Coldwater Pond Questions?

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skibler

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 27, 2011
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North Carolina
Hey guys! I remember a while back right when I was starting to learn about this hobby I asked a question about keeping fish in a pond.

Well, time has come and after a couple weeks of cleaning I now have an aproximate 2,000 gallon pond that I have spent alot of work on. It has taken a good bit of work getting 2 years of leaves mud and rocks out of it, but it looks a million times better.

Now here are the sort of conditions this pond goes through. Weather where I am gets up to the high seventies in the summer, and -10 at times in the winter. The pond is about 3.5 deep at its lowest point, so I am defiantly getting a De-Icer and plan on keeping the large waterfall running all winter.

In about 4 years I will have a definite upgrade, to atleast a 10,000 gallon pond.

So lets get to the point: I was wondering what my are options are for stocking this pond. I know I could keep a couple young koi. I was also thinking a channel cat. I have heard of them working. What do you guys think? Are there any natives that I could keep in there? My desicion on stocking is not set in stone yet, so what are my options? Thanks! :popcorn:
 
Thanks for the replies guys!

I just measured the pond, and it was about 21 feet in length and 9 feet wide. The average depth is about 3.5 feet, but there are some shallow ends. Any other ideas?


Would it not get to warm for pike and pickeral?
 
I'm thinking it would probably get to warm for them but it may work. Your best bet is probably some kind of sunfish, some large mouth bass, perch (may be pushing it as they tend not to be happy in temps above high 70s), or a variety of different types of minnows that tolerate larger temperature gradients. You may/may not be able to get away with smallmouth bass too, though they are traditionally a semi cold water species. In my experiences you can find them in warmer water. In your estimation what do you think will peak temp it will reach in the summer (being up here in Maine its hard to estimate for NC)?
 
Oh and don't forget to check on your state laws and regs as to what you can and can't do. I can be frustrating to plan something out completely and then find out you can't do it cause there is a 10k fine attached :irked:.
 
Thanks! I have checked out my regulations and for NC. The highest I can ever remember the temperature getting in my area was about 88 or 87. It is mostly in the high seventies during the summer. I think the winter is a little more to worry about. I think with windchill the lowest it has gotten at my house was about -18, but if I keep the water flowing and de icer running I will be fine right?

Now for the species you mentioned. Is their a possibility I could keep Largemouth/ sunfish with larger koi? (My family seems pretty set on having koi.) From what I have read on bass, they pretty much eat anything smaller than them right? So i guess that would rule out keeping different natives with a bass right?

Also, what kind of temps can bullheads survive?
 
I wouldn't be to worried about the winter as long as your not stocking tropicals. If your thinking of bass or sunfish they should be fine as long as the pond doesn't completely freeze over. The Koi I don't know a lot about so I can't help you there. There are a few things you have to remember about the pond as winter progresses. When it freezes, less O2 can get into the water and also the amount of available habitat will decrease as the ice depth increases which can lead to problems. So a lot of how much you can stock depends on how deep the pond will freeze, just plan accordingly. As for brown Bullhead I know they can handle up to about the low to mid 80s or so what there exact max is I'm unsure.
 
Thank you for all this great information! I have not been able to find anyone selling bass, so if I go with them I guess I get to catch my own!

And another question. Can different species of larger Sunfish and LMB live together?
 
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