you can see your fish from the side too.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by clownfishcrazy

If you are interested in sharks and rays then I would reconmend picking up Aquarium Sharks & Rays by Scott W. Michael.

FYI if you're looking for this book it can be had for $10 from
http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default...&Rt=132&Nty1=1

I bought Scott Michaels Reef Fishes Vol.1 there for super cheap ($18). It's definately not in perfect shape, but for the money saved I'm happy with it.

[AnemicOak]

I would think you'd need to build such a pond indoors or enclosed in something, unless you could do something to account for rain getting into it & screwing up the water. My only other thought is that if it were to somehow leak or overflow a large volume of saltwater would be detrimental to any plants, wildlife, etc. near by.

Of course I know nothing about ponds.

[Irenicus]

I can see the rain/precipitation being a major barrier to a healthy outdoor saltwater pond.

For species, I believe there are some nice cold water atalatic species (fish, corals, and anemones) that would work.

I seen some impressive cold water species at the Virginia Beach Aquatic Museaum last summer.

[tico mike]

The biggest reason I haven't had one up and running yet is the problems mentioned and the fact that my psychiatrist is trying to talk me out of it. I want to find hardy species that could tolerate temp. swings. (Coldwater tidepool inhabitants) I'm going to elevate it with boulders. The acrylic is a good idea for viewing. I have mostly evergreens and this should be away from any trees with falling leaves. I think if I bury enough footage of pipe deep enough underground I can keep it fairly cool all summer and keep the ice away all winter. The rain will be a problem and is the one aspect that keeps me from trying it. I want to have it big enough to fill my area I have yet small enough to manage. The bigger I make it the less flucuations I'll have but the more expensive it will be if it fails. Also the smaller it is the more volume, percentage wise, of water I can keep underground where the temperature is stable. My area would accomodate a matching 7000 gallon pond to the freshwater one already there. I guess I can always convert it if it doesn't work. Short of vandalism there is no possibility of overflow. Thanks for the links. The research continues.

[tico mike]

Forgot to ask. Any problems with using limestone/ bedrock in the pond. I have many tons of limestone.

[djyox]

I think I remember a something somewhere about someone using limestobne to turn into live rock

it was DIY page.....I'll see if I can find it.

[clownfishcrazy]

There really shouldn't be problem with limestone, in fact it should help buffer the water and keep th pH around 8.0. Another thing to remember is that if you have some type of waterfall you are going to have to check the salinity very often because it will evaporate faster. Aslo you will probly have problems with salt creep, and animals just love salt, so you might have problems with squirells pooping by or in the pond.

You could also keep mangroves in your pond too. Red mangroves can be fully submerged but cannot stand any frost so the will have to be moved in before the first frost. Black and White mangroves both cannot be full submerged in water but planted in sand at the waters edge. Both the Black and White mangrove can with stand the first frost but will also have to be moved in for the winter.

Another thing to consider would be to have a south down sand beach on one side of the pond and on the other use the limestone. Then on the beach side you could plant mangrove trees.

[clownfishcrazy]

Another thing to remember is that most invertebrates can't handle metal so you will have to be carefull on you decision for a filter. You will have to have the have the filter system "starfish proof" so that nothing can get sucked into the pumps.

[djyox]

I would say build kinda like a leanto roof over it, I like the idea of the southdown beach...(that would be nice, and great for your lady friends to lay around "at the beach" and get a tan)

But put a roof over the pond, that way, all you have to worry about is run off from the ground.....