off/on topic-Goldfish :)

[saltyshoe_nano]

hey sorry all for the mass of post Ive been doin but its summer and I have tons to do. Well here it goes, I have a 250 gallon fw pond I put in the frontyard and wanted some life in it. I bought like 15 goldfish feeders from a petsmart in the area....the problem is, My neighbor has mass, mass, MASS cats and they have been picken off my little guys...I have about 7 left, the birds have also been eatin them........

So I went to my gfs gmas and she had some feeders in her cattle tank/trouph..(spelling?) and they are the biggest darn goldfish I ever saw!!! I have a 9" goldfish! nothing bothers him/her....donno, but I decided sence my feeders are 1-2" max I would set up 2 10 gallon tanks and put 3 of the biggest in one and 4 in the other, the problem is my parents are well.....POed about the power bill...almost 450 a month......so If anyone knows of a way I can put a filtration system that could take care of both and use less electricity.....like a commercial filtration im geussin....

I saw a canister filter that I wanted to use on my 20L nano but decided to go with a fuge/aquaclear filter instead, its on ebay....dont wanna get in trouble for posting a live auction so...ya....lol it had 2 spouts....I was thinkin put it in the middle of the 2 tanks and let it filter them both.....

well if anyone has any Ideas, lemme know! thanks and sorry for the long post and the mass of post Ive been doin lol
-shoe

 

[Chelsey]

The thing about goldfish is that they do not grow very well in small tanks. I think your best bet would be to leave them in your pond and provide them with shelter and hiding places (plants, maybe some clay pots) so that they can get away from predators. If you put them in 10 gallon tanks you'll be waiting much longer for them to grow than if you just left them in the pond and provided them with shelter. If you've already got shelter for them then maybe spend a little bit more money on some bigger goldfish (3-4"). It'd still be cheaper than running two 10 gallon tanks.

 

[BigMOCats]

Like mentioned, I would add lots of hyacynths for cover. One other advantage to this is, you COULD unplug the filtration. Unless your running a pump for a waterfall, you can get by with out filtration just by adding a lot of plants. I have an outdoor pond(6' x 8') that is over 10 years I use no filtration. Heavily planted with lilies, hyacynths and anacharis keeps it clear and oxygenated. The heavy planting gets rid of "green water" too, by out-competing the algae for nutrients. I've kept koi, piranhas, oscars and a variety of other "tropicals" in it over the years. I also have a 150g turtle Rubbermaid tub and a 20g tank in the back yard, all with just plants, no filtration.

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

sweet, I like the planted Idea......and the clay pots...thanks for the suggestions! BUT do you know where I can get these things.....the greenhouses around here dont have water plants.....only one has an outdoor pond w/ plants and It doesnt have healthy plants they all look dead.....lol ??

 

[Chelsey]

Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, have some water plants, Live Aquaria also has pond plants that you can buy.

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol wow I didnt know that lol thanks

 

[DrBDC]

Andy's Animals has pond stuff. Chad at Gateway is setting up one on the side of the building too but I don't know if it's up and running yet.

 

[scbadiver]

I don't know what the sides of your pond are like but, if they are not straight up and down it allows more critters to prey on your fish. Coons and cats will both wade in a little bit to get 'em. My pond has straight sides and I have lost very few fish. Also, there is a motion sensing sprinkler avail that will spray cats, birds and kids if they get too close. It may be helpful to discourage the cats.

I have been running my pond for 4-5 years with a 900 or 1000 gal an hour pump from walmart that I put in a rubbermaid storage box turned into filter. I drilled a bunch of holes in one end. divided it into 3 chambers with egg crate. filler the first with some old biodisks I had, the second with polyester fill (walmart - about 2 bucks a bag) and in the third I put the pump and a ladies stocking full of carbon. Very cheap and easy. Usually the pond is clear too. I wouldn't put the fish in any tanks, just fix up the pond and plant it IMO.

Also, Pets Plus on 1st Capitol in St Chas has a lot of pond plants for sale.

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

sweet thanks, My pond is like really goofy lookin, it is all half circles, it has a canal around the side thats 4" deep thats where they are gettin caught in, I think I am ganna block the sides off and I am gettin some waterlillies and clay post to hide in. I have a standerd filter, it came with the pond, I got it from a nursing home for free, so im not complainin, but it has like hair curlers in it lol well they look like curlers......I will try to post some pics..later but my camera is crappy and so is my computer, I have to post and pm from my friends computers.....thanks for the advise!
-shoe

 

[Chelsey]

Your sig says that you set up the two 10 gallon tanks despite our advice What'd you end up deciding to do?

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol no I didnt, my little sister wanted a tank so I gave her my old 10 gallon and she took 2 of my smallest goldfish for her room....they were my favorite, so I take care of it....lol I would never go against your advice