What size pond would I need?

[Danny002]

My mom has ALWAYS wanted to have a pond in our backyard, but my dad is the kind of guy that just sees every living thing as another mouth to feed. Now that I'm older, I would be able to do most of the work and maintenance myself. We have a good size dent in our yard from an old dog digging back there so I figured that would be a good place to start. What size of pond would be a good for about 5 goldfish? Also, if anyone has any advice to help make sure the wildlife don't eat the fish, or any other general advice, that would be much appreciated. This is just an idea for now but it would be nice to get a size estimate to help get everything else rolling.

 

[CrayfishAreAwesome]

I know someone who had a problem with herons eating the goldfish, and they put up a net over it. they have around a 500 gallon pond with 3 koi and like 20 goldfish. 100 gallons would most likely be fine for 5. it would actually work for 9, if pond stocking works in the same way aquarium stocking does.

 

[Danny002]

I know someone who had a problem with herons eating the goldfish, and they put up a net over it. they have around a 500 gallon pond with 3 koi and like 20 goldfish. 100 gallons would most likely be fine for 5. it would actually work for 9, if pond stocking works in the same way aquarium stocking does.

Okay, I'm sort of leaning towards closer to 8 fish now. I'm a pretty good digger so I imagine the hard part would be trying to figure how much water would fit in the hole!

 

[CoryBoi]

To protect from herons either dig to at least 3 feet or cover it with a net. For 5 goldfish( if fancy goldfish) 100 gallons is the minimum, it is the same as an aquarium 20 gallons per goldfish.
if you are planning for comet goldfish then you will need at least 200 for 5 .

 

[goldface]

Go big as you can. Max socking level is pretty much irrelevant, since goldfish will breed anyway.

 

[Danny002]

Okay, thank you all. I was planning on comet goldfish for the stock and I will make sure to dig it extra deep to help them avoid the local wildlife. I am concerned about our local bear... Would 3-4 feet deep be good to protect them? I could also add some kind of cave thing that they could hide in. Would it be better to get a nighttime cover with a hole (for aeration) rather than leaving them to their own devices?

 

[CrayfishAreAwesome]

Would it be better to get a nighttime cover with a hole (for aeration) rather than leaving them to their own devices?

Most likely, to a bear your pond is a gourmet all you can eat dinner.

 

[Danny002]

Most likely, to a bear your pond is a gourmet all you can eat dinner.

Okay I figured. I'll have to padlock it since she figured out lids years ago (as our neighbor's trash in our yard indicated). I plugged the planned dimensions into a size calculator and it came out to about 500 gallons. Would this be okay for 7 goldfish?

EDIT: Updated pond size

 

[CrayfishAreAwesome]

yes, totally

 

[CrayfishAreAwesome]

it would be okay for 20

 

[Danny002]

it would be okay for 20

Okay, thank you! I'll probably just start with the 7 in case they breed, I don't want to end up with more than I can handle!

 

[CoryBoi]

it would be okay for 20

No it would not, for comet goldfish you need 100 gallons for the first one and then like 50 for each other one. So for 7 you would need at LEAST 400 gallons.

 

[Danny002]

No it would not, for comet goldfish you need 100 gallons for the first one and then like 50 for each other one. So for 7 you would need at LEAST 400 gallons.

Okay, I'll definitely stick with the 7 in about 500 gallons then.

 

[saltwater60]

I would do a pond about 4’ wide by 6’ long and 3’ deep. You’ll want more than you’re planning now I’m sure.

 

[saltwater60]

I know someone who had a problem with herons eating the goldfish, and they put up a net over it. they have around a 500 gallon pond with 3 koi and like 20 goldfish. 100 gallons would most likely be fine for 5. it would actually work for 9, if pond stocking works in the same way aquarium stocking does.

That pond is horribly overstocked. One koi needs about twice that. I have less fish in that in a 5500 gallon pond.

 

[Lakefish]

Regarding the wildlife eating the fish, if you make the sides quite steep down two feet or more, that will foil most animals. And the presence of a fake heron will deter a real one (maybe just move it around once in awhile).

 

[saltwater60]

Regarding the wildlife eating the fish, if you make the sides quite steep down two feet or more, that will foil most animals. And the presence of a fake heron will deter a real one (maybe just move it around once in awhile).

You’ll never stop a heron. You’ll either get one or you won’t. I normally don’t get them but every once in a while one will spot my pond. It does eat some fish and of course it’s always my favorite one or my largest one. Ticks me off.
My pond sides are steep but have two plant shelves and I have to have a staircase to get out. My pond is 51” deep. I hand dig it and it’s shoulder deep on me and they still get my fish. I have lots of cover too. They even spear them through a net. I put fishing line around the outside and they get around that too.

 

[wisecrackerz]

Don't forget to calculate the depth of your pond based on your local frost-line, unless your want to bring them all in every winter (a pain, ime.)

To help deter herons, I've seen everything from low-slung nets, to decoys, from super-deep pools, to audio-recordings of predators. The only thing I ever saw actually stop a determined one was a small greenhouse built over the pond, but I bet a determined brown bear would make short work of that kind of thing.

 

[Danny002]

Don't forget to calculate the depth of your pond based on your local frost-line, unless your want to bring them all in every winter (a pain, ime.)

To help deter herons, I've seen everything from low-slung nets, to decoys, from super-deep pools, to audio-recordings of predators. The only thing I ever saw actually stop a determined one was a small greenhouse built over the pond, but I bet a determined brown bear would make short work of that kind of thing.

I live in Florida, so water never freezes here. I'm hoping that our local public ponds and a sturdy locked cover for nighttime will reduce the death toll as much as possible. That seems to keep them out of our neighbors trash cans. Also, we have black bears but I doubt that changes much in the realm of deterrents.

 

[saltwater60]

I live in Florida, so water never freezes here. I'm hoping that our local public ponds and a sturdy locked cover for nighttime will reduce the death toll as much as possible. That seems to keep them out of our neighbors trash cans. Also, we have black bears but I doubt that changes much in the realm of deterrents.

I can’t see a black bear going for goldfish. Maybe I’m naive but I do t see it as worth their time and effort.
Birds would defiantly be your bigger concern.
If you’re in Florida I’d go as deep as possible no to protect from freezing but to protect from the heat. Goldfish don’t like super hot water either. I’d do lots of cover plants to protect the fish and keep the sun from beating on the black liner.
I’d also 100% go with a flexible Edpm liner otherwise it won’t last too long.

 

[Danny002]

I can’t see a black bear going for goldfish. Maybe I’m naive but I do t see it as worth their time and effort.
Birds would defiantly be your bigger concern.
If you’re in Florida I’d go as deep as possible no to protect from freezing but to protect from the heat. Goldfish don’t like super hot water either. I’d do lots of cover plants to protect the fish and keep the sun from beating on the black liner.
I’d also 100% go with a flexible Edpm liner otherwise it won’t last too long.

Okay thank you! Local bodies of water with strong water movement tend to stay on the colder side, so I figure with strong filtration and if I dig it deep enough they'll be good. I was also planning on covering most of the bottom and sides with light colored rocks and sand so that should also help heat-wise. (I'll account for the areas these take up when digging the hole.) I'll try to find some deer-safe plants that I can put in there. My parents have spent THOUSANDS trying to keep deer away from plants so that could end up being the hardest part of this. Does anyone know if sandhill cranes will go for the fish? We don't see tons of herons but we certainly get enough sandhills around.

 

[wisecrackerz]

I'd definitely recommend making sure it's quite deep, and well shaded. If the water temp gets too high, up into the 80s, the O2 solubility will drop like a rock, and that can kill a temperate water fish like a goldfish pretty quick.

 

[saltwater60]

I'd definitely recommend making sure it's quite deep, and well shaded. If the water temp gets too high, up into the 80s, the O2 solubility will drop like a rock, and that can kill a temperate water fish like a goldfish pretty quick.

In addition to this I’d also say sand is a bad thing. It will get up into the water and your pump impeller will get ruined. No sand.

 

[Danny002]

In addition to this I’d also say sand is a bad thing. It will get up into the water and your pump impeller will get ruined. No sand.

I haven't heard that, thank you for letting me know!

 

[saltwater60]

I haven't heard that, thank you for letting me know!

You can do pea gravel but the fish will kick up the sand and score the impeller shaft and ruin it. They aren’t cheap either.