I should have dug deeper

[j.w]

@gardenshrups

 

[BarbAZCA]

My little pond turned out to be under 16 inches deep and my goldfish did survive in zone 7.

It did ice over at colder times, except for a small opening where my waterfall is. I let my bog filter and pump run all winter.

I'm in the mountains of zone 7 - hot in the summer, many below freezing nights in the winter. My pond started at 12" deep and became shallower as sediment accumulated. I hadn't planned on having fish, but I did add goldfish. Raccoons waded in and ate the first couple batches. Then we made a night time cover. Then spent big bucks to make it 3' deep. My goldfish wintered over at all depths. I also keep the waterfall running to oxygen and keeping a 'breather' hole.

 

[Lisak1]

Goldfish are tough little fish - they are actually affected more by water being too hot than too cold.

 

[WaterGardener]

Too hot can be a problem with shallow ponds, too. They can heat up fast in the sun.

So always remember that second rule.