I've got an old hot tub that doesn't get used and I would like to put a smallish pond in it's place. I was thinking I'd tear apart the tub and recycle the actual tub part for the pond.
This will be my first pond. I'm a quick learner but I'd like to amass some knowledge and supplies before I even get started on the project. I've done some research but there seems to be many different approaches to pond building.
So.... a few questions to start.
Do I need to line it inside the tub, or will the tub itself be sufficient?
I plan on using the bottom drains on the hot tub to pump water. Is it better to have a filter that sits in the water, or a filter/pump above ground that the drain leads to?
Is it possible to maintain water quality with no filter at all and just have a pump for aeration? If that is possible I could possibly recycle the spa pump as well (though it might be TOO strong)
Any other considerations or beginners tips would be great!
thanks
Kip
hot tub to pond conversion.
Firstly, what do you plan to have in your "Hot Pond" (sorry couldn't resist . . .). Koi, goldfish or just plants? That answer will determine what you need to equip your pond with. For example, Koi are messy fish and need filtration but are pretty.
I want both fish and plants for sure. I love koi but I supposed I could go with easier fish for the first year until I get the hang of the pond maintenance. (koi are expensive right?)
Anyway, let's just assume I'll eventually have Koi and plants.
How big is the hot tub? Will it be above ground? Will you have a waterfall? Fountain?
If the tub is in good shape (no leaks), you shouldn't need a liner over the tub. I think if you're planning to have fish - especially koi - you need filtration. Koi are more particular about water quality than goldfish. As for your spa pump, you may want to check the specs. I would guess that a spa pump would be costly to run 24/7 (and that IS just a guess).
I'm not sure I understand your statement: "I plan on using the bottom drains on the hot tub to pump water. Is it better to have a filter that sits in the water, or a filter/pump above ground that the drain leads to?" Are you asking about whether the pump should be in the water or a filter?
I looked at the site last night and got a much better idea what i want to do. the top is about 7 x 7 feet and the deepest portion is only about 2 x 2 feet. I looked up some hot tubs that seem to be similar in size and I'm guessing it is at least 600 gallons, maybe more. Is that too small for koi?
I was asking whether the filter should be in the water, because I thought I had seen that type of set up before. I don't think I'll use the hot tub pump. I'll just buy an appropriately sized pond pump.
Yes I think I would like to do a waterfall, possibly built with flagstone. The whole pond is going to be raised about 18 inches above ground, because I'm told there is a sewer line that runs 3 feet under the ground and I don't want to get to close to that with my whole. So I'll either push a large amount of dirt up around the sides, or build some kind of graduating base with cinder blocks and top it off with flagstone for the lip around the pond.
IMO that is too small for Koi.
You shouldn't need to line the tub unless you don't like the color of it and then you can line it.
You will need a filter, just recycling the water will not do anything to keep it clear. Normally 2 feet deep would be very minimal because of freezing, but I assume in your location that won't be an issue. Also the pump should draw water up into a main filter box. Then you could let the water return to the tub via gravity over the waterfall. That way the filter is EXternal if you need to access it for cleaning ect.
Oh i don't think i explained correctly. it is at least 3 feet deep at the deepest, maybe more. I meant the the deepest part was 2 feet wide by 2 feet long.
I agree with Frilly that 600 gallons is probably too small for koi (regardless of the depth). I'm certain that some do it, but if you do any amount of research online, you'll find that most reputable sites will recommend much larger ponds for koi as they can get huge.
Kip, I was wondering what type of hot tub do you have? Does it have a lot of jets or is it a pretty simple one? Is it just a fiberglass shell in an insulated wood box or something more solid than that? My son a plumber and pretty good at putting things together to make them work. Scraped his plan for doing the same thing. He picked up an old fiberglass shell type and till he pulled it all apart and looked at it didn't think it was such a good idea as he first had. I think it was mostly due to the many different jets and pipes that would have to sealed in some way. Not entirely sure what all his issues with it were and as we live in an area where the temps are colder than yours that may have had something to do with it, also. I know that he was planing on sinking his in the ground and using the fiberglass tub like you would a plastic pond liner. Till it was all said and done he felt that he could do something different and have better results.
Since you mentioned not completely digging yours in I was wondering if you have seen the thread on raised ponds. There are some very good ideas there you may be interested in.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/870256/
thanks holly that thread is a good resource.
My hot tub does have a lot of jets. I'm still thinking about how exactly i'm going to plug them up. We'll see how many problems like that that I run into when I get into it. I think it's made of fiberglass and it feels very sturdy, but who knows. I'm sure there will be some practical issues.
Kip, I didn't want to discourage you too much it is a good idea. Or at least I thought it was when Jamie talked about it. But for him it didn't work out not that it wouldn't for you. Glad you liked the link.
I have some that are smaller than 600 gallons, but with smaller koi in them. If you can be ready to part with them as they get too large, then ok....but if you get emotionally attached, then I would stick with fancier varieties of goldfish, which look like koi (sarassa, shubunkin, etc)
I have a larger pond that I move mine into when they get too big, or donate them to friends, trade them for new smaller ones, etc...So if you are willing to go that route, you will be ok, but if you want them for life, start digging a big hole! ;)
Fair warning...once you get addicted to a pond, you will continue to make it bigger and bigger and bigger....I think we all started with small ones!
Then the fever hit....
:D
This may be a topic for a different thread, but I was at the state fair over the weekend and I saw an aquaculture display. Now I am considering using my 'hot pond' to raise large mouth bass or catfish to eat. They had large mouth bass that they were raising in 500 gallon tanks.
Still looking into it, it's possible I'll abandon that idea.
You can also do tilapia as a fairly easy aquaculture fish.
HMMM I'm liking this idea more and more. I did a bunch of research and it looks to be fairly easy. I'm still going to make the pond the same way I planned. It will be just as ornamental, as opposed to a function only aquaculture tank.
I don't know much about raising fish for eating. But you would have to be very particular about what kind of chemicals you use in the water, medications you use for fish, Water run off, over sprays ect. Also care would need to be taken concerning purchasing ornamental fish or plants that would be added, as they could bring in parasites, disease ect that you wouldn't want in a food grade fish.
There's an Aquaculture company near me. They are the ones who had the display at the fair. They sell special chemicals that you are supposed to use, and you are not supposed to do more than one variety of fish at a time.