Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction Volume 2. Maintenance, Stocking, Examples V. 1 Print and eBook on Amazon V. 2 Print and eBook on Amazon  by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Bringing Orandas indoors from pond in cold weather  12/13/05 I have a 750 gal. pond.  Since it has gotten cold here  I decided  to bring my two Orandas inside. <Good> The weather has been dropping into the  30s. <Best to bring fancy goldfish indoors once the water dips and stays below about 65 F> Anyway, I brought them in and put them into a 29 gal. aquarium.   New rock, a new Penguin 150 BioWheel power filter.  A few plants from the  pond went in also. <Good>    I used some of the pond water to fill the  aquarium and tap water that I dechlorinated. Three days later, I smell what  smells like male cat urine. I know it is ammonia but its not a strong  ammonia smell.  But its def. there.  I never noticed that smell before  with an aquarium.  the fish are each approx. 5 inches long. <Need more room...> very fat  and very healthy looking. Did great in the pond.   There is absolutely  no visible waste in the aquarium at this time.   Is this filter   ok?   <If it's "working" biologically, yes> Should i <Please "I"> give it more time to establish? <... you need to test your water for ammonia, nitrite...> I don't have a  test kit.   <I'd get one> Never used one before on our other aquariums.  Never  noticed that smell either.   Please advice. <Advise>   Also, should i even  have brought them in. <Yes>   The water temp had gotten into the 40s.   I was just worried about them.  If i leave them in the pond next winter,  will they be ok and what precautions do i use to keep them ok in the cold  weather.   Filter? Survive in cold pond? water quality? Thank you so much for whatever advice you can give. colleen Fontenot <Posted on WWM, for Freshwater Goldfish... Bob Fenner>

Bringing Outdoor Fish In - 09/08/2005 This spring, I set up a 16 gallon outdoor "pond" that has 3 small common goldfish in it.   <As they grow, they'll need a larger space.> Everyone seems to be doing well and they have been a great source of entertainment.   <Wonderful creatures, aren't they?> My question:  at what temperature do I bring the goldfish indoors?   <If you plan to keep them in through the winter, I would recommend that you bring them in well before the water reaches 55 degrees F.  Preferably a little closer to the room temperature of the place they'll be living for the winter.> In West Tennessee we don't get many hard freezes until January, but I want the little darlings to live and do well.   <They will....  Very hardy fish.> BTW, I've really enjoyed your website and your learned advice and sometimes caustic comments.   <Yee-IKES!> Ya'll are a hoot. <Thanks much for the grin!> Ramona <Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction Volume 2. Maintenance, Stocking, Examples V. 1 Print and eBook on Amazon V. 2 Print and eBook on Amazon  by Robert (Bob) Fenner