What Size Koi Tank?

[clemsonguy1125]

Hey,
After getting fed up with my preformed pond I pulled up the flexible liner that was in it and the 550 gph pump. Im building a 4x4 out of 2x12s and a chip board for the base. It will be 2 feet deep. The filter will be a mechanical filter from a 20 gallon tub housed above it. The garage never goes below freezing and the water will never go above 75. would this be sufficient for a pair of koi and 3 goldies. Ive heard at least a thousand gallons for outdoor ponds but the people at petsmart and petco say a 75 gallon indoor tank is fine. It seemed fishy as they get to 18-24 inches. My other stocking idea was a pair of bullhead catfish or other native fish.

 

[addy1]

So you are making a winter pond for your fish? 75 gallons would be small for the koi and goldies, imho.

Are your redoing your outside pond also? or will this pond in the garage be their home? Sorry I go a little lost in your post.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Not really a winter pond, I got mad as my area gets a lot of rain and mud would consistently get into the pond and cover the bottom within day. Im using the liner and building a wooden frame to put the liner in. Its a permanent pond, not a wintering pond but its basically a wintering pond type pond. I know 75 would be small, petsmart people really dont know what they are talking about. This is about 250g. I hate it but at the moment my 3 six inch comets are in a 10g. The 10 comets in the pond died after a water change in the outdoor pond.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3924458

 

[shakaho]

So you are putting this in the garage? The problem of mud washing into an outdoor pond is easily handled by raising the edge of the pond above ground level. For example, if you want a 2 foot deep pond, dig down a 18 inches, and line sides of the hole with 3 layers of cement blocks. Then put in your liner. The top of your pond will be 6 inches above ground level, and it would take some pretty heavy flooding to get mud in there.

Your proposed pond is way too small for your fish load.

 

[addy1]

i have all my edges raised, with the slope need to keep the dirt from washing in on the uphill slope.

We are still getting a little dirt, but not done yet with all the edges.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

My edges were raised but It was still a pain to deal with. Im thinking Ill go with the garage pond. What would be the maximum number of gold fish in it, it close to 250 gallons. Ive heard one gallon of water inch of full grown fish. By following that rule I should be able to have 20 comets but that didnt seem right. I may end up going with a pair of bull head cats. Im afraid of there whiskers punching a hole in the liner though.

 

[shakaho]

The usual role of thumb is 1 goldfish per 20 gallons. That's assuming good filtration and regular water changes. If you are casual about taking care of your fish, 1 per 50 gallons.

 

[Oldhead]

I think that is 10 gallons per 1 inch of fish

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Maybe thats what I heard, now that I think about it. Its seems koi in talks about 200g is a debatable issue. It depends on the person I guess. Are koi communtity fish, or would a single one be fine.

 

[koiguy1969]

Look.. with good enough filtration, enough water changes, etc...you can keep a 10" fish alive in a 5gal container, but that doesnt mean you should. alive doesnt mean happy or healthy.. without adequate room to swim (no excercise) they cant obtain or maintain proper muscle developement, body size, shape, etc... koi and goldies will school together, and get along as well as you could hope for. (they"re all carp). they will even spawn together...that said 250 gallons is to small for any "real long term", multiple koi inhabitation. but goldies should fare pretty well. This is just my opinion,but i would sell/give away the koi and let them live a happy life.in a pond suitable for them.. when they could hit 25" or even 30" unless i planned to build an appropriately sized pond.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Ok, I agree that a fish should not be kept long term if they will not be able to thrive. I was originally building the pond to move my goldfish into. I just wanted to know if it was a good idea since its a debated topic. If I get a small bullhead catfish Ill keet the 6 inch comets in until they become in danger of being eaten. Im concerned about keeping them if I get the bullhead.

 

[stroppy]

well im going to put my two penneth in and say its too small even for goldfish and if your thinking of getting a catfish i would try and rehome the fish now ...

 

[DoDad]

To small for koi.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Koi are to big for the pond size. But goldfish? They get at max 12 inches and most hit 8 inches at max so if I but under 5 in I think Ill be fine. As for the catfish, thats just a thought. My biggest worry about it is its "whiskers will jab through the liner. If I do get the bullhead Ill see about rehoming the goldfish. Problem is, most people dont have a decent sized pond of want to use them as feeders. So I guess this could be an excuse for a second pond, lol. But Ill probably go with just the goldfish. Any suggestion on extremly low light plants. The lighting will come from natural light coming in through the windows of the garage and maybe a few standard lamps. From what i undersand this eliminates most lilies. I looked at jave ferns but they grow too slowly and max out at small sizes.

 

[ponderpaul]

If it is a yard or garden pond, it will never be "big enough". Seems we alway want just one more fish.:regular_waving_emot