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Been a while since I've frequented the forums. I've since purchased a house and am thinking about building an outdoor pond for my 2 turtles (1 ouachita map male and 1 florida cooter male). Right now the cooter (Buddy) is about 7'' long and the map (Spike) is about 6'', and they're not going to grow anymore. I want about a 200 gal pond, plenty of room for my turtles, and room to maybe throw some fish in later.

I'm kind of looking into cost options, going for lower cost more work. The pump I currently have (a rena filstar...3 media baskets) is failing so I'll definitely need a new one. Right now I'm looking at making a bio filter like the one on http://www.blondieswebdesigns.com/water_garden/filter/index.html. Has anyone made one of these? The only thing not included in the plans is the pump, which I'm kind of thinking about Danner 350 GPH. What kind of pump would you use?

Also, trying to put together a total price so my wife and I can figure out if this will fit into our budget. Any estimates on what a ~200 gal above ground liner pond might cost to build?

I know the skippy filters are pretty popular, but I'm not sure about the one you linked -- most people here haven't DIY filters. Pricing would depend on materials, and that would also depend on the design. for 200 gallons, you can do a preformed pond as well, but go bigger if you can. We've seen a nice 300 gallon stock tank transformed in a great above ground turtle pond.

Well the pond liner is cheaper then a preformed or stock tank but you want above ground? What are you going to use to give to give the liner its shape? It might be just as cost effective just to get a preformed or stock tank and save yourself alot of work. I would look into this first. Me im lazy and have 300 stock tank setup outside and im actually setting up another one soon. Also you can find preformed and stocktanks for sale for dirst cheap on craigslist sometimes.

Next Your filter, sorry never made a homemade one. I just bought a filter with a built in uv sterilizer. Which is my next point. If this pond is in the sun all the time most likely the water will turn green in days and you will have to get a uv sterilizer. Thats a $100+ right there if you end up needing it and most likely you will so keep that in your mind.

That pump you listed is way off haha. You need to look for a pump that does at least 1000gph. The more the better. I personally us a TetraPond DynaTec 1500 which does 1500gph. Prices have really dropped since i bought mine. I can actually buy the DynaTec 2250 which does 2250gph for cheaper then what my 1500 orginally cost. Thats $100-$150

My setup set my back around $700 but prices have dropped big since then. The filter and pump were my main kill on money. I still have the bill.

Tetra pond filter $349.99
Tetra pond pump$179.99
The hoses$38.93
Clamps$5.98
Tax $31.31
Total:$553.20

Im not sure how much my stock tank was but when i look it up they are saying $200. Im pretty sure i paid a little less then $200

You should be able to build this thing for $300-$400 depending on what you do.

See here is nice preform on my craigslist ^^ for cheap. Hope you have luck.
http://allentown.craigslist.org/grd/1719085751.html

Thanks for the info. Thinking about it I'd prefer to go with an in ground pond, at about 350 gallons (5' long x 3' wide x 3' deep) and I'm considering a Fish Mate 1000 GPH ($120). For the filter I was going to make a skippy filter with a 40 gallon stock tank ($29.99), some filter media from Skippy Stuff ($25+S/H), plus the liner 10'x15' for about $66+S/H.

I'm planning on partial shade, with full sun in the afternoon-evening. I could do a UV filter, however a bio filter would keep everything in check even though it would take a while to set up. I don't mind waiting the 4-8 weeks since I have a tank that my turtles already live in.

Total cost w/out PVC, ceiling grate tile, stones, tax would be under $250. I'm figuring on about another $100 for all the misc stuff, up to about $175 is where I'd be comfortable.

I have a 300 gallon stock pond that I made into a fish pond-I put retainer wall rocks around it and flag stones on the edge. I have a 1800 gph pump and an internal Laguna 4 chamber filter. I add pond bacteria on a weekly basis and the water stay pretty clear with 7 4-6 inch goldfish and one 9 inch RES. (she adopted me-just showed up in my yard a few months ago. I asked around the neighborhood and no one claimed her) I put some cinder blocks up to the edge of the water and a flagstone on top of those for her to get out of the water and bask. On another set of blocks I put a large pan of sand for her to lay eggs (I think I might need to make it deeper as it is only about 3 inchs deep right now). I have water lilies and hyacinth for her to eat and I give her dried insects and pellets and collard greens. Does all this sound like enough? Can I get some smaller (4-5 in.) RES's to join her or should I leave well enough alone?

If your RES was a female, it's possible she was looking to nest. I would try to find out if she's carrying any eggs.

You can add another (female) RES, though you have to be prepared if it doesn't work out.