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Guess I should start this topic off with giving some details. I work part time for a auction company, and we auctioned off a pet store yesterday(I got some crazy deals by the way). We didnt sell any animals, but we sold all the supplies. I bought a bunch of brand new pond liners. Anyway, I have a way to dig a huge pond (Wanting over 50,000 gallons), but what kind of filtration would I need? Is there even a filter big enough to handle that large of a pond? If I was to dig pond, lets say 4-5 feet deep, and maybe 50`X 50`, would I even really need a liner? Is it possible to use a liner on this big of a pond? I have never built a pond like this before, so I am a newbie at this. I live in kentucky, so I want to be able to leave the turtles outside during winter, and it does get cold enough to freeze the surface of farm ponds here. And my last question, what all do I need to get to have a succesful pond (in terms of pumps, skimmers that kind of thing) Thanks in advance to anyone who gives me some advice.

After doing a little thinking, I think I should down grade the size to 50'long X 25'wide X 5'deep.

To move a volume of dirt that large you will need a backhoe, or at least 15 people with shovels and lots of cold beers.

papoopeepoo wrote:To move a volume of dirt that large you will need a backhoe, or at least 15 people with shovels and lots of cold beers.

I have a CAT highlift and a case backhoe. also have a 8500 chevy dumptruck. So the dirt work is no problem.

u would probably need some type of fountain in the middle that allows for filtration. id say u wouldnt necessarily need a pond liner but ive never built a pond that big. ive built some ponds of about 2000gallons and used a liner and a filtrartion system but 50000 is tough to say, even 25000 is tough to say

Im gonna ask on a pond forum Im joined in. I know a couple on them have 10000gallon ponds. Are you sure you want it that big? I dont think you would even see your turtles.

Im not even sure if the forum im joined is good enough but i will ask and see what they say. The one has a very large turtle pond he built and hibernates them in.

After looking at the space I have, and doing some research on ponds on the internet, I am starting to think a 2000-3000 gallon pond would be a better choice. By my calulations, I could build a pond that 8'wide X 10' long X 5' maximum depth, and it would be 3000 gallons. I have a 2 acre yard, but I still want to have room for other stuff. I could still put about 10-15 turtles in a pond that size, and it would be much easier to take care of. Can any of you give advice on what a good filter and skimmer would be to use on a pond this size? Should I double the size of the filter because of the turtles? I would put mostly RES and southern painted turtles, maybe a couple midland painted turtles. I would also build a very shallow stream flowing into the pond for a couple eastern boxies. Any of you know any good sites about the care and maintience of ponds?

Southern Painted turtles are used to very short warm winters. I dont know if they would survive a long winter. I know I read it a couple times bring them in during the winter or they will die.

http://z3.invisionfree.com/Ponds/index.php?act=idx. If you join this forum and ask your questions they will answer all your questions. I asked your other question and gave this answer.

I do think it's not practical to install a liner in that large of a pond. First it would be too heavy if made of EPDM but it could be done with a liner such as I have in mine which is much lighter. I guess it depends on what he wants to have in this pond other than turtles. Earthen ponds as long as the bottom is lined with the proper material, non liner, can and will hold water. If he goes non liner no filtration is needed since it would be pretty much like a farm pond. I would advise a fountain or large aerator to keep the algae down.

Thanks paintedsforlife for the help. The only reason I was going to have a southern painted in there is because I already have one, and was gonna put him in there. Would the midland painted be okay in a kentucky winter? We usually stay above freezing during the day, and stay in the 20F-25F degree range at night. I know there are some wild midlands around, but not very many.

Midlands and Eastern Painteds are the two subspecies that are used to the long hard winters.

So yea midlands would do really well in the pond your gonna build

Wouldn't huge ponds have more natural filtration? Filtration helps compensate for what the habitat lacks but a huge pond would be it's own ecosystem with plants, fish, insects, etc.

I agree with Steve. I would just make sure the plants you put in there are safe for the turtles.