Pop-up pond advice needed

I had a 30 gallon pond that was on a wooden frame, so that is probably close to what you have. Now, I just use the stock tanks from TSC, they are a lot cheaper and I can get a 250 gallon stock tank for not much money.

28 gallons is plenty big enough for a couple of goldfish or koi, but your betta might get lost. They tend to like stagnant shallow water. I tried two in regular aquariums and they both ended up dying. But, put them in a tiny container of nasty water and they seemed to thrive.

I can even score you some free koi. My friend's fish had babies last fall and they are about 2 inches long now. They are now showing signs of yellow.

If anyone wants some free koi, just let me know. Bev has about 40 of them, which is way too many if they all grow up.

I would put it in the shade. In the summer direct sunlight will really warm up something that small fairly fast.

Also, make some shade in the water for the fish to get under, like some rocks or a plant.

I now have a 250 gallon black manmande material stock tank. It sits underneath our sun porch window, so you can still look down into it. I have six koi and some plants.

I wondered down to Rural King in Martinsville last weekend and was eyeballing those tanks. I've regretted that trip ever since...I can see myself spending way too much $$$$ there. I don't know much about koi. Don't they get pretty big?

Koi are like goldfish, they can get really big if they are in a big pond, but they will stay smaller if in a small space. Koi are really pretty (well some of them are). Basically, they are just carp that have been bred to have fancy colors.

Patrick(bf) really wants to put in a pond in one of the front flower beds but I don't know if they'd make it. Mo is obsessed with any bodies of water. But he wants to try it. Are they easy to take care of? I always thought they were a pain but a friend of ours says hers are easy and they are monsters.

I don't do anything for my pond except change the filter. I only feed the fish once or twice a week and that's just because I like to watch them eat. A koi guy told me you don't have to feed them at all, they get stuff just like fish in the wild. Our dogs drink out of the fish pond and one of the cats likes to sit above it and stare, but she has yet to actually catch a fish.

The hardest part will be the digging if you are doing an inground one (which is why I have a stock tank, I'm not that energetic).

Generally, the bigger the pond or aquarium the easier it is to take care of.

Connie, do you winter your koi in the tank?

I'd like to order some free koi, please. And some moving water to play with them in. Thanks everso.

One of my fish I've had for five years. The six I have now all moved with me two years ago. They always live in their pond. In Indiana you need at least 2.5 feet of depth for fish to overwinter, or you need a pond heater. I use a pond heater, just to keep the pond clear.

Maddie, I hate to tell you this, but fish don't play for very long. you might get a minute or so out of them, but that's it. You can come and visit my fish if you want, but you have to leave them IN the water.

Connie, are your dogs water lovers? Did you have to teach them to avoid the koi pond or at least to leave the fishies alone? My husband reeeeally wants to put in a pond. I'm worried about Carolina wanting to lay down in it or trying to go fishing in it. She's gone after little fishies when we've been at the beach...oh, wait, that might have been me...anyway.

OH. Never mind.