4'x6'x1.5' pond help

[gar man]

I got a pond kit (sunterra butterfly garden) at a garage sale and it's never been used before and it doesnt have a filter for it and i want to get a small predator for it that will be able to endure the winters here and will live of a population of rosy reds that i want to get going in the pond but wont wipe out the population. I'm going to pack it full of hornwort and water lillies to help in filtration and im going to have a water fountiantype thing in the middle of it to airerate the water. So what would be a good predator for the pond that wont get to big but can endure cold winters and wont wipeout the population of rosy reds i want to get going? I really dont care if its native or not just i want a pred..or i might just use it for rosy reds and guppies during the summer so would i need a filter for it or should i build a filter? Any advice would be greatly appriciated thnk you very much!

[gar man]

I forgot to add its 296 gallons.

[SunshinePuppies]

My mother who lives next door to me keeps bullhead catfish in her pond. They eat some of the extra fish. Mom still finds herself trying to catch and sell some fish. If you set it up right you could have turtles, frogs and snakes all living in it-turtles and snakes tend to eat fish.

My mom's got plants, koi, goldfish, and freshwater clams in hers. And a waterfall she built. It's attracted frogs, turtles, & snakes. Turkeys and deer come by for a drink all the time too.

[SunshinePuppies]

Oh and it's a good idea to have a filter, and you WILL need a heater in your pond. Otherwise your fish and plants will be frozen solid in a block of ice.

[jackiomy]

We use these in all of our ponds and are pretty happy with them. They do need regular cleaning but keep our ponds really clean.

http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/page_1859_141/beckett_submersible_pond_filter.html

[gar man]

does that filter work really well?

[THE V]

I would definitely get the 325GPH model. For $8 you get 50% more water moving through the filter. They have a lot of sponge area in them as well as room for other media.

I picked up a replacement sponge for one of those a year ago, $10 for a heck of a lot of sponge. I use it in all my tanks now.

They carry them at Home Depot for the same price as on the link.

[gar man]

so they do work really well then?

[newportjon]

My mother who lives next door to me keeps bullhead catfish in her pond. They eat some of the extra fish. Mom still finds herself trying to catch and sell some fish. If you set it up right you could have turtles, frogs and snakes all living in it-turtles and snakes tend to eat fish.

My mom's got plants, koi, goldfish, and freshwater clams in hers. And a waterfall she built. It's attracted frogs, turtles, & snakes. Turkeys and deer come by for a drink all the time too.

That sounds awesome!

You should post some pics, imo!

[gar man]

ya lets see some pics :D

[SunshinePuppies]

It really is cool. My 6 year old loves to sit out there and feed the fish. And it's not just a pond. It's a rock garden too. Centerpiece is a huge rock about the size of 3 grown men. Whatever heater you get though be careful where you put it. My mom's fish run head first into it and get stunned. And when it gets cold DO NOT feed the fish till it gets to be 60 degrees in the water.

[SunshinePuppies]

I'll get some pics when everything starts growing and flowering again.

[gar man]

ty guppy lol i didnt know that you didnt feed them..y dont u?

[BreellaBlue87]

they can get food rotting in their stomach and get sick. I also have a pond, one I'll be extending in the spring to be deep enough to overwinter fish in. Be sure to look into your frostline so you have a pond deep enough.

[SunshinePuppies]

And my mom said that it has something to do with the fact that fish not being fed keeps them in a hibernating state and they won't need food till spring. They DO need fed spring, summer and early fall before it gets cold though.

[gar man]

ok ty now i know more bout pond keeping :)

[SunshinePuppies]

Someday when I can convince the hubby to do the digging, I want a pond too!:argue:

[Cliff Mayes]

Koi stop digesting food after about 55 Degrees (the water not the air) so that undigested food rots in their digestive tract A bad thing. A lot of KOI Keepers feed Cheerios and Watermelon late in the season to lighten the load on the fish while the Keepers watch the declining temps carefully.


KOI do not Hibernate although their activity level goes way down it is possible to watch them cruising around under the ice (probably looking for food but don't do it) and being active as long as an airhole in the ice cover is maintained to facilitate gas exchange and the pond is kept scrupulosly clean of debris, to prevent buildup of bad things in the water.


Ponds are absolutely great.

[gar man]

wow great info cliff i didnt know what they fed them in the fal i mean i know you feed them dif. food them in the summer but didnt know they were cheerios lol

[Flaringshutter]

gar man, a word of warning - don't try keeping koi in your pond. a 300 gallon pond is too small for even one koi.

[SunshinePuppies]

Unfortunately my mom doesn't listen to me. She said sugar gliders hibernate too-and killed mine by throwing him outside on a 50 degree day.
no fish really hibernate, and what i do know is you're not supposed to feed them in winter.

[SunshinePuppies]

drs foster and smith has some good pond fish foods.

[gar man]

ty pupies and flar. i know that it is to small for koi.isnt the min for koi like 500 gallons per fish?