How to Build Gold Fish Ponds

Choose your location. Survey your backyard for a place to install your goldfish pond. For a pond large enough to maintain itself without complex pumps and filters, it will need to be larger than 24 square feet, or 6 feet by 4 feet. A partially shaded area works well because the pond will get moderate sunshine in addition to protection from hot days.

Determine your pond shape and size. Some do-it-yourselfers create their own pond by designing the shape and size themselves and then using a pond liner as the pool's foundation. However, for the novice pond installer, preformed ponds are a great option. You can find preformed ponds at most home improvement stores including Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Kmart.

Dig the pond. Once you have your preformed pond, take it into your predetermined plot and lay it face down on the ground. Using a sharp stick or knife, trace around the pond to create an outline to guide your digging. You will want the pond to fit snugly into the ground. To determine the depth of the pond, measure the preformed pond at its deepest point. Dig the pond using the depth measurement and shape outline as a guide.

Install the pond. When you have finished digging, install the pond into the hole. You may find you need to dig deeper in some places or expand the perimeter of the hole. To ensure your pond is fitted snugly into the ground, walk around in the pond, stepping firmly into the corners.

Fill it with water. When your pond is installed, fill it with water. If using hose water, let the pond sit for several days before adding goldfish. You can, however, add aquatic plants immediately. This will help guard against algae and other bacteria that may require you to empty and clean your pond.

After the pond water has set for a few days, add goldfish. To determine how many goldfish can live in your pond, use the rule of one fish per two gallons of water. For a 60 gallon tank, you can safely house 30 goldfish.

Landscape around the pond. Using rocks and boulders, form a perimeter around the pond so that the hard plastic casing of the preformed pond is completely covered. You may also want to plant ferns or flowers around the pond.