The place I work has a very old pond that has developed a serious leak. I have been refilling every other day awaiting them to repair it but management decided against it and are leaving the fish to die. So, I have started taking them home to my pond. The problem is my pond is only 600 gal. and I need a place for around 7-9 12 in. gold fish a 15 in. large golden fish and various 3-8 in others(20?) Does anybody have a idea for a holding tank for them? I have only constructed small ponds and need to figure out how to install a larger one so I need to buy some time and don't know what to do with these fish! How many can I put in 600? Also what size should I plan on constructing? Must overwinter in massachusetts so I'm confused about depth too.Thanks for any suggestions.

Is there a pond club in your town do you know of anyone that has a large pond that could take some of the fish. As you are right 600 gallon pond won't hold that many large goldfish for very long. Can you add fresh water to the pond like well water that you don't have to treat, as this would help flush out some of the waste that you will get with that many fish in your pond.
As for what size should you build, I would say as big as you can afford and fit onto your property, as for depth of pond the deeper the better. Just check with local laws as a fence maybe required around pond.

Cherylynn, also in my area ( Chicopee ) anything deeper than 2ft is considered a pool and needs a permit. Our pond at the deepest is 2ft and half stuck out of a slope, my 6 goldfish wintered fine. This winter we're prepared with a hole heater, last winter we lost half the water due to a pump connection freeze. You didn't say where in Mass., but the western side does have a ponding/koi club that might be able to help...just google and you'll find it.

Certainly see if a pond club in your area can help take some of the fish. If not, you can temporarily keep them in anything non-toxic. That means kiddie pools, plastic storage tubs, stock tanks (cheap, big "ponds"), etc. If you can add aeration or even filtration, they can probably survive in those things for weeks or months until you can build a larger pond. Be sure to cover over any ponds to keep the fish from jumping and predators from getting to them. If these temporary ponds are to be without plants, keep them in the shade. If you can build a pond of around 2000+ gallons, that would be great but they may be able to all survive in 1000 gallons (just the rescued fish, don't know what you already have). If your 600 gallon pond is already stocked up with fish, I wouldn't put the new fish in there but rather hold them in other containers/ponds until you can make something larger or find an alternative home for them.


A MA pond club:

http://www.pioneervalleypondclub.com/