KEY POINTS:
Water features are the buzzword for this decade - yet their relaxing properties have been used for centuries.
You can put small ponds anywhere on the porch, on the deck, or in a corner of your garden.
The first thing you need is the container.
Look for one that is at least 30 to 45 cms deep and holds 75 to 110 litres of water. Also, don't choose a container that is deep and narrow. Fish get their oxygen from the air and they need enough water surface for oxygen to get down to them.
Look for a container that is at least as wide as it is deep. Large, glazed pots make striking container gardens. A half wine barrel is also a great choice.
Choose the fish and plants you would like to keep - but you do need to pick the right kind of fish for a small container. Common goldfish can become quite large - up to 30 cms - and will outgrow a container pond quickly. Unless you have a larger pond for them to grow into, you may not want to choose common goldfish.
Orandas, fantails, black moors, and some of the other fancy goldfish are also good choices. Guidelines for fancy goldfish are one to every 75 litres, so most containers have room for only one.
If you have one fancy goldfish, you may be able to add a couple small fish, such as rosy red minnows.
Besides fancy goldfish and rosy red minnows, other good fish to consider are bettas (keep only one male per container, because they'll fight), paradise fish, and tropical livebearers.
Stock fewer of these in a container than you would in an aquarium. Don't pass up the fish entirely, however. You don't want your pretty pond to become a mosquito factory. You need the fish to eat the mosquito larvae that will certainly hatch in the water.
You need several large bunches of submerged plants like anacharis, hornwort, or hygro. These plants will provide food, shelter, and oxygen for your fish.
Finally, choose something spectacular to show off your container. Add a water lily, lotus, or a marginal plant.
Adding a filter to your small container is not absolutely required, but it will make your job easier.
A canister-type aquarium filter with a built-in pump is the best choice. This type is nice because the pump is included and the filter is small and completely self-contained.
Sponge filters are generally less expensive than canister types, yet they still work well for small water gardens. You will need an aquarium-type air pump to work this type of filter. The sponges need to be rinsed out every two weeks.
Just as you would for an aquarium, you will need to do regular partial water changes to keep your fish healthy. A small fish net can also be handy.
Here are some rules of thumb for stocking your container garden:
Containers are just too small unless you plan to move the fish as it grows.
Goldfish need 75 litres per fish; they'll need 180 litres per fish when they exceed 15 to 20 cms in length.
Rosy red minnows can be stocked two to three for every 37 litres.
Livebearing tropicals, such as mollies and guppies, can be stocked according to the same guidelines as minnows.
Larger tropicals, such as paradise fish and other gouramis, will need 37 litres for every one fish.
