Fish - patio pond

[julesjoy]

Nearly started a thread asking about chickens, but for now I'll ask about ponds and fish! I'm thinking about repurposing one of my large black plastic water troughs from the ponies to be a patio pond. However, I'm struggling to find any UK sourced materials that include fish. So, is it possible? Does anyone have one? How do I stop them dying over the winter and all the water evaporating if it gets warm? Many thanks!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I don't know too much about ponds and fish but I am now the reluctant trustee of my late son's patio pond he built in the garden outside his bedroom window. It is about 12 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. It contains one rather splendid 20 year old Koi and various goldfish of different types and colors.

The goldfish we have to reduce the numbers regularly to make sure it doesn't become overstocked and not healthy size for them. Luckily our post lady is a keen outdoor pond enthusiast and she takes away our spare fish. I think the pond must be healthy because they seem to breed like rabbits!.

It has been a steep learning curve with the help of my other son who does know considerably more than I do thank goodness.

I am struggling to imagine what size a large plastic water trough is and how many fish it could healthily sustain? If it is very small then yes it will rapidly evaporate in hot weather and it also needs to be deep enough for the fish to safely semi hibernate through the winter without freezing solid.

Have you googled ornamental fish pond suppliers in your area, there will be some it is a very popular hobby. I would go along to one of the larger ones and pick their brains on the feasibility of the water container idea.

Good luck. I am now actually starting to enjoy my new hobby now the obvious sadness isn't quite so brutal. It brings me great peace sitting there. Water and fish are very soothing for the soul I find.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Ever since I had an aquarium many, many years ago, I've been looking at pictures of outdoor ponds, and the occasional DIY video thinking maybe one day, but after all these years I suspect I like the idea more than I actually want to do the work. But I have a DIY bird bath so who knows.
Anyhow, I'm guessing that if you really want fish, and there's a risk the trough becomes frozen solid in Winter, you could either set up something simple to keep the fish e.g. in a garage or similar over Winter, or buy a floating De-icer for plastic troughs/tanks.
Perhaps something like this, if it's safe for fish? https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-H-418-Aluminum-Floating/dp/B000B9SH1O

But if a fish pond is too much hassle due to freezing in Winter, maybe make a water feature, with some plants, perhaps a solar driven fountain...

This person used a horse trough, and a very well-cleaned out ex muck bucket to make a vegetable planter with inbuilt water feature, page with DIY instructions.

Maybe build a wooden frame, and put the trough inside

This page have a suggestion which includes using an old bathtub, but I assume it could be switched to a trough, and I think it said something about being designed for the possibility to add a few fish. Page with DIY instructions

Maybe this UK site can be of interest? https://ponds4fish.co.uk/

 

[asmp]

if you do decide to have fish be aware that heron are extremely good at spotting fish in suburban ponds! I lost my last fish to one and my dad had some of his taken recently.

 

[SEL]

if you do decide to have fish be aware that heron are extremely good at spotting fish in suburban ponds! I lost my last fish to one and my dad had some of his taken recently.

My parents have a pond and my dad tried to set up a trip wire to keep the heron off!!

Didn't work for the heron but mum nearly ended up taking a bath

 

[splashgirl45]

I had a little pond in my last house, it was about 3 ft deep and about 5 ft long and 2ft wide so quite small.. I made it by digging out the hole , lining with old carpet and then a rubber liner. I put fish friendly plants in it to keep it clear and had a small pump which kept plenty of air in it and also stopped it completely freezing. The goldfish seemed pretty happy as they bred and the frogs liked it and I had lots of tadpoles every year.. when I moved the new people said they were going to fill it in so I scooped every single fish out and rehomed them to a friend . I used to sit by the pond and watch the interaction and loved it…

 

[Kunoichi73]

if you do decide to have fish be aware that heron are extremely good at spotting fish in suburban ponds! I lost my last fish to one and my dad had some of his taken recently.

My mum is not a violent person and is an animal lover but I swear, if she had a shotgun, she'd happily shoot any heron that came near her pond!

 

[julesjoy]

It will definitely have a net or cover over to keep children, cats and other predators out!

Thanks for the tip on what to Google Mrs J, that's far more helpful than my results!

FL, I like the tub in a raised soil bed, hadn't thought of that and would protect from frost better.

Thanks for the thoughts people. Still mulling chickens too

 

[poiuytrewq]

We have a pond, it’s an above ground type with wood around. It’s frozen on top but the fish were still fine lower down. It does drop a bit in hot weather and gets filled with the hose.
We are on a private water source so I don’t think chlorinated (but I’m not sure)
Probably not the ideal but the fish are thriving and breeding so must be ok!

 

[Pinkvboots]

We have a massive pond and it's about 10ft deep in places was full of fish but herons have had most of them and it attract awful midges and insects so we don't sit near that bit of the garden much, was actually considering making it into a pool as we would use it in the summer.

It has a bit of history the last owner of the property drowned in it although it was never clear if he meant to throw himself in or not, he had a debilitating illness and vowed he wasn't going to let it end his life very sad