Hi folks!

Patrick from Chicago here. I've been a lurker for quite a while, and have learned quite a bit during my stay here, and on Robyn's great site.

I was inspired to put up my first pond this year, an above ground whiskey barrel pond. 2, 30 gallon barrels, one spilling into another with a 200 GPH pump installed. The intake of the pump goes through a commercial pondmaster filter screen (located in the bottom barrel), and the output is split with a T valve so 1/2 goes back into the bottom barrel & 1/2 goes into the top, spilling out into my little waterfall.

I have 4 ~2" goldfish in the pond now, 2 in each barrel. They are pretty skiddish, but they do come out & poke around when they think no one is around.

I have 2 oxygenator plants in the top barrel, and 2 hyacinth floaters in the bottom. One looks pretty bad as the dog recently discovered the hyacinth can easily be removed & buried in the yard !!!!


I have a bit more work to do, the liner needs to be fastened down better, and the waterfall tube can be set lower into the top barrel, so the water level is not so high up there. I also need to figure out a good way to hide the tubing, right now the tubing is the biggest eyesore of the whole thing.


The water started out a bit cloudy for the first few weeks, but once the plants became acclimated, the water cleared up very fast & is now crystal clear! I'm sure the O2 content is fine, as I rarely see the fish gulping at the surface. I have not tested the water for Nitrates/Nitrites yet, but I am hopeful with the amount of flow I have, the system will be pretty solid once the cycling is completed.


One question I have:
Do you think 2 fish in each barrel is enough? Could I fit any more comfortably in there? I'm thinking I should not put any more goldfish in at all, and if anything maybe some small minnows or mosquito fish. Each barrel size is ~ 30 gallons, 60 Gallons total in the whole system.

Attached are some pictures. Thanks again to all who have contributed to this site!



http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2

http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2

http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2

http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2

http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2
http://gallery.skerrett.net/main.php?g2_vi..._serialNumber=2

Hi Patrick and welcome! :D

You have a nice set up there. I have never had a barrel set up like that, so afraid I can't offer to much advice or help, but I am sure there are lots on here who can!

As for the fish, if you add anything else try and make sure it is something that stays small like minnows. Remember in a couple of years those 4 little gold fish you have could be rather large! :lol:

You have a good plant selection. Good luck!

Derrick

Hi Patrick, welcome to the forum. I like your set up! It reminds me of my temporary pond I have on the go right now. I am with Derrick, I wouldn't add anymore goldfish, maybe just a few minnows for now. Looking good though! :D

Welcome! You have a nice little pond system. Since goldfish can eventually grow over a foot long even in a barrel, your pond is already well stocked. I wouldn't add any more fish. If you want more fish, I suggest building another larger pond (and maybe another, and another if you're like others on this forum). Good luck!

Thank you for the welcome folks! & thanks for the info on my goldfish.

Robyn.... Yep, I'm already tempted to start digging the yard up. Those 2 barrels seem like they'd make a great bio-filter instead of a main pond don't they?


But unfortunately, we've got a new addition to the family who is just learning how to walk now. I'm afraid of having any in-ground system until he's a bit older. I think the above ground barrels is the safer way to go right now.

Hi, Patric,

I had 3 small goldfish in a barrel pond just like yours - 3 in the one barrel. I had to put them into a bigger pond after about 12 months. It is surprising how quickly goldfish can grow.

I have 4 babies in the barrel pond now and am expecting to have to move them in Spring (Autumn here at the moment).

I agree with Robyn I wouldn't add any more fish. You can get preformed above ground ponds - I have one that my bigger fish are in now and I plan to get a bigger one in Spring.

Good idea about using the barrels for a bio-filter - that has really started me thinking about the possibilities when I get my new pond.

You will need to check the pH reasonably regularly as the fish grow. If you see the fish gasping it can mean the pH is too low.

Hi Patrick, maybe you could build a raised pond out of landscape ties?? It is fairly cheap to do and it would keep your little guy safe :huh: I had a little 20 month old guy visiting the clay pond today, he was so excited to see the big fish. It made me nervous having him there, little people that age can move like crazy eh?? I will see if I can find a picture of a landscape tie pond that I like and post it here.

welcome Patrick. :D I like your setup. I played with pots and barrels and small preformed for awhile until one day my DH went off for the day. Then I took the rototiller to the backyard hill. :blink: :D We've changed our plans once again..forever redesigning. Instead of expanding lengthwise, we're going width. Planning on a 'wall of water' bio-filter with a deeper main pond. If your land is a keeper, start planning. :D Making the pond kid-safe is toward the hard-side, but doing streams and waterfalls are a great learning experience. I would recommend going as big phsyically as you can. You'll save money in the long run cause your pond will never be big enough anyway. <_<

KK, that is a great idea. I've never seen anything like that above ground setup, but looks pretty simple to build, and easy to take down if necessary. (a lot easier than filling up a hole if necessary). Most importantly.. it looks sharp!

The biggest downfall I can see is that in my zone, pretty much any amount of water above ground is bound to freeze solid in the winter, especially if we have another winter like this past one, but I'm already expecting to have to move all the fish inside part of the year anyway.

I'll keep this setup in mind for sure, it really is an interesting idea.

PS, what zone do you live in?

And welcome to the board btw :)

Tia

Oh right! I forgot you said you were from Chicago, how cold do you get and for how long?? Maybe a de icer would work or....not??? I have seen some people put hay bales around raised ponds for extra insulation during winter but if you are in the city, lol, that might not work either! Where there is a will there is a way :-)

Yep, I am in the city-city also, not in the suburbs. So our lot size is a lot smaller than 90% of the folks on this board I'm sure.

But this past winter we had 2-3 weeks straight of -0f, worst was about a week in the -teens ambient with -20's - -30's wind chill. It was a worse winter than normal, but it's still usually pretty bad every February.


A pond heater would probably be OK, I'd rather skip the additional electrical bill obviously, but I don't think it would be the end of the world.

My niece is 3 years and 1.5 months old. I've had my 1800 gallon pond for 11 years. My parents watch my neice 3 or 4 days a week (sometimes 12 hours a day). She has yet to fall in to the ponds or have a problem because she's used to them; they've always been there; they're not a curiosity. She did trip the other day but I caught her (she wouldn't have fallen in to the pond just the rocks). We never let her run around outside without us there but, if she did, I don't think she'd have a problem. Since your lot is small, if you made a small in-ground pond in one corner, you could fence it off tastefully so the baby couldn't get in there (at least until he learns to climb fences or unlock gates).

Well I must be doing something right...

I stopped by the pet store on the way home today & got a comprehensive test kit.

My PH is sitting at 7.1/7.2, Ammonia is 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate is 0ppm, or just a little bit above.

The whole system has been set up for about 3 weeks, and the dechlorinator I used had some enzyme starter stuff in it.

It could be that it's still a little too cold to entice the fish to move a lot & make waste, but I like the results so far!

Where I live if you have a permanent body of water, ie pool or pond, that is deeper than 30cm it has to be fenced. No ifs but or maybes and small children still drown in backyards.