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  L# Pond newbie wants to know if she's overstocked or on track
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SubscribePond newbie wants to know if she's overstocked or on track
wonder woman
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female usa
I want to make sure I'm not overstocking, and that I can possibly add a couple more few more fish. Please give me your advice.

Here are the details:
I just re-figured the volume of my pond (an in-ground hot tub I converted into a pond), and it seems to be about 550g. Being a typical hot tub size, it's about 6.5' x 7'. It has a 16" wide seating portion that runs around the whole inside of the tub, so it's got a deep portion (depth of 3'4", volume of that portion about 175g) and a shallow portion where the ledge is (depth of 18", volume of that portion about 368g).
I currently have a pond pump running 300gph, and a medium-sized pond filter, bought at Home Depot (it's a box about the size of a shoe box with sponges and bio balls in it). There are water hyacinths in the pond, and livestock consists of 3 8" shubunkins, 1 6" koi, and 3 1.5" livebearers (seasonal only).
So, please tell me I'm not overstocked. In fact, I'd like to add 3-4 more comets or shubunkins if possible. Definitely not any more koi- the one I have was a mistake- the store I bought him from didn't tell me he was a koi, and charged me the goldfish price. I am definitely considering buying a larger pump/filter, especially if that would allow me to increase my stock a little bit.

What do you all think?
Thanks in advance!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
Dolf
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male usa
At the moment no, but...
Koi get huge quick. I would trade him in on a couple more goldies. My rule of thumb for goldies is 1 for approx every 50 gallons. A lot of people will agree, a lot wont. Room needed for proper goldie health is a highly debated topic. Some things to keep in mind: these guys never stop growing and they live forever! OK, not forever, but a realy long time.
Filtration. You're going to be cleaning that little filter a lot! I started my first pond with one like it and had to clean it twice a week. Goldies are very messy. On the order of pleco messy (now there's a debate waiting to happen)
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
wonder woman
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Thanks, Dolf-
Unfortunately, I can't get rid of Roy- he's my boyfriend's favorite. We've planned to keep him until he gets about 12" or so, and then we'll sell or trade him. Unless problems develop...How fast do koi grow? I know it depends on many factors, but can you give me a ballpark figure?
So, it sounds like I could add anywhere from 2-3 to about 5 more goldfish (comets or shubunkins), but it would probably be wisest to do so only after upgrading my filter/pump, right?
Thanks again!
-Christina
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
greenmonkey51
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you will have to get rid of that koi before anything else. they are harder to get rid when bigger.for a pump make sure it circulates the pond twice an hour.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
wonder woman
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Greenmonkey-
Huh? Where are you getting the twice-an-hour thing? Do you have a source for that?
This is what I've read:
"choose a pump that will be able to move the entire volume of your pond about once every 2-3 hrs." (this is from THE POND OWNER'S PROBLEM SOLVER by John Dawes)
"Ideally, you want the pump to circulate the volume of the pond once an hour, although you can get away with half rate...if the pond isn't stocked heavily with fish." from the article PUMP & FILTRATION WORKOUT by Miller Morgan in PONDS & WATERGARDENS USA magazine.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
greenmonkey51
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i got that from many lfs's, personal experience, and dr foster and smith.com
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
jimg87
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wonder woman-
once an hour should do it. so i would say to upgrade to at least a 500 gph pump and maybe a better filter if possible.
Just be careful, goldies will rapidly reproduce and very easily overpopulate.(just a little heads up)
its your call on the koi, but i would say to sell it now because like said already, it does get harder to get rid of them as they age with you!

-jim
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile AIM PM Edit Report 
wonder woman
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I'm looking at Drs. Foster & Smith's latest issue of their pond catalog, and there is no mention by them of how big a pump needs to be for a pond of a particular size. There are only charts, supplied with each make of pump, which note how many gph each model pumps, and for what size pond it is rated. And, according to these charts, the gph is approximately HALF the capacity of the pond it should be pumping. For example, a Tetra Dynamag 750 pump has a maximum gph of 750, and the chart says it is rated for an approximately 1500g pond.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
wonder woman
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I'm shopping around for the best prices on the Tetra Dynamag 500 or 750 (rated for a 1000g-1500g pond), and the Tetra Clear Choice PF-2 (rated for an up to 1800g pond), which is what I'll probably upgrade to, since I'd like to keep the koi.
I don't think I'll get many (if any) goldy babies- I had eggs- briefly- but they've all disappeared. I have 3 livebearers in the pond which probably ate a lot of them, and the parents ate the rest.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
vic
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Your Pump is a Gold Series G325Pump, which pumps 300gph. Your Pond is just fine with this pump...Needs to circulate once an hour, once every 2 hours is pushing it, but twice an hour is not necessary...You seem to be just fine....
Your Sponges will need to be replaced about once a yr, and your bio-balls will start assisting with your good bacteria within a couple months....Dont clean these when you do a filter change, you will want to, but dont.....
Did you get a 3 tier nozzle, or waterbell nozzle with the Filter Box ? These look really good in the center of your pond, and when you get lighting, they look beautiful at night......Good Luck
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
wonder woman
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Well, I've upgraded to a 750gph pump, and the Tetra ClearChoice PF-3 external filter (good for koi ponds up to 1500g, up to 1000gph). I got a really good deal on the pair- very slightly used, with hoses, for $110. I think new, the whole thing would have cost me about $200.
I've added two more small koi (yes, there will be debates as to whether or not I should have koi in a pond that's only 550g), making the current fish population 9- 3 4-5" (not including tails) koi, 3 4-5" (not including tails) shubunkin, and 3 1 1/2-2" livebearers. With this stocking, the pond looks just busy enough, but everybody still has plenty of swimming room. I think this ought to cap it. Now, I think I'll only be adding more plants.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:22Profile PM Edit Report 
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