Minnows In A 50gal Pond? Where To Get Licence?

[three-fingers]

I have a tiny little pond down at the bottom of my garden, but It's pretty nasty looking right now. It's at least 50 uk gallons, but it could be more because TBH we never measured the volume when creating it.
It's underneath trees and the water in it is pretty much stagnant, the only animals that like it are our frogs - but even they wont spawn in it .
Every summer it gets covered in duckweed, blocking out the light to the oxygenating plants at the bottom.
This spring I'd like to turn it around, and possibly eventually have some small fish in it, like minnows or a couple of goldfish to eat the duckweed.
Can anyone suggest a filter for this pond? Hopefully a relativity cheap one, all the pond filters I've seen are for MUCH bigger ponds and around the ~£200 mark.
It needs some water movement for oxygen (and to stop it freezing over during the winter) and some biological filteration too, since I tested the water earlier this week at the stats were unacceptable.
Thanks .

Oh, and any information on how to maintain a pond filter would be useful too, It's not much different from an aquariums filter right?

 

[The-Wolf]

if it is only 50G then a Hozelock Cyprio EasyClear will be more than ample
it is a Pump, Filter & UVC all in one comes with 3 Fountainheads (2 Tier, 3 Tier & Bell)

 

[three-fingers]

Thanks! That looks great price wise and function wise, but isn't it a little too big? I wouldn't really want a massive current...and I'd rather not have a fountain. Also, wouldent it take up too much space in such a small pond?
It's the best option I've come across so far though .

Anyone know I'f I'd be able to use a regular fish tank external filter?
I was thinking about getting something rated for a 100gal tank, I could fit a spray bar and put a sponge cover over the intake to make it more wildlife friendly?
It would probably be housed in the shed next to the pond, but could it cope with low temperatures?

Edit: Ok, thats stupid, I forgot external filters should be below the tank .

 

[The-Wolf]

you could use an aquarium filter for such a small pond, however they all state for indoor use.
using one outdoors would invalidate any warrenty on the product.

 

[colbat1]

belive it or not there are mega good ones and bandq and three-fingers im back!

 

[three-fingers]

Yeah, I kinda like the idea of a guarantee .
I like the look of this, though it's more expensive than the Hozelock EasyClear by about £16.
Its meant for a max pond size 250 gallons (some sites say 150) so it's probably better suited to a small pond.
But I still don't like the idea of have a pump inside the pond. Guess I don't have a choice though unless my pond is above ground...
Maybe I could just buy a big air pump and use a sponge filter? More wildlife friendly, but would still take up space and it wouldn't do nearly as good a job...

Hmmm...

 

[The-Wolf]

there is no reason you couldn't go that route
I'm thinking
1 Algarde Bio Foam Filter 200
run from a decent air pump (would need to be undercover)
like a blagdon koi air (or similar)

then you could use a waterwych for help with keeping the water clear
go for the smallest one called Mini WaterWych as that will do upto 150G
so in a 50G should last 3 times as long

 

[three-fingers]

Sounds like a plan . I think that's what I'll do then, thanks .
Never heard of water wych before, is it just like putting hay in to stop the algae?
I'm not too fussed about the water being green, as this means I could be able to get some swan mussels and possibly fairy shrimp (if I don't have fish in it by that time).
Green water's not bad for fish or anything is it?

 

[colbat1]

pets@home as at least 100+

 

[The-Wolf]

Sounds like a plan . I think that's what I'll do then, thanks .
Never heard of water wych before, is it just like putting hay in to stop the algae?

waterwych is,IMHO, one of the best products out there, far better than barley staw alone
and 100% recyclable too

Green water's not bad for fish or anything is it?

could be, too much free floating lagae will use all the disolved O2 in the water so could suffocate the fish
gren tinge is ok but pea soup is deadly

 

[three-fingers]

pets@home as at least 100+

?

waterwych is,IMHO, one of the best products out there, far better than barley staw alone
and 100% recyclable too

could be, too much free floating lagae will use all the disolved O2 in the water so could suffocate the fish
gren tinge is ok but pea soup is deadly

In that case, waterwych it is then! Thanks!

 

[colbat1]

neva mind go with what the wolf dude said

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its too small for a fish pond, goldfish need 3ft depth minimum, koi 4ft depth minimum (but in scotland i would probably opt for 5ft deep), minnows would also probably need at least 2.5 to 3ft depth if you are talking sticklebacks or something.

 

[three-fingers]

Well that sucks . Meh, frogs will like the clean water.

 

[three-fingers]

Quick question, if goldfish can happily live in a 50gal half barrel (or tank for that matter), why cant they live in my pond?

Is it just because it freezes over? I put in a heater during the winter to stop it freezing over during winter (allows small birds to have a drink), does that make it OK?

The pond is only 2 feet deep at the middle, which I think is deep enough for the fish, but maybe theres another reason it has to be deep? .

Thanks .

Oh, another thing, anyone know how to acquire a licence to keep rosy red minnows in outdoor ponds?(in case I cant get goldfish, or if I can actually find more rosy reds during the summer) I know you don't need one for keeping them indoors (shop does though), but where do you get one for out doors?