[fashionfobie]

Hello,
I just found this section on the forum so if it is a repeat sorry about that I am working out the specs for an indoor pond. I am hoping to house ranchu and I can probably do 300-400 gallons. I am considering about 6 ranchu. I should add it will be a custom pond.

I have a few questions.

1.) How many gallons is optimal per ranchu?

2.) What is a good depth for an indoor pond?

3.) I recently read about the barley algae management treatment. Is this also a practice for indoor ponds?

4.) Is it better to use a sand substrate or to have decorative tiling?

5.) Is there a guide for toxic plants and ranchu?

Any information is deeply appreciated! Thank you in advance :BIGgrin:

~Natalie

 

[thekoimaiden]

An indoor pond is a dream of mine, too. Although mine will most likely be a pond in an conservatory. I'll help you as best as I can.

1) Since you are going to be getting breeder-quality TVR then I would allow a minimum 50-60 gallons per fish instead of the normal 10 per fancy. TVR get larger than side-view ranchu and it's not uncommon for them to reach 8 to 10 inches long.

2) Since you don't have to deal with freezing depth (which is what controls how deep outdoor ponds are) you can make it as shallow as you want. I wouldn't go deeper than 3 feet or shallower than one foot. You could vary it in places to give it a more natural look.

3) Barley works in any pond. I used it for years in mine, but it's expensive. And I would always forget to add it in. I just use live plants. Plus, goldfish will eat a lot of the algae in the main body. I never have trouble with algae in my pond; it's just on the waterfall and in the stream.

4) For cleaning purposes I'd leave the substrate bare. Outdoor ponds get water changes and cleanings from rain storms. You'll have to clean this pond yourself, so you'll want to make the maintenance as stress-free as possible. Bare-bottom will be better than sand for that.

5) Ranchu are genetically the same as other breeds of goldfish. Nothing is more toxic to them than other goldfish. I haven't seen one, but I'm sure you can find a guide for goldfish pond plants online.

I'm looking forward to seeing you complete this!! It sounds like an amazing project!!

 

[fashionfobie]

Thank you very much for the info

I was thinking of doing a tiered water fall. Which could conceal filtration and add a nice effect. Maybe even have one tier that is 50 gallons with a smaller species, I was thinking rosy barbs. I will see how it comes out. I am a graduate student of architecture so I am sure I can model something cool We are actually going to go home shopping with this in mind so our home can accommodate it, which is a fun prospect. So it might not happen for a few years after school of course. I just like to be prepared. I have a few sketches. When I have something more formalized I will have to post it

This is a good link, maybe I should add it to the pond forum for a more general audience :: http://www.koienterprise.com/Poisonous-Plants-a-142.html

~Natalie