I am being asked to adopt some goldfish that lived in a pond before the person moved out, I have a tank that can accommodate them but I was asked by my dad to see if I could build a pond in the backyard for them. I was wondering what goes into a small pond.
Info-
5 goldfish of good size(lived in the pond for at least a few years as I gathered)
I live in New England so I do have a large tank to hold them through the winter but maybe there is equipment needed for this climate
With 5 good sized goldfish, you're going to be looking at a 200+ gal pond. If you will want to add more goldfish on down the road, you're going to need to over 500 gal. If you want to add koi, I'd recommend over 1000 gal.
Depending on your yardwork skill DIY ponds can be difficult, so I think you should find a forum more devoted to it (either ponds in general or DIY ponds). I have a koi pond, but I went the professionally designed route. I couldn't have done half the job my pond guy did, and I tend to recommend going the professional route because it makes the difference between a hole in the ground with water and a water feature. Either way, it will be an expensive endeavor.
One of the best things you can do is see if there is a local koi/goldfish/pond club. They will be able to help you with things like depth and local problem predators and may even be able to point you in the direction of a cheap pond consultant.
Wow that sounds like I need a HUGE pond although I have no clue how big the dimensions would be I am just basing it on how big my 55 gallon tank is. I'll look into the forums to get a general idea of the cost first since my guess is I won't get a huge budget for the project.
I'd also like to point out our point of view difference on this. When I mean good size I mean like 3-5 inch normal goldfish, nothing major in my opinion but if those are big then I guess I'll look into a 500 gallon.
Oh wow. Those are still small goldfish. Since they are commons they will probably get about 10-12 inches. I still thing a 200+ gal pond would be best for them as it's usually recommended that they live in aquariums larger than 150 gal. One of the easiest ways to get gallons in a pond but not have a huge surface area is to dig it deep. (Imagine your 55 gal turned on its side; takes up a lot less room, huh.) My thoughts would be you're going to need a pond at least 3 feet deep to keep the fish there in the winter. You may need more depending on where you are in New England. That is why a local pond guy would be able to help you better than I.
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