The 700 gal indoor sunken garden project

[medicineman]

I would have a headache to build too tall... up to the backdrop?? It is more than 12 feet high!
That is just asking for trouble. A big NO for as long as building a private system to self maintain. A whole different story if I was to build a public display, the glass would be 9 feet and water at least 5 feet. The preparation construction, materials and technology involved would be much different and definately flush out my $$.

On the reality (if you follow the journal from the start) it would be only around 80cm deep and minus with the subsrate height, the end would be something like 70cm of water.

@CardBoardBoxProcessor,
If you find discus pond to be funny, or expect 2 feet koi to make friends with aquatic plants, I also have something hillarious. Once upon the completion of the base pond, I came for inspection and made a joke on how appropriate if should in the future I became fed up with caring for fish and plants, the pool is just great for jacuzzi (I actually laid down there for a while and bask under the sun ray! LOL)

@organic sideburns,
Yes there will be lots of plants by the backdrop. Terrestrial plants that is. Think of ferns, vines, orchids, bromeliads, moss, etc.... that certainly fits with a pond by the bottom.

[organic sideburns]

That would make a great jacuzzi!

but please, stick to the fish for now I want to see how this bad boy turns out

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

not Koi.. regular goldfish.. wlel fancy.. I love mine.

[medicineman]

@Rhinoman,
It is good to have well-designed filtration, oversized one is even better still as a big plus. I can get more bio filtration power which leads to faster detoxification by bacteria. I plan it to be able to handle as much as koi keeping (koi ponds are even more of a technology and filter overkill marvel), in case I got tired or bored in the long run. Wasting water is another issue though (if you did aware that I plan to do fill and bleed WC system), I did channel the waste water into a drain around the house, so some can seeps back to the surrounding ground.

@organic sideburns,
No worries, for now I certainly stick to plant and fish combo

@CardBoardBoxProcessor,
On one time perhaps, because keeping goldfish does limit plant option even more.

Level pic of the whole project



This is how water (illustrated) supposed to flow cascading with drips on some parts. I want to avoid too much free falling water in concern with CO2 loss and try to set more gentle cascades... but I'm sure that certainly can be taken care of later in some way.



Work does continue again starting this week, even though done slowly by fewer crew. I guess there is no point to rush. The house is far away from being fit enough to live in and it certainly takes time to cure all the cement works, reducing that alkalinity to near neutral (by then peat/black water treatment for several weeks will help to acidify a bit). Newly cured cement is quite notorious as the cause to make fish not feeling at home and some sensitive terrestrial plants to wilt!

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

haha true. but having 70 large various types or orandas would be amusing.. every time you walk by 70 little brain looking heads rise up and mouths open and beg for food.

[the_noobinator]

this is going to be so sweet! imagine using an actual 8ft tree trunk as your driftwood.

[AlGee]

Originally Posted by organic sideburns

doh!

I thought the backdrop was part of the tank.

you're not the only one

[Rhinoman]

It looks beautiful!

[medicineman]

There is an open space right in between the light opening and the backdrop cliff and right now it is just covered in thin mortar crust. The team and I have some options in mind to do on that part:

1. Carve it lightly. This will create homogenous look along with the rest of the structure but it will appear too menacing (and kinda spooky) because it rises up too high. Best surface for climbing plants, and it also create extra pockets to stick more high light three top plants like bromeliads.
2. Finish with mortar, give a bit of rough pimples stamping and top off with colour gradation, matching the cliff below. Will look less menacing and also still great for climbing plants to cling to.
3. Finish it smooth and paint blue sky with some clouds and natural scenery stuff (perhaps partially drawn cliff then sky). Will look cleanest, serene and least menacing. Plants cannot be allowed to climb up too far or otherwise the sticking roots will ruin the paint job. I even have a very funky idea of installing fiber optic lines by the sky painting to be area to make starlight effect at night.

Now tell me what do you think? (your very own suggestions and ideas are also welcome)

[medicineman]

@CardBoardBoxProcessor,
Perhaps some time in the history of the pond...
I've kept fancy goldfish like orandas, calicos, ryukins, etc before. They does grew from golfball size to palm size when kept in a pond. Too bad these fish are shortlived.

@the_noobinator,
Then I should do a trip to find XXL driftwood. The ones that are sold at my regular source are just maxed out for my 260 gallon tank. Must keep in mind I should not use just any kind of wood, concerning excessive tannin leach, bouyancy, rapid decomposition, etc.

@AlGee,
I do imagine it would look better still if I fill it with water up to 1/2 of the total height. But too much to maintain. Nothing wrong of preasuming that it looks like that I'm going to build it all the way up, it appears so if one didnt follow from the start

[the_noobinator]

depending on your painting skills, your sky option sounds nice. you could even hide some blue LEDS behind the ledge at the top of the molded portion of the wall to simulate moonlight, and white LEDS for stars. run it on the same timer as your "tank" lights!

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

short lived? huh? they live like.. 30-40 years.. perhaps you did not separate them from the Koi? Koi will out eat a fancy goldfish and they will eventually starve.

see? bruce!

[medicineman]

CardBoardBoxProcessor,
I swear that goldfish is a freak! I've never handle one that huge before . Actually I lost around a dozen of my palm sized goldfish (around 1/2 of that huge oranda) due to herpes outbreak. There were many ponds nationwide that got affected and casualties were huge. Around here fancy goldfish on the average expected to last for just 5 years. Many factors play the role; pollution, genetics, handling, medication availability/knowledge, tank/pond condition, climate, etc.

@the_noobinator,
LED instead of fiber optic also sounds good. If I'm going to decide to paint the part, I will certainly look for skilled hands. My painting is OK but not good enough for the house

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

freak? haha.. you know you wish you have orandas that big! perhaps a ROM would make your fancies last longeR?

[JenThePlantGeek]

^^ I sure do! Bruce is beautiful!