Pond pump needed?

[Eric10686]

I am looking into getting a patio pond and wondering if having plants and maybe goldfish is enough to keep water clean. Do you ABSOLUTELY NEED a pump/filter? Thanks

 

[sissy]

I would lack of oxygen and fish poo not a good combo for healthy for fish

 

[Meyer Jordan]

What capacity (gallons) patio pond are you considering?

 

[DutchMuch]

Couldn't hurt to add one, size of pond does matter however.

 

[Eric10686]

30 gallon round pond

 

[mrsclem]

Stagnant water is not a good thing. A small pump just to keep the water moving would work.

 

[moby]

A pond with a volume of 30 gallons is going to be very unstable regarding its water condition I would have thought. What are its dimensions, did you really mean 30 gallons, is there a zero missing, can you go bigger, it would be of great benefit if you could?
Where will it be situated in regards to the sun as it will heat up tremendously being so small, that would'nt be very good for the fish. On the flip side, it will chill/freeze very easily too. Temp fluctuations as wide as what I suspect it will suffer aren't good for fish health really.
Have no idea where in the US you are, please do tell, maybe you don't get low temps, but then you could get high temps?

 

[moby]

Just done a quick calculation, a circular pond that's 2.5feet x 1foot gives a volume of 31gallons, that's very small.

 

[Lisak1]

I have a patio pond - I keep a small airstone and a spitter going in mine. No filter though. The spitter is more for looks and sound than anything. Mine has lots of plants and four good sized goldfish. Plus one frog who is of the opinion that I set the whole thing up for him!

 

[moby]

30 US galls = 26 Imperial gallons, that makes it even smaller than I thought. What size/gallonage is yours Lisa, just out of interest? It sounds nice.

 

[Faebinder]

If you are going to put plants in there, then the best you could do is two goldfish in there. Make them both females or males so they don't produce. Anymore and you will have water issues. Pump is not necessary in this scenario but a plus.

 

[sissy]

fat fantails will work mine never breed

 

[Lisak1]

Mine is about 30 gallons I'm guessing. I've never really calculated it, though.

Here's a picture - my plants are REALLLLLY slow this year. That elephant ear should be four times that size by now. Cool weather is stunting everything, I think. If you look closely, you'll see the resident frog. He's there every day, like clockwork. Leaves around 5PM - goes home to the wife and kids, I imagine!

 

[Eric10686]

Yes thats pretty much what i am looking to get. That is really nice.

 

[Lisak1]

Please ignore my electrical cord there... that obedient plant (thanks @addy1 !) is supposed to be hiding that not so pretty part!