Indoor aquarium to pond - help!

[ThomasG]

Colin, considering the information provided, will any of the fish you mentioned be suitable in the pond after being in the aquarium for 18 months?

 

[Colin_T]

I think the pond will freeze over in winter and the fish I mentioned don't tolerate freezing that well. Goldfish are your best option unless you warm the pond a bit to stop it freezing over. It doesn't have to be warmed much, just keep the water above 5C. A small greenhouse over the pond would probably work or a solar hot water system or solar pool heater.

The fish I mentioned are all small and should not be kept with big goldfish.

 

[ThomasG]

I understand, in that case what about any fish that could be kept comfortably in the tank for the first 18 months, such as orfe, tench, koi, ghosts etc.? Alternatively, any fish that would be happy in the tank unheated at room temperature of say 22/23C that could go into the heated tank later after I've made the pond?

 

[Colin_T]

I can't comment on orfe, tench, ghosts, etc because we don't have them in Australia. But most tropical aquarium fish will be fine in water that is 22/23C. As long as you don't get fin nippers or fish that attack the goldfish, you could add barbs, rainbowfish, catfish or livebearers.

 

[seangee]

Do you have any photos on you 7000L pond? Must be nice!

I'm away from home for the next couple of weeks. I'll try to remember when I get back.
Its not that exciting visually. In 2008 we had some paving done and I realised my hand dug pond was too small. I had the pavers dig a 2x3 metre hole. One of the pavers was a Koi keeper so I bought the liner and he laid it for me and bricked it in. Then 2 years ago I decked over the area so essentially its just a hole in the decking . The youngest fish (the orfe) went in there in 2008 and the ghosts in 2004 - so you aren't going to have 30" monsters overnight

 

[Back in the fold]

Madame', I love that spitting frog fountain in your pictures.