Vacuum Chamber on a Small Fish Pond

GA on you.

Thought about not using the pump but was afraid my butter fingers would slip and break the dome while inverting it.

That possibility would be a worthwhile consideration. In that case, were a vacuum pump to become available, it would make for a safer arrangement.

I'd go to the shop and buy a couple feeder goldfish to experiment with before I put expensive Koi in there.

No koi just cheap gold fish about 8 inches long.

Thanks to everyone that responded.

I will try this out very soon and post pics of the result. I will try some fish from the aquarium in the house that the wife wont notice if they disappear. I think I will skip the float switches for now and use the water fountain pump to circulate water in the chamber to prevent it from going stagnant. Sure wish I had and O2 meter to see what's going on though.

Hello The Machanic,

Long time no speak? Hope you are fine?

I am an ex-water garden worker and used to give advice on fish and such.

Your idea sounds intriguing! But, and here is where I take a big breath and answer you without having seen any other replies if there is any.

From what I know, the 'pressure' in the glass dome will be exactly the same as the rest of the pond. Water equalizes the pressure and (I think) always is at the same pressure in a container or tube as long as there is nothing , like valves etc, to stop the contigeous water contact. (If that is the way to phrase is)?

The water will not harm the fish as you have filled any 'vacuum' in the glass dome with water. Simple as that......................Leastways that is my understanding.

bb

GA. When full of water the chamber is, held up by atmospheric pressure the water within is, so negative effect on the fish there will be none ....... YODA! GET AWAY FROM MY PC !!!!

Hi The Machanic,

I think you may find this a little heavy to move on its own. And it may be strong enough to hold the weight while in the water as it has hardly any weight to bear/bare (can someone please tell me which of these is correct, as I have forgotten, please).

Out of the water it will be carrying a tenth of a ton!!! :-{}) My math makes the waters weight at: 100.08 Kilo's. So it may well be easier to utilize a vacuum pump to rid the amount of air you wish to remove. Just tooooo risky to lift or carry/move?! :=}

bb

The difference in pressure at the top of the 24" dome will be the same as the difference in pressure at the bottom of a 24" pond. They (we in a swimming pool) don't notice the increase in pressure when swimming down so I don't see why they should notice the reduction in pressure when swimming up.

I have done this before using a 20 l clear plastic container in the pond outside. The gold fish liked it and didn't seem to be affected by the negative pressure. The problem was the accumulation of debris after a while and the bleaching of the plastic. It was fun while it lasted.

Hi, How about a small wooden frame with lifting ropes?
(like e.g. lowering a coffin, only in reverse)

Sit the glass on the frame then lift with the ropes, and
support with something under the frame. (blocks etc.)

Should be easy to rig something up safely.

Will the fish "rise up" into the "tank"? Maybe?

jt.

Hi all,

I've got two ponds about 10 metres apart. I've thought about the same idea but using a biggish clear tube as an aerial transport system. Mrs C would probably leave me face down in one of the ponds if i tried to do it!

Chas

I've got two ponds about 10 metres apart. I've thought about the same idea but using a biggish clear tube as an aerial transport system

... That would be cool, it'd look like a fish monorail or something!

Mrs C would probably leave me face down in one of the ponds if i tried to do it!
Del

Very neat idea , would look great and i agree with the other guys that you should have few problems doing it .

What i would be concerned about would be water temp. rise inside the glass chamber on a sunny day ! With little means to circulate , the water in the glass chamber would get very warm and the fishies would avoid it .?

Hope im wrong here and all works well .

Hello machine head,

I note your remark about the rise in temperature.............

Please think of it this way. As with the pressure staying ~ the same, the temp' will as well, as the water can move about freely, just as the fish do in and out of the dome.

At the top of the dome there may be a slight increase, but this should be compensated for by the cooling air vapor and water constantly moving around the pool and dome.

And as it was mentioned that a pond spray pump would be placed at the top of the dome, (though I see no need for it), there should be no big change in temp at all?

If you do not agree then tell me. That is what the forum is about after all? No insult meant of course! :=)

I am going entirely by my practical knowledge of ponds and the accessories, fish and the way ponds and water 'naturalize' .

bb

Back from the long week end. Sorry for not replying sooner.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone. I feel much better about trying this now. I really like the "Fish Monorail" idea. I might have to try that after the wife gets used to the dome.

Hello The mechanic,

Nice to here we were of some help! Send a pic when you have done it please?

bb

A friend had a small fish pond and didn't think to install an auto-leveler (like a toilet tank float valve) the pond dried up when they were on vacation. The fish did not survive. Without such, if the level dropped below the lip of your dome the water would come out of it.

----------------------------------------------------

A Kilogram of nanobots can deter death AND taxes.

I had a similar experience. Went on vacation and had a neighbor stop by to feed the dog, cats, and fish. When we returned the pond was almost dry due to a blockage in the filter resulting in it over flowing and draining the pond to a dangerously low level. When I asked him why he did not put water back in the pond he replied "well I knew you were going to be home in the morning". This guy was in his forties and not some kid. The fish survived. We have not installed any device to maintain the water level because we want to keep an eye on on it ourselves so we know about a leak or other problem before the next water bill.

As for the dome, the wife is not real keen on the idea. I am going to have to set it up independent of the pond for a while to prove it is not a death trap for the fish. I am going to build a test pond in full sun with a thermometer in the dome to track the temperature for her. It sure is nice to own a backhoe. I am also going to use the small pump to keep the water moving between the dome and the test pond. That should keep the dome from going stagnant and guarantee balanced temperatures. I know I could just use a kiddie pool and set this up in a few minutes but I want to give it an honest go with the cooling effect of the deeper ground temps as it will have in the existing pond. Still planning on using some of her not so noticeable fish from the house aquariums.

Why do you (does she) think that the transparent dome will "collect" more of the incident sunshine than the transparent "layer" of air above the normal pond?

I am assuming there will be a Green House effect. Also wind currents will not be able to cool the glass surface in the same manner as the open water of the pond surface as there will not be any evaporation taking place.

I could be wrong. It happens.