Greenhouse over pond?

I'm starting fall chores here in MI which includes bringing my fish inside because my pond freezes.

I've been thinking about having one of those hoop and poly greenhouses put over the pond in an effort to create just enough of a microclimate so I can leave the fish outside. Indoor maintainence is getting to be a real pain as the fish grow.

Has anybody ever tried a thing like this and how did it work? Does it even sound like a viable idea? Should I just stick with what works and keep bringing the fish in?

Thinking of this style of greenhouse:

I LIKE that idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife is going to hate you :o)

Your zone is 5. I think the greenhouse, combined with an aeration/bubbler can work ;) The design you chose is great because snow will not build up blocking the sun. I think your fish and frogs would be just fine in that type of a set up.

Please see the other thread you started about "Will My Frogs Freeze".

Thanks Equi, cross posted with you!

ahh that is my dream!!! i have always wanted a large greenhouse with a pond inside

My dream is to have a pond inside my house. Year round enjoyment.

That is a great idea! It would be so warm and cozy inside!

I could never. I have no idea where I'd put it. Hmmm, I could always add an entire edition onto this house. That's the ticket, an addition to this house and then I'll have space to build an indoor pond. One minor problem with my indoor dream pond- no money to fund such a project. Bummer, guess I will be going pondless iindefinitely nside the house.

Yeah, it would be prohibitively expensive. Bummer is right. But how about that greenhouse idea? That would be fairly warm and cozy, compared to outside temps in zone 5, eh?

well maby not if you have a basement you could use cinder block with a pond liner and they make caps so it really finishes off the look
Just a thought i have a great plan ive been working lol

Jerry

I have a basement, it isn't fit for human life forms though. A person could get killed down there. Basement is out.

I did have my eye on a greenhouse for outside and I was going to get one but we had some issues at home and I decided to pull in the reins and watch our spending real close for a few years. I have seen photos of greenhouses that have ponds in them and sometimes there are little tables for two set up next to the pond. Looks very inviting.

This is a shoestore near my house:

Another shot:

#3:

#4:

Amazing place. Hubby doesn't let me go there anymore!

A shoestore? What does a pair of gymshoes cost??? $300?

I am SO shopping in the wrong places!

The zoo in town doesn't have this nice a display! I was ready to move right in to this store the day I saw it, but they keep throwing me out at closing time! I don't know how they did the construction, but I keep wondering how this could be done in hypertufa. I think that much cement would collapse my house (and earn me an instant divorce!)

The shoe store owner seems to have a thing for tillandias! COOL waterfall, man!!!

sylvi74,

i built something similar, this past weekend, over my pond in commerce twp., mi. i built it out of pvc and 6mm clear plastic sheeting. i put a piece of duct tape over the sheeting in places where i cut a tiny hole to attach the sheeting to the pvc. i used tie wraps to attach the two. the dimensions are aproximately 25' x 14'. oh ya, pound rebar into the ground to slide the pvc on. the whole thing cost aproximately $85.00. i have no idea if it's going to work but it's worth the try. i've attached a picture of my pond. i can send some of the enclosure if your interested.

best regards,
ron

ron, I would love to see more of this. I have lots of PVC and 6mm film left over from my winter deck enclosure project. Some closeups would be welcome. Is the film actually floating on the pond? If so, is that a good thing?

Thanks Ron, I would love to see some pictures. I didn't get far enough in my planning this year, and spent the weekend bringing the fish inside. I am really interested to know how your pond does with a covering.

Just read your post about the greenhouse over the pond......we have talked about it also......please post a picture if you did it...my sweetie is always trying to convince me of such a challenge.

Sure wish I had started one last year. The price of PVC and plastic has went out the roof. Wholesale on 1 -1/4 has gone to 58 cents a foot.