How To Start A Goldfish Pond?

[YamiHime]

Okay, I tired looking to see if there were posts already made but I couldn't seem to find any.

Anyways, My neighbor is kindly giving me a plastic pond that I'm going to set up in my backyard soon. I've tried looking up information on how to make/run it ect. But I'm a little confused.

So I wanted to know if anyone had any tips or could explain how to start one? If I put fish in it, I want them to be happy, not suffer. I want to build a pond filter for the pond and I figure it's the same as running a fish tank. (wait till it cycles add fish in slowly ect.)

My question is more about running the pond in winter. From what I understand, they live at the bottom in the "warmer" water and you don't need to feed them. But there would need to be a part of the pond uncovered and that's where I'm confused. Also wouldn't the filter have to be turned off? wouldn't the fish die from that?

If anyone could answer I would really appreciate it so much.
 
Edit:

I live in Ontario, Canada if that helps.

 

[SmexxyNick]

Yeah pretty much the same as a fish tank, in the winter you want to put the filter on the opposite side of the tank, like from where the deepest part is, I'm pretty sure

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Have a read here it night help http/urbanext.illinois.edu/gardenerscorner/issue_06/winter_04_10.cfm

 

[YamiHime]

Have a read here it night help http/urbanext.illinois.edu/gardenerscorner/issue_06/winter_04_10.cfm

Alright I'll take a look, thank you
 

Yeah pretty much the same as a fish tank, in the winter you want to put the filter on the opposite side of the tank, like from where the deepest part is, I'm pretty sure

oh, do you mean I should move the filter to the shallow part of the pond? The plastic pond shell or whatever it's called, has shallow ends and a deeper middle.

 

[SmexxyNick]

Yeah the deep part is where the fish stay warm in the winter, move it to the shallow part 

 

[YamiHime]

Yeah the deep part is where the fish stay warm in the winter, move it to the shallow part 

ahh okay~ I read about that. So by moving the filter it will keep a part of the pond unfrozen?? Do I need anything else then??