Winterizing Goldies

Ok. SemI controversial topic. I have a common goldfish that long story short, used to be in a pond but would winterized in a 15 gallon tank with his buddies, anywhere between 4-1 other goldies. I had him (Jupiter) for 5 years, then shut down my pond and gave him to my teacher with his friend who had a 20g. He then stayed with her for another 3 years in that 20 gallon with his friend before she gave Jupe back to me. He stopped growing at 5 years old and he's 8 now and 8" long.

So here's the deal.
Up here in lovely Canada you can only have a pond set up for about 6 months of the year because unless you have a 6' deep pond, it will freeze solid. I currently have Jupe in a 60 gallon(ish) tank 44 long by 18 wide by 20 high. It's the only goldy though he has some tabkmates that I need to rehome for comparability issues.

I've been told to rehome Jupe to a pond but here's my issue. He'll be in a large pond for 6 months but then what? To many time I see 55-75 g tanks crammed full of pond fish (goldies and koi) for the rest of the year.

Ignoring all the first issues (I'm smarter now) what's better in the long run? Keep him in the 60 with lots of room to himself or rehome him but then suffer in a too small tank with way to many other fish for half the year. As I said, he's already 8-9 years old and 8" long. If there was a place where a pond could be open longer I would but not around here.

 

Would it be possible to rehome him to a pond then in winter put him in the 60 gallon with one other goldfish before giving him back to the pond in spring?
Or possibly rehome him to a pond which is heated in winter?

 

Would it be possible to rehome him to a pond then in winter put him in the 60 gallon with one other goldfish before giving him back to the pond in spring?
Or possibly rehome him to a pond which is heated in winter?

I'm currently trying to convince my folks/landlords to let me put a pond in but they're already twitching about the water bill. The other issue of course is then a have a mostly empty 60 gallonin my living room.

I have yet to hear of a heated pond because it just gets so blessedly cold up here. It's not just a couple degrees like some places it gets to -35 plus windchill.

 

Would a 55 gallon plastic barrel in the basement for a temporary winter home work that way the pond would be a lot better for the summer I'm thinking of trying it this winter as my pond is shallower than I want to risk it

 

Would a 55 gallon plastic barrel in the basement for a temporary winter home work that way the pond would be a lot better for the summer I'm thinking of trying it this winter as my pond is shallower than I want to risk it

I don't have a basement unfortunately and kinda cycles back to the issue of another "tank" set up equals more water changes.

 

Why use a 55 gallon barrel if you have a 60 gallon tank? At 8 years old, he probably isn't going to get much bigger. I would consider upping the filtration on the tank, maybe even with a sump to increase the actual water volume, and leave him in the tank.

 

Why use a 55 gallon barrel if you have a 60 gallon tank? At 8 years old, he probably isn't going to get much bigger. I would consider upping the filtration on the tank, maybe even with a sump to increase the actual water volume, and leave him in the tank.

That's what I'm wanting to do is keep him year round in the 60. I know they can get bigger, I've seen it, but he haven't grown at all in the last 5 years even after summers in a big pond. It's the whole "60g year round vs pond in summer, too small tank in winter" thing that's been the issue.

 

That's what I'm wanting to do is keep him year round in the 60. I know they can get bigger, I've seen it, but he haven't grown at all in the last 5 years even after summers in a big pond. It's the whole "60g year round vs pond in summer, too small tank in winter" thing that's been the issue.

If he's small from getting moved around, then you might as well give him a permanent home where he can socialize with you year round.

Up the filtration. Use a big canister. Build a sump out of another tank, so you have no water quality issues, and stop moving him back and forth.

 

If he's small from getting moved around, then you might as well give him a permanent home where he can socialize with you year round.

Up the filtration. Use a big canister. Build a sump out of another tank, so you have no water quality issues, and stop moving him back and forth.

It's on the shopping list is getting another canister. The one is rated for the tank so it's to small but unless I buy brand new I have a hard time getting used ones.

I am curious about building a sump, the stand has a nice open area under neath a 10 gallon would fit but I have no idea how to build one.

 

The internet is your friend, but roughly you would use a submersible pump to drive water from the sump to the tank and then a return to spill it into the sump.

I would use a 20 gallon if you can squeeze it in.

 

The internet is your friend, but roughly you would use a submersible pump to drive water from the sump to the tank and then a return to spill it into the sump.

I would use a 20 gallon if you can squeeze it in.

I know the basics of how they work, it's the technicalities of building it and my worrywart of a mother/landlady is conceived I'm gonna end up draining the tank into the floor... I'd found someone who did it with plastic tubs, I'm gonna half to go bug them again for a tutorial.