800 gallon goldfish pond

[Ar115]

New to the forum. We bought a house 5 years ago with a fish pond with approx 15 goldfish, some pretty large (seem to be comets). Over the last 5 years weve lost a few but have also had babies. Currently we have around 13 some smaller but 5-6 large fish. We live in upstate NY and the fish stay in the pond all year long.The pond has a pump in a filter box feeding a rock waterfall.In the waterfall is a bag of 500 small bio balls. The pond also has 2 aerators running and a small fountain running all the time. Pond is pretty clear, does have some string algae but the fish seem to keep that under control. We would like to possibly add 1 or 2 koi or even shabukins, so my question is do I have enough filtration and would my pond be able to handle a few more fish?

Fountain and aerators not in pic as we had just opened up for the season when photo was taken

 

[bagsmom]

I love how your pond is right by the deck! Perfect setting! Judging from the size of some of your fish, it looks like you might be getting some more babies soon!

 

[poconojoe]

Very nice pond and I like how it's situated by the deck. Perfect outdoor oasis!
Adding koi requires a lot of space. The rule of thumb is 1,000 gallons for the first koi.
Do you know or can we help you estimate how many gallons your pond holds?
Personally, if I knew better at the start and were to do it all over, I wouldn't have added koi. They get way too big and produce a lot of waste. There are many great looking other varieties you can add. Some of my favorites are shubunkin and fancy tailed goldfish. Both can have beautiful flowing fins and the shubunkin come in various colors.
Something to think about:
One thing that some people don't realize is the impact of spawning. Every year more fish are born which creates an overpopulated pond. I just counted 12 more babies from last year and there's probably more than that. Plus it's spawning season...again. the males are relentlessly chasing down those poor females. So, more babies coming....

 

[Ar115]

I just re measured and pond is roughly 10x5x3dp so i should be right around 1000gal give or take? We are looking into some shubies rather than koi but the old lady really wants a couple koi, with that being said the weather warmed up nice yesterday and the fish were out and extremely active (jumping and chasing each other all over). As of this morning theres a small amount of white foam on the edge and im assuming its due to spawning because its never usually there. For now we will hold off on any new additions but I was mainly concerned with having enough filtration and oxygen

 

[mrsclem]

Just remember that a 2-3' fish will be very crowded in a pond that size. I have several that size in a 10x10 and I need to rehome some.

 

[j.w]

@Ar115
I would really try to talk your lady out of the koi unless you want to start digging a bigger pond.
Shubunkins are so very beautiful also and they get to be a good size eventually.

 

[sissy]

my koi are over 2 feet long abd wish someone had told me they get this big or bigger .I would never have gotten them

 

[poconojoe]

my koi are over 2 feet long abd wish someone had told me they get this big or bigger .I would never have gotten them

Yep, same here!

 

[Mmathis]

Nice pond! How big is it, in gallons? Generally, for one koi, you need a minimum of 1,000 gallons, and that’s not accounting for the goldfish that are already there. However, the key to successfully keeping koi is the filtration — but that’s not my area of expertise.

 

[Ar115]

Its right around 1000gal so looks like we will be going the Shubie rout if at all, fish are spawning this week so well see if any make it

 

[addy1]

fish are spawning this week so well see if any make it

oh they will make it! next thing you find are tiny lil fish

 

[KimA.]

Perfect size for goldies.

 

[AlyssaFish]

Yep, same here!

I don't have koi more because of the lifespan than the size. But I did make an exception and I bought a koi-goldfish hybrid. They stay smaller than koi, but they pretty much only come in shades of brown, dark dark green, or black when they're well-bred. So not as much beauty there.

But, they're sterile, so no unexpected spawning!