Enlarging a goldfish pond

erina.mcadam

Hi folks! Have never started a discussion on this forum before so here goes!
I created a very nice wildlife pond last year. Transferred two goldfish who had been becoming bored in their tank. They have since not only grown massive but have now started a family!!! I have no filter in the pond as couldn't work out how to wire it all up so far from the house so have been relying on nature to find a way. Anyway, I feel like it makes sense to increase the size of the pond now there will be more fish living in it but am unsure how to do this without potentially harming the new goldfish???

The original section of the pond is lined and I want to extend the size of it by a decent bit. Should I begin digging the new section and somehow get the two to join up or would this not work as there'll be a space between the two different pond liners which will leak?? In which case should I dig the new area and remove all the fish temporarily while I drain and reline the whole of the extended pond before refilling??? 

Hope my predicament makes sense and someone has the time to help!
Thank you,
Erina

pansyface

In which case should I dig the new area and remove all the fish temporarily while I drain and reline the whole of the extended pond before refilling??? 

Yes.

But they will breed again. And again.

But the upside is that in the winter they will eat them all. 😕

Pete.8

I think your second option is the best - dig out the new area and use a single liner for the whole pond. Also to prevent complete freezing in a harsh winter ensure that there's an area that is 2ft deep somewhere - water won't freeze to that depth.
You'll need to keep the fish in a large container of some sort (I used to use an old tin bath) but keep it covered as fish will often try and escape (jump) if they're confined. Also keep the container completely out of the sun.

It won't really be a wildlife pond with fish in it as the fish will eat most of the wildlife that arrives in your pond.
I have a fishpond (12ft x 8ft) with a single huge koi - apart from pond skaters and water boatmen there is no other wildlife in the pond.
My wildlife pond is only about 6ft x 2ft x 2ft and has no fish.
It has lots of newts and a huge amount of other creatures that seem happy in there.
Of my 2 ponds the little wildlife pond is by far the most interesting to watch.

KT53

Two liners will not work as they will leak.  You need to remove the current fish from their pond, into a container of some kind filled with their existing pond water.  Then dig out the new pond and install a complete new liner.  I would leave as much as possible of the old liner in place as it will help protect the new one from damage.  Once filled, give it 48 hours and then put the fish back in, along with the water they have been in.