Do you have any advice on how to set up and maintain a healthy pond?

I'm likely moving into a house with a pond thats roughly 8-10 feet in length, 4-5 feet across, and i'm not sure about the depth. I'm thinking of just putting cheap goldfish in it to see how it goes. How many is good to start off a healthy population? and is it okay to put something like a pleco in it since they are hardy fish? can I leave them in there year-round in a New Jersey type climate?Do you have any advice on how to set up and maintain a healthy pond?
Since there is already water in the pond, leave it. It has already cycled and has a working bio filter. Cheap goldfish work well comets will become as large as Koi. Get the feeders....pick the colors you want. To start off no more than 7-10 at one time before adding 7-10 more in a week or two. This is a good start for your pond. Before you buy your fish, take the time to remove the leaves at the bottom. This is the problems with closed ponds. I would also suggest either a fountain or waterfall. Filtration is optional, not a requirement. Pleco's do well in ponds since most are native to the rivers in the US.





You leave the fish in the pond all year. Stop feeding your fish (If you are feeding) when the water temps hit 55. The fish go into hybernation for the winter If you keep feeding them and they go into hybernation their innerds will ferment and kill the fish. Do not start to feed again until spring when the water temps remain at 55 or higher. (Remember not air temps water temps)





DO NOT cut holes in the ice or pound on the ice for any reason. This sends shock waves thru the pond If it is a dirt bottom this can be done but a pastic or cement pond will not allow the shock waves to disburse. Don't be suprised when your fish grow about 6inches the first year and your pond has babies in the spring.Do you have any advice on how to set up and maintain a healthy pond?
Hi, In my opinion it is not acceptable to use any living creature simply to test a theory-their lives are no less valuable simply because they are cheap %26amp; plentiful. Properly cared for each cheap baby Goldfish had the potential to outlive almost all other family pets several times over.





You need to research ponds in depth [pun intended] %26amp; you also need to establish if the pond in your new property is natural or ornamental. Plecos are not suitable for most ponds unless you live on the equator as they are tropical fish %26amp; not particularly hardy

gloss