Gee, where do I begin ? I am not new to fish in aquariums - but water gardening is new. I have two ceramic water gardens bowls: One is 32" in dia and 15" in height and the other is 27 " in dia and 13" in height ( above ground)

For the last three seasons I've had Comets in both and the usual pond plants. By October I am down to one fish and I put it in a 10 gallon aquarium inside flip over the bowls and I am done.

THIS year is different. All fish survived and GREW ! The little 3" Japanese Shubunkin is now 6 inches with a 3" tail. The rest of the regular Comets are 5 inches ! I've been trying to figure out how to let them winter in the bowls..but water/freezing/expanding/ cracked bowl is staring me in the face. I'd bring them inside but not sure what size aquarium is would need to purchase and I'm not sure I want to get back into the 150 gal maintence routine.

As a last resort, someone gave me a in-ground pond liner 37" dia ( at top) and said I could put the fish in this. I have a enclosed ( but not heated) breezeway/floridaroom) where this could sit all winter.

I want to try and winter the fish - and yes, I'll build a real pond next year..lol but for now ..any help/suggestions/ oh and I lived in Massachusetts ( forget the zone )

Thank you

d

Welcome to the forum!

You're right in that you cannot overwinter the fish in their current tub ponds in MA. How many total goldfish are there? It sounds like you'd need at least a 40 gallon aquarium or indoor pond if you bring them in.

The "in-ground pond liner" is a rigid pond? It's 3 feet in diameter? How deep is it? How many gallons is it? If it's at least 40 gallons, and you can keep it in a room where it won't freeze (a little ice on top short term is okay; more than that, and you'll need a de-icer), then it may work. I suggest netting the pond as the fish may jump. An air stone is a good idea during the winter to keep the water turning over, oxygenated, and deter any ice if your protected room gets too cold.

I hope things work out! You have to start planning your big pond! For your colder climate, I suggest a 3' deep section for overwintering.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm has more on winter and ponds.

Yes, It's 3 feet in dia. It is rigid like the old fashion kiddie pools. It has ledges inside for plants to sit ( if it were outside) so I am guessing that it's at least 40 gallon. At the deepest point it's about 18" I looked at a 40 gallon tank today and my sense if that they both hold the same amount of water.

I'm thinking it might just work when I compare setting up another inside tank to this. I already have an airstone that I use in the bowls and netting is easy to acquire.

Another couple of questions, when is the best time to take them out of the bowl ? Right now the day temps are 70's-80's the nights are 60 ish. Should I fill the liner with water from the bowls or just fill with fresh water ?

d

You should bring the fish in when the water temperature drops below about 55 degrees F, and you would stop feeding. This is assuming that the room they are going in will stay cold all winter (below 55 degrees F). If you were bringing them inside, then I would say they could stay out until 60 degrees F water so that the change between inside and outside is not as extreme.

If the water in the existing ponds looks good, you can use that. Otherwise, fresh water is okay if you add dechlorinator and aerate the pond for a day or two before putting in the fish. You can acclimate them to the new pond by using buckets and slowly adding more of the new water.

Hi deltos
Just a few idea's for you to think about, plus the pros and cons of them :(
What filteration are you planng on using with this indoor pond . <_<
You will have to remember the dangrous levels of Ammonia and Nitrite when using straight tap water. :o :(
It would be far better to use the water from your containers otherwise you'd be battling those spikes for quite a while oing daily waterchanges tests etc. :)
Another thought here is why cant you just bring both containers in and place then both near to windows. :)
This is so they get as much natural daylight as possible thus your fish have not been disturbed too much and they are in water that you know is good for them. :)
You could also lag the containers with double sided silver bubblewrap and leave them outside, with the use of water heaters keep the temperature up.
Plus add a frame that is double glazed with bubblewrap ( allowing for some ventilation ). B)
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude Flowersmile
PS I can veiw in my mind the size of your largest container as it happens to be of the dimentions of my filters on our pond and we are having to ask ourselves the same questions you have about warmth . ;)

Thank you both !

I feel silly to be struggling this much but - I at least want to give my fish a chance ! B)

I guess I need to make a decision soon..New England weather and all..

If I go with Option A - they would stay in the liner in an enclosed breezeway - the temperature there is 10+/- the temperature outside. I would use a stone - for aeration and a heater to keep a hole in the ice - ( it will freeze) put a net over the top ( I have cat) and that's it !

Option B buy a 40 gallon tank ( on sale at Petco now for 1$ gallon ). Set that up bring them inside over the next week or so. But now I'm into the buy filter etc... I had a 150 gallon tank a few years back & during a heat wave ( AC broke ) - all fished cooked -literally so I got rid of tank -and all filters.

broxandval:

I wish I could move both containers but they are ceramic - 2 inches thick - one is 36 in in dia gallons the other is 27 in in dia . Filled - they would be too heavy to move -

Double-sided silver bubble wrap ??? What is that ? Can this be an Option C :blink:

d

I think either the indoor pond or aquarium would work. Bubble wrap will raise temperatures a few degrees but I don't think it would be enough in your climate.

The pond liner your talking about is one that I tried to use last year to winter my fish. It holds 35 gallons and while it is suppose to be free standing, mine started to buckle after it was filled. I'm not sure if the weight of a plant on the plant shelf might have anything to do with it but just wanted to make you aware of my problem with it.

I bought a 40 gallon livestock tub at Tractor Supply and it worked great for my indoor pond. Early this year I dug a hole in the yard and set the free standing pond in it so it had some support and used it to hold my overflow of plants.

I too am starting to get my indoor pond ready.

Lisa

Hi deltos
The silver double sided bubble wrap is part of the insulatiion we have on our pond it surrounds 22mm thick polystyrene that we have surrounded the pond with. :)
It originally came about as a thing used where radiators are mounted on the wall to reflect heat back into the room :)
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude Flowersmile

I live in Chicago Illinois and our temps aren't much different that those of Ma. Your fish will never make it leaving them in the tubs you have had them in over the summer. Come winter you'll want to bring them in and very soon. I'm bringing mine in this weekend. All fourty of them...maybe more by now.

The prefab pond should work nicely, you may have a problem if the Sun room is not heated though. Its the night time lows or if you have an extended period of below freezing weather. Plus if its going on a cement floor the cold just goes through the pond. What you can do is put an under lament of 2-3 inch solid foam as a base under the pond and along the wall where your putting it. One 4x8 sheet should do the floor and wall. Just cut to fit. It helps a lot in keeping the water warmer.

If using one of the prefab ponds with the sides that hold plants. You can put a cinder block which is the perfect height for support under these shelves. It adds stability to the pond also. Cinder blocks are cheap enough and easy to stack after winter.

You will also have to run a filter. The most economic I've found is by running a box filter with a pump for ponds. It keeps the water in motion and the air rated enough. If your pond is shallow enough you could possibly use one of the heads that create a bell effect. Mine is to deep to do that.

You may also want to fill it with partial fresh water and water from the bowls they are living in. Run the filter for at least a day prior to adding your fish. It also helps if you can catch just one and leave it swim around its new surroundings for a day prior to putting the rest in.

Your fish should be fine as long as the water temp does not go below 40.

Hope this helps a bit.
mugs

Hi deltos
When you get those ceramic bowls emptied for the winter perhaps if you think about putting some rollers under them so that next year you would be able to push both bowls indoors as they are and as the fish are? B)
It would be very easy to do , you could use those wheels that they use to push freezers fridges,washing machines etc around on . :)
So next year you wouldnt have all this hassle . :rolleyes:
rgrds
broxandval

I tried that and the appliance rollers work great for smaller ponds. The only problem is getting over the door jam, plus you have to have a door frame that is wide enough to get the bowl through. But it is doable.

mugs

Hi all...I wanted to get back to everyone that offered me advice on how to attempt to save my fish ! I guess I won't know that it worked until spring...but they are all living and hanging out at the bottom of the indoor pool right now ! No one is hungry and I haven't seen them at the top for weeks..I have netting over the top and an air stone bubbling.

The pool is sitting on carpet with a 2 inch layer of solid insulation underneath The windows will be covered for winter... any other suggestions.



d

As long as the pond never gets more than a light layer of ice, they should be fine. The air stone will be a big help.

Hi deltos
Sounds like your just about set for the winter months , remember to monitor the water very closely throughout, regular waterchanges will help (remember match the two temperatures exactly). :)
Whilst above 10c you may feed but bellow stop (dont overfeed) check your air temperature against that of the pond if the air is dropping and the pond drops you can build a small double glazed bubble wrap cover to go over the pond remember to add air holes for the gassing off of the pond. :)
Best of luck with your first ever winter and remember this is our first ever winter in 22+ years of koi keeping so we know where your at and we cant come in doors . :)
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude Flowersmile