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questions about outside ponds =]?

ok so my dad is putting in an outside pond and he knows how to do it and everything but there are a few questions we have... 1.) what are the types of plants you put in it? 2.) Can you just put regular gold fish in it? or are there other small types of fish that do not grow large?Can you put in turtles? 3.)Can you leave the fish in the pond all year? this is what size it is.... http://sacramento.craigslist.org/grd/715379950.html (i live in ohio and we have pretty cold winters.) & if you need a heater how much do they cost? 4.) How many fish could i put into that pond? 5.) do you need a plastic liner fot that or can you just fill that with water? we have the filter and everything there is a waterfall that came with it also. sorry so many ?'s! thanks so much! <3

Public Comments

1. The pond you show is fairly small. Goldfish or minnows would be best, mainly for mosquito control. Koi get really large, tear up plant roots, and need a really large pond. Don't put a turtle in the pond; they will eat your fish. Start with half a dozen fish, and see how they do. If you get a water lilly make sure it is a hardy variety, otherwise you will have to move it indoors over the winter. Keep the water lilly on the opposite side of the pool from the waterfall or any fountain. You can add a submerged plant like anacharis to add oxygen to the water. And, you can use marginal plants along the edge where the pot is submerged, but the folliage and flowers are above water. Just don't add so many plants that you have trouble seeing the water. You don't need a liner in a pre-formed pool like the one you show. The depth of the pond determines whether you can leave hardy fish in all year. There are heaters that prevent the pond from icing over completely, but your fish must be able to take cold water. You don't feed your fish when it's cold. The link below is to a pond supply business. You can check out the costs and variety of products available, though you won't need to buy all of them. At the bottom of the page are links to many articles on pond maintenance, plants, and dealing with problems. Ponds require some maintenance: cleaning filters, repotting plants, or dealing with an algal bloom.