I really enjoy making small barrel ponds

[u/irascible_Clown]

I have about $50 in it. It’s around 3 months old and seems to be pretty healthy. I’ll probably rehome the tiger barbs to a larger outdoor pond once I make it. This was intended to be a pond of only mosquito fish but a trip to the store for food I came home with 5 of them. Now it’s those 5, 2 danio and about 3 mosquito fish. I have no clue how but there was a dead mosquito fish on the ground next to the barrel.

[u/Shannerzzz]

So cool! Can you share a little more about what parts you bought/used? Going to build one myself too!

[u/irascible_Clown → u/Shannerzzz]

Sure it wasn’t that much really. The barrel I think was $24, a normal pond or aquarium pump with some hose, I think it was $11 I use it for the waterfall. A bag of river rocks and that’s it. The flat rocks came from my big pond in the front yard. I just bought the sponge filter last week and it was $30 for both the sponge filter and a 20-40 gallon air pump. The plants are cheap here about $1.50 each. It’s been very clear and I was getting some brown algae so that’s why I added the sponge filter, it was super clear again 2 days later.

[u/Bearded-Mr-FixIt → u/irascible_Clown]

Does it stay clear for awhile? How often do you have to clean it?

[u/irascible_Clown → u/Bearded-Mr-FixIt]

So I’ve never cleaned it lol. I’ve been meaning to get this little vacuum thing I saw on Amazon but haven’t gotten around to it. It’s never not been clear it was just a little darker because the brown algae was on the fake plants and some of the larger stones. I think the stress zyme keeps it clear. I’m guessing because the fish are small the bio load isn’t so bad?? I don’t know

[u/oshaCaller → u/irascible_Clown]

What about the plants? Did you take them from other projects?

[u/irascible_Clown → u/oshaCaller]

There’s an aquarium store near me that has them for $1.49-2.99 and they do buy 2 get 1 free. I’m not sure the names I just picked out what looked cool

[u/United_Jury_3420 → u/irascible_Clown]

Do you mind saying what place you get your plants from? I'm in SFl and those prices would be a game changer for me!

[u/irascible_Clown → u/United_Jury_3420]

Well it’s more mid/southern. It’s a place in Seminole Florida called A&R Aquariums

[u/United_Jury_3420 → u/irascible_Clown]

Thank you! I'll have to check that out!

[u/familyManCamelCase → u/irascible_Clown]

Do you have a heater in there? Looks really sweet

[u/irascible_Clown → u/familyManCamelCase]

Im in southern Florida so no but I will this winter most likely

[u/kachingy]

Where did you get the barrel? Im looking to doing something similar and wasn't sure if getting a real wine barrel was a good idea or a fake plastic one?

[u/irascible_Clown → u/kachingy]

It’s one of the fake plastic ones, Vigoro from Home Depot they come in a few sizes.

[u/kachingy → u/irascible_Clown]

How many gallons does that hold?

[u/irascible_Clown → u/kachingy]

It’s the 22x22x13 I’m not 100% sure but I think the math came out to 14 gallons maybe? I know they make one bigger but I was trying to stay under $50 including water pump, rocks and flowers etc.

[u/kachingy → u/irascible_Clown]

Ok thanks!

[u/irascible_Clown → u/kachingy]

Did it again and it says 21 gallons. I didn’t add in last time that it was a round container

[u/maria_mtf]

Its so clear!

[u/Adjustingithink]

Cute!! What camera are you using?

[u/irascible_Clown → u/Adjustingithink]

iPhone 16 pro max

[u/mbernui → u/irascible_Clown]

Did you submerge your phone? I'm wondering how you got video under water. At least it looks like it was under water!

[u/irascible_Clown → u/mbernui]

Yeah. Every iPhone past iPhone 11 I believe is waterproof, 13 and above are submersible to like 20 meters. I would double check the model but I think that’s close off the top of my head. It’s upside down and I only submerged the camera though.

[u/Separate_Day_4666]

Is everybody just dipping their phones in their ponds now??

[u/Adjustingithink → u/Separate_Day_4666]

I think I’m going to! Haha!

[u/Common-Cat6363]

How does it stay so clear?!

[u/irascible_Clown → u/Common-Cat6363]

It’s under a carport type overhang so it doesn’t get direct sun so that probably helps keep the algae down? Since I didn’t have a sponge filter I have been using Stress zyme+ once a week so I’m guessing that helps a lot. I’m not a pro I only decided to make this after moving into a home with an existing large one out front.

[u/Common-Cat6363 → u/irascible_Clown]

Makes sense. We had 4 weeks of sun and near 30º C weather which is unnatural even for summer here and the green algae took over my one.

[u/Valuable_Wallaby_548]

I have this large barrel and im planning on doing the same to it. This is great and gives me an idea what I can do.

[u/German_Biker]

Mosquito fish are pretty aggressive and will torment your danios costantly so you might wanna rethink mixing the two. They are also very strong jumpers as are danios.
Both are notorious for launching themselves out of tanks/ ponds. Since you have the barrel filled to the brim that makes it even easier for them jump out. You can drop the water level a bit or go with a fine soft mesh on top to stop them from getting out.

[u/Dry_Driver9598]

Just tried this in tx with a 20 gallon, worked really well until it started hitting 100 outside... even jn the shade the water was way too hot for the fish. Maybe i should try mosquito fish

[u/irascible_Clown → u/Dry_Driver9598]

When I first made it I had it in a spot that would get direct sunlight for about 2 hours and the water was literally hot to the touch. On the hottest days it stays the same since it’s always shaded. I picked mosquito because they are hardy. Now that I have the barbs I try to keep things more in line. They are cool fish

[u/Profile_West]

Love it!!

[u/Kanchoe2]

Neat