Fish For A Small Pond

[andrew1707]

We have a small pond in out garden.
It is about 6ft by 3ft (tapering to about 1.5ft at the other end). It is mostly about 10" - 12" deep with a deeper patch that is about 18" to 20".

Are there any pond experts out there that can tell me if this is deep enough for fish and if so which varieties would be best.

Andrew

[sir.prize]

Andrew - that is plenty deep enough for fish. Suggestions for colour: goldfish, shubunkins, golden orfe, comets. Small ghost koi are interesting. Also rudd will help to keep the water surface clean. Do not forget to add some oxygenating plants. There's lots of advice on the Internet.

[andrew1707]

Thanks Sir.prize. The info I did find on-line was a bit conflicting so I thought I would go to the font of all knowledge instead.

Perhaps if I had asked about cat-fish I would have had more responses!!!

a

[Ratty2E]

I wouldn't get any koi, they might be small when you put them in but a few years down the line you'll be needing to get a bigger pond, also they will destroy any plants you put in and you'll need to get into special filters etc. If it were me I'd stick to goldfish, they can get quite big but not huge as koi do and they are much easier to keep. In the winter they need to shelter in the deepest part so think about how many of what size would fit there. If you don't have one you might want to think about a water fall or fountain to oxygenate the water especially in the summer.

[Chipchopper]

It's long been my understanding that 18 inches + is the ideal minimum depth for keeping fish.

[Ratty2E]

Depends on the size of the fish Chip and the climate. My koi are at least 8 inches deep and if it gets very cold for long periods you could have a few inches of ice and that's assuming the water level is at it's max all the time, which it rarely is.

[jomifl]

Oxygenating plants only oxygenate when the sun shines and at night they use up oxygen. In winter the decay products use up even more. Most oxygen in ponds comes from the atmosphere so some movement in the water would help. Plants are useful for absorbing waste products but you don't want too many. If you must feed the fish, feed as little as you can bear, otherwise the fish will get too big, waste products will build up, the pond will go green renering whatever fish you have invisible...before they die of lack of oxygen. Try this...take a small child armed with a pond net to a local river or pond get him/her to scoop around in the reeds and put the catch in you pond. At this time of the year you should catch lots of fish hatchlings/baby fish (you probably won't see them as they are very small) which will live happily in your pond and won't need looking after. The list of possible inhabitants includes ..minnow, roach, dace, bream, gudgeon, tench etc.

[SlackAlice]

I'd go with goldfish, comets, orfe and gold tench. If you do not have a pump for filtration or fountain then do not overstock. Remember they will all have to fit in the deepest part in winter. Too many fish give Nitric acid/Nitrates imbalance affecting water quality.

Make sure you have adequate plants for oxygenation and nitrate removal. The pond is just about deep enough provided your not too far North and suffer severe winters.

For the moment I'd leave out the Koi, mainly because they will continue to grow fast and become too big for your pond. They are also partial to eating plants and if you've got water lilies they will eat them all.

[andrew1707]

So it sounds like I am deep enough....but just. I might see if I can increase the depth by a few inches.

Thanks to everyone for their answers; I have got a few good pointers.

Thanks
A