I knew I shouldn't browse here- wine barrel pond

[Desertponder]

I have several half barrel water gardens. There is no reason why you can't do it. Mine are mostly for plants but you could get two small common goldfish. Don't get fancies. I have also known ponders who have kept Bettas in barrel water gardens. You would need to have a small pump and either a spitter or a fountain head. Liner is a must if the barrel is not tight enough to hold water. I soak mine submerged in a stock tank for about a week before I set them up in the spring and they hold water without liners. You will need a few water plants to help give the fish cover and balance the system.
As long as the barrel gets some shade at least part of the day they won't get too hot. A barrel in full sun all day gets pretty warm.
You will need to think about winter if you get fish. What will you do with the fish come winter? They will have to come inside to an aquarium.
Here are some pics of some of my barrels.

 

[euglossa]

thanks, those are beautiful.

I really looked into this as a way to keep fancies. Seems a half barrel isn't a good way to keep them. So I'll probably wait until I can figure out where to set up a proper sized aquarium and keep them in a glass box indoors. That's a long someday off, my house is tiny and already dominated by a 75 gallon tropical community.

 

[amrott]

I have had a fancy goldfish and 2 shubunkins in a half barrel outside for about 2 years now. I put a heater in during the winter (set real low) I also have a Tetra intank filter.

The barrel only gets early morning direct sun light in the summer and no direct sun in the winter. I place 2 frozen water bottles in the barrel on really hot days during the summer.