new pond & protecting Fish

[Shekoi]

i've just finished a small pond for my girlfriends parents, still got to finish the stream they want, but for now i've started the pond cycling. how many goldfish (common and comet) can go in the pond?? it's 4ftx2ftx2ft, it has a filter box and will be running 24/7
See pictures on the link.

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_008.jpg

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_009.jpg

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_011.jpg

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_002.jpg


Also the other pond on the photos iis mine i have it cover to protect the fish, from the local heron, which has already had a load of fish from the pond a couple of years back.
the problem is that to see the fish and feed them i have to lift the covers off. if i use a larger netting the frogs get in but can't get out.
So i'm wondering what people use to protect their fish, but you can still see them. would a small fense work around 1-2ft high, right on the edge og the pond??

 

[125gJoe]

My opinion is to start with 2 very small "feeder" Goldfish. ..edited: Oops, goldfish will get way too big....

Nice pond! Nice pics!

 

[Shekoi]

decided on fence this is how looks

finished the new fence, just hope it works now!!

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_024.jpg

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_023.jpg

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_022.jpg


this is how it did look!!!!

http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v138/shekoi/Plants/Pond/Pond_009.jpg

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Ok, but how would that keep a flying bird out?

 

[Shekoi]

herons have to walk into a pond before fishing so the fence alone should stop them and cats.

don't get visited by any other types of bird here, but if i do there is fishing line across the surface of the water and along the top on the fence. it's hard to see on the photos.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

I have a little bit of a larger pond than that, but my herons always just land on the water... when they come around. I haven't seen any in 3 years now.

 

[Shekoi]

do you have shelfs or beach areas for them to land? my pond is 4ft deep i can't see a heron landing in that, they don't swim like ducks.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Well the edges of the pond are somewhat shallow in comparison to the middle area. The herons around here (from what I remember) just swoop down and stick their little heads in the water briefly. They are nasty little (big!) guys...

 

[jamjarjames]

herons are odd birds. firstly they can't feed below feet level, there neck simply won't extend that far. So they have to actually stand in the water. Secondly herons do not like anything that might trip them up so that fence would be fine because they wouldn't try to get over the fence. Thirdly herons can not just land in the water they have to land then walk into the water. What we did in our pond was to place a small wire fence with fishing line as the wires. the fishing line is quite hard to see but it would stop a heron getting in the water and having a meal.