If a garden pond for goldfish is to be redesigned or created, then the living conditions for the animals must be taken into account. Because depending on the quantity and size of the fish, the size of the pond has to be different. In addition, a certain depth of the garden pond must be given for wintering so that the animals survive the winter without damage. The following article therefore deals with the subject of the goldfish pond in a little more detail.
Table of Contents
Number goldfish
If you want to create a garden pond with goldfish, you should think in advance about how many animals should move in. A group of six fish is always recommended here at the beginning. Therefore, the pond has to be big enough to hold at least these six fish. The following should be considered when designing:
- one to two fish per cubic meter of water
- Filter system for more fish
- if the pond is small, it has to be fed
- then filter system for cleaning
- the bigger the pond, the better
However, if you buy goldfish, you have to be aware that it will not stay with the six specimens, as the fish can multiply quickly and then grow into a large population.
Calculation example
If it is assumed that around two goldfish are to be used per cubic meter, where larger specimens of around 35 to 40 centimeters in length are assumed, then the following calculation example results for the size of a pond:
- one cubic meter is 1000 liters of water
- 1000 liters are required for two fish
- with six fish it is 3000 liters
- corresponds to three cubic meters
- with twelve fish already 6000 liters
- corresponds to six cubic meters
Assuming about six fish in the pond, the amount of water required sounds like a lot at first. However, an area of the pond of around two square meters is sufficient if a depth of 1.50 meters is assumed.
Different types of ponds
There are many different types and designs for garden ponds. Depending on your own preference, this can be a pure swimming pond or a pond in which mainly aquatic plants are settled. A goldfish pond is another type of pond. The type of pond is also decisive for the size and shape of the pond. So the goldfish pond should look like this:
- round or oval
- enough depth
- especially important for winter
- enough volume
- is decided according to the number of fish
- do not narrow too much towards the bottom
- Floor area similar in depth to the surface
Volume
The larger the garden pond, the better it is not only for the goldfish, but also for the pond itself. Because a small pond can quickly become contaminated, which not only harms the animals but also the plants. The larger the pond is created, the better it is for the natural vegetation. In addition, the following aspects should be taken into account when calculating the volume of the goldfish pond:
- Required amount of liters of water not only on the surface
- should also be calculated in depth
- this is how the pond becomes winterized
- a large pond does not freeze over as quickly as a whole
- a deep pond does not freeze to the bottom
depth
When creating a goldfish pond, it’s not just about general volume, depth is also very important. Because a shallow pond is usually not suitable for a larger goldfish population. If the pond is designed to be shallow, then the animals have to move to winter quarters in the frosty months. Because if the surface freezes over, there is not enough space to the bottom of the pond in a shallow body of water, and oxygen is scarce directly under the ice surface. When creating the goldfish pond, care should be taken to ensure sufficient depth as follows:
- between 80 centimeters and 1.50 meters of water depth
- at the deepest point
- there may also be shallower areas
- mostly near the shore
- depends on the climatic zone
- the colder the environment, the deeper
Pond winterized
With a sufficient depth, the pond is also winter-proof. The goldfish can hibernate in the lower areas, have enough space here and can become frozen in winter. For this, however, a sufficient volume must also be achieved on the ground. Therefore, the following must be observed for the wintering of the animals in the pond:
- frost-free areas in the depth
- The base is almost as wide as the surface
- especially important for small ponds
- Remove algae from the soil before winter
- more space for animals
Large ponds require several zones for the wintering of the fish, in which the pond is deep enough so that the animals can stay here if the surface freezes over. If the fish population is large, it is helpful to open up the ice cover in some places so that oxygen can get into the pond.
Conclusion
Every garden pond can be converted into a goldfish pond. However, depending on how big and how deep the pond is, certain factors must be taken into account. For the winter, the size and above all the depth are decisive as the goldfish are overwintered. In a deep pond, the animals can remain in the pond even when there is a significant frost and a frozen surface; in a shallow pond, it makes more sense to move the fish to winter quarters. It can therefore be said that the deeper and larger the garden pond, the easier it is to care for this goldfish pond and the less work the fish do.
