Pond noob, little advice?

[Characins]

Well, I've been wanting to start a goldfish pond for a little, but I have no idea the technical aspect of it.

How do I heat it in winter? Do I even need to heat it in winter? (I live in Canada, and it can get pretty cold here).

Do I need to hook a filter up to this thing? And what kind?

What are some pond plants? Or do they just sort of grow on their own?

Shoudl I change feeding schedules in the summer and winter?

Anything I should remember/look out for?

[ColeMan]

I can answer your questions, but don't have it in me to do all of them at once (sorry, I've been doing yard work all day). I'll address "heating in the winter" first. I lived in colorado for a number of years, and on my property sat a 8000 gallon koi pond. I needed a depth of 6' to properly overwinter the Koi I had, though this depth was not needed but for part of the pond. IN Canada, where the winter's are harder and longer, you may need more depth. The important thing was to keep the top from totally freezing; i accomplished this by using a livestock heater i found at the feed store.

more later, my fingers are tired (pathetic: yes)

[Characins]

Originally Posted by ColeMan

I can answer your questions, but don't have it in me to do all of them at once (sorry, I've been doing yard work all day). I'll address "heating in the winter" first. I lived in colorado for a number of years, and on my property sat a 8000 gallon koi pond. I needed a depth of 6' to properly overwinter the Koi I had, though this depth was not needed but for part of the pond. IN Canada, where the winter's are harder and longer, you may need more depth. The important thing was to keep the top from totally freezing; i accomplished this by using a livestock heater i found at the feed store.

more later, my fingers are tired (pathetic: yes)

Lol, no problem, thanks!

Doesn't have to be through, just a little advice and maybe a link would be very helpful. I do appriciate any and all advice, I need as much as I can get!

[dufus]

no heat needed most likely.
4 ft should keep them warm.

yes, you NEED a filter, how big of a pond are you planning? Koi or goldfish or both, water garden, koi pond, goldfish pond or a mixture?

pond plants don't ussually just appear on their own, find a source locally or on the net.
hardy waterlillies, hardy bog, marginal, and submerged plants will work, unlesss you have koi in which case most everything will be eaten 90% of the time.
do not feed when the water temp drops below 50*

[Birdman]

here's my construction thread from another forum for my new goldfish pond. Maybe you can get some ideas from it.
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74280

[adamprice271]

Originally Posted by Characins

How do I heat it in winter? Do I even need to heat it in winter? (I live in Canada, and it can get pretty cold here).

Do I need to hook a filter up to this thing? And what kind?

What are some pond plants? Or do they just sort of grow on their own?

Shoudl I change feeding schedules in the summer and winter?

Anything I should remember/look out for?

As dufus said, Do not feed when the water temp is 50 or lower. If it is just goldfish in the pond, 2ft should be fine for them to get through it.

Depending on how big, or "fancy" you can use a filter with a skimmer box and a big pump, or you can use an in pond submerged filter that will at least keep the water airated and circulating, which will also keep it cooler in the summertime.

Waterlillies, and other types of floating plants. Just google "pond plants" and you should find plenty of ideas.

With an established pond, fish will almost always have food in the pond, I feed my koi every other day or so, just to keep them comfortable with people by the pond so they don't scatter.

Make as big a pond as you can, that way you will have more stable water conditions, healthier fish, better colors and more animals (we have lots O frogs). Make sure the pond doesn't get direct sunlight too often (a few hours a day is ok) or else you'll have an algae farm. Other than that, I think you're good.

Adam

[mistergreen]

I'm thinking about making one. And I have a spot that gets quite a bit of sun.
To combat algae, I'm thinking loading it with water lilies and other floating plants and even duckweed.
Would that work?

And also, would goldfish be less destructive to the plants?

And I'm thinking about doing a DIY filter since I have a QuietOne pump floating around.. Is there a DIY link somewhere? The easiest solution is to put it in the pond but I'm also thinking about burying one next to the pond.
thanks

[ColeMan]

I kept koi (and overwintered them) in colorado, and it was suggested that 4' be the minimum for overwintering fish; the same suggestion is made here in Tulsa, believe it or not....

[adamprice271]

Yeah, goldfish are 2ft to go through winter, and Koi need 4ft.