Bala Sharks in ponds?

[Netto14]

Just wanting some advice/tips from anyone who has transferred their Bala Sharks from tank to pond?

We've never had a pond and we're looking at building one in our future outdoor area. The area will be fenced off and enclosed as part of a indoor/outdoor garden room.

Our sharks are currently in a 4ft tank with other fish. But they're growning so quickly that we have already upgraded the tank and now we're thinking they will be happier in a pond. This project will be starting next year.

[none]

They would be unlikely to survive SEQ winters unless you are looking at heating the pond - or unless it is going to be so massively big as to remain relatively temp stable.

[Netto14]

[MENTION=8516]none[/MENTION] we're looking at doing solar powered heating in the cooler months. We haven't definitely decided upon the pond size yet. However it will be bigger than a spa size area/volume of water. Also it will be in an area where it's semi enclosed. Wooden slats and brick as walls. Roof will be Plexiglas panels, so heating my not be necessary....until it really is.

[litigator666]

power may not be worth it for just some bala sharks there. will be expensive to keep it warm. not sure how close you are to the bala but I they are not worth it.

[aquaholic99]

They can get quite large in ponds.

I keep and breed bala/silver sharks in 10,000 litre above ground pools/ponds. They school fairly tightly but are flightly fish and great jumpers. When one panics, this sets all the others off, especially at night.

I use small mesh bird netting as covers in summer and a clear plastic sheet in winter (solar heated tubes).

[Netto14]

We're not looking at breeding our bala sharks, just building a new home for them where they'll be happier as they grow.

We're well aware of how jumpy they can be, as we nearly lost one during the last tank upgrade. He swam up my partner's arm and jumped out only to fall behind the tank and cabinet. Only thing that saved him was he then jumped into the net we put next to him. It was a scary heart in my mouth moment.

Just wondering how deep we should be looking at making our pond. The covers will be essential too. Thanks for the tip [MENTION=470]aquaholic99[/MENTION]. What type of plastic sheet do you use in winter? Where could we get one? I'm assuming that a heater is still necessary in winter?

[aquaholic99]

Hi John,

One of my ponds has quite a few bala sharks. I've had over 300 jump out once so you can imagine the antics trying to return them as even more jump out. Some are hitting 50-60cm in size.

The deeper the pond the less water temperature fluctuations between day and night. It's the start and end of winter that usually causes issues (warm days and cold nights) so you can artificially heat to keep a stable temperature for these periods and then remove heater during most of winter. If you have one shallow pond and one deep pond, you could link them for better stability.

There are two methods of heating by covers. One is to keep the heat from escaping out of the water and any plastic cover will do this. Even a thin plastic sheet will help keep an insulating air layer if it's a air tight as possible. Thicker material such as bubble wrap or roof/wall sarking will do this more efficiently though.

The second method is an igloo method to generate and keep solar heat. To do this you need to encase the entire pond, not just cover and make sure the clear walls are air tight (covered bottom in soil usually). Google can explain this a lot better than I can but a north aspect is important.

I use both of these methods as I have various ponds. On my silver shark pool, which doesn't get enough sun, I use an external solar heater. This is a bank of coiled polypipe I encase under glass and silver foil to increase internal temperature. I pump water through slowly and the heat is transfered into the main pool. Along with a clear plastic sheet pool cover, this is enough to keep the pool around 18 degrees through nights over winter without additonal heaters. if I only had one pool I might be less stingy but the fish seem fine at 18 degrees. I keep cigar sharks and tinfoil barbs in a similar manner. Most of my pools are only 90cm deep. On igloo covered pools I can maintain 22-24 degrees water temperature through winter but air temperatures can be uncomfortable during the day.

Solar heater (first attempt).

Edited August 28, 2015 by aquaholic99

[mbunamad]

@aquaholic99Winston I am amazed at your knowledge and ideas you have come up with to maintain your hobby/job!

I think we are fortunate to have you as a member of this forum.

I always look forward to your posts!

Do you conduct tours through your "palace" for fish?

Where can I purchase a ticket?

I love looking at other peoples fish rooms!! No pressure intended.

Edited August 28, 2015 by mbunamad

[aquaholic99]

@aquaholic99Winston I am amazed at your knowledge and ideas you have come up with to maintain your hobby/job!

I think we are fortunate to have you as a member of this forum.

I always look forward to your posts!

Do you conduct tours through your "palace" for fish?

Where can I purchase a ticket?

I love looking at other peoples fish rooms!! No pressure intended.

Female shark. This is the most productive size although they get much larger

I don't have visitors through my place but I am sure there are lots of other fish room keepers that would accommodate QLDAF tours.

I only keep fish for fun but I do provide advice on commercial, public displays and large scale ornamental fish facilities.

Here are some old photos of the SeaWorld shark tank during construction stage. It's a concrete slab tank .... joining pre-formed concrete slabs is a very economical method of constructing (and transporting) large tanks.

Edited September 2, 2015 by aquaholic99

[Netto14]

Thank you for all the info [MENTION=470]aquaholic99[/MENTION].

Dunno who John is though?