New Pond Setup

[Aquanaught]

Hi guys n gals

I'm just starting out with my first pond

I had gold fish as a kid in a fish tank but never had a pond

My brother has a pond but wishes to be rid of it an the fish, this is what made me decide to build a pond (always wanted one but never did anything about it) he said I can have all the fish and plants if I want

So I started building my pond out the back and I'm almost ready to fit the pond liner etc

My pond is an above ground style using pine sleepers which I've screwed together and supported with steel edges which have been cemented into the ground
It measures (internal measurements) 3.6m x 1.5m the height is yet to be determaind (I'm using sand on the bottom to alter the height
It will either be 480mm or 500mm deep

I have purchased a filter - laguna pressure flo 8000 uvc
I'm yet to get the pump I'm considering the laguna 6000lh any suggestions?

I'm also fitting a waterfall to the back of the pond (2m tall x 2m wide) this will run off a separate pump so I can just run that when I wish while the other pump runs 24/7

I'm going to line the pond using a foam rubber liner from my local fish aquarium place

What I'd like to know is am I missing anything?
How long should I let the pond and water sit to stablise before introducing the fish?
What chemicals/products may I require if any?
How many fish (just goldfish) can I keep (approx 3,500litres water)
I would like the fish to grow to a good size
Currently he has two goldfish approx 6-7inches long and approx 30 babies ranging from an inch to 3 inches long

Would introducing new fish (bought from a shop) cause any issues?

Any help would be great and I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions

Thanks

 

[catfishblues]

in my pond i use a water conditioner/stress coat when adding tap water and it is essential! my pond is about that size and that is probably enough fish but you may need to remove some eventually as goldfish if they live long enough can get about 30 centimeters maximum (although most wont) introducing shop fish shouldnt be a problem as well. im not sure what pump i use so im no help with that but with the water fall mine would grow long hair algae and the pond scum would accumulate on it. it was gross but by accident i put some plant cuttings from an aquatic plant on and it took root in the nutrient rich scum and covered the waterfall! it is pretty cool. post pictures soon!

 

[Aquanaught]

Cheers for the reply

I just got some bad news, some low life snuck into my brothers yard today (in daylight no less!!)
They didn't take any of the fish (well not the two large adults anyway)
What they did take was the pump and filter along with all his garden lighting etc an few other items

What I want to know is long will they last without a pump/filter setup?
My pond isn't ready yet so can't move them in

Would I be better of moving them into plastic tubs til I'm finished?
I only have one tub approx 40litres and a small fish tank about the same size (was gonna use that as a holding tank for sick fish (if I had any) or to hold the young till they can grow a bit and not be eaten

They would have to be there for about 2-3 weeks I'm guessing - in the tub/tank or the unfiltered pond
Dunno what's worse for them?? Over crowding etc
I can't travel to my brothers to often either to check on them in the pond

So I guess I'm wanting to know if I'm best off leaving them or move them to the tub and tank??
I'd put the two larger adults in one and as many of the younger ones I could catch in the other (most are black an small and in a black lined pond so can't say will be fun catching them all lol)

Thanks again

 

[catfishblues]

thats horrible! i wouldn't even think people would try to steal something like that! my pond had a leak once and we had to drain it for about two weeks so we put them in a little kids pool. but i think they would most likely be okay in the pond or tub. but if you can put some plants in for oxygen unless you have a decent amount of algae in there. some plants that i would suggest are hornworts or egeria densa. both don't look to well in ponds but they are fairly cheap and very hardy and they dont even need to be in a substrate(although they will live perfectly fine in substrate) another warning i have for you is cranes and storks. i have a crane that constantly visits my pond and stares longingly at my koi. he even ate my biggest koi! he eventually gave him back a few days later but it was in bird-poop form. just beware of these birds!

 

[Aquanaught]

Yea pretty sad

I questioned him more an he told me he only jus noticed it all missing today

They are not living there ATM so it could have happened sometime in the last week or so??

There are plants int the pond (well last time I saw it - 3 or so weeks ago) not sure what they are tho
He did say the pond is "murky" and has green "slime" (I'm guessing algae in it
He doesn't no much about it as was there when he bought the place, hence why I'm getting the fish etc as he doesn't want the pond
So now I have to work quicker on mine lol

As for storks etc I won't have that problem here
I'm in Australia so non here where I am
Sorry to hear of your problem with them tho have you tried a screen or mesh? Over the top??

 

[catfishblues]

ok then i think with the plants and algae they SHOULD be ok in the pond. it is better if the plants are underwater because the leaves make the c02. as for the screen, i have a lot of emerged plants and and turtles that need to climb out to get sun so instead i just have the dogs keep a watch and scared it off by shooting it with an airsoft gun let me know if you have any other questions/concerns about ponds!

 

[Aquanaught]

Cheers for that

My next issue is how to return the water from filter back into the pond

This is more of a "looks" issue than anything lol

I'd rather have the water return some other way than just from a hose off the filter

I was thinking of a spillway
So the water fills the trough then over flows back into the pond causing a mini waterfall I guess

My filter will be sitting higher than my pond so it's not like it's pumping any higher it's more just falling back to pond- but via the spillway
What do you all think?

Any suggestions or pics - links to ideas would be greatly appreciated

As for the noise I'm not fussed i don't hav any real neighbours to worry about and it won't bother me at all

 

[Aquanaught]

No ideas?

 

[Aquanaught]

So by lack of replies I take it everyone jus returns the water from there filter via a hose into the pond

No fancy looking returns jus plain boring old hose???