Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi
Wasn't sure where to put this query, but dutifully following Bob Flowerdew's advice I bought two tiny goldfish to live in one of my allotment waterbutts - the two Bobs as I have rather unimaginatively called them. They are in the one that catches all the water from the shed and is open so was getting larvae etc, all of which they have eaten and have now grown very large on the larvae and my supplementary feeding.
With winter coming will it be OK to leave them in the waterbutt or should I bring them indoors. I have two branches in the butt to aid anything that has fallen in, would these be enough to keep an ice free hole?
Oh rats, today was my allotment day and it's pouring with rain, not much chance of digging today.
Sue

Sue Koi Carp can live through a harsh winter. They go down to the bottom of the pond and stay there. I was always told that goldfish couldn't survive outdoors during winter and a water butt is different to a pond. All the water is above ground level so it will probably be a damned sight colder. As for an ice hole I would float a small plastic ball on the surface. But where Bob and Bob are concerned bring them indoors and try to use some of the water in the butt to put in their tank because they are happy in it.

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I'd never considered putting goldfish in a water butt.

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Caroline



http://goodlifeallotment.blogspot.com

This might be a good opportunity to ask whether anyone else would be interested in having a 'pond' topic, or similar (water garden??) I've been thinking about it for a few days as I am lucky enough to have inhereited a large pond with our house, complete with goldfish (who live outside) and trout (also outside). It could be used for discussing fish, water plants (inc bog gardens) water features, related projects, frog/toad spawn and their progress etc. etc.
Anyone else interested, or is it just me on my lonesome? (or is there somewhere like this that already exists, and I just haven't found it?)

OH is currently excavating a very big hole in our very small garden cos he wants to make his pond bigger. His koi are currently residing in a dolav and whats left of the garden, if I can still call it that is covered in piles of concrete blocks and bricks ready for the grand building day.

Haven't thought about fishes in a butt though, anything that helps keep down the mozzie population sounds like a pretty good idea

Kirsty

Waffler it isn't really grow your own so I don't know whether we should have a board dedicated to ponds and water gardens. I will put your suggestion to the powers that be. Does anyone else want a dedicated section for ponds and water gardens?

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Oh I think it is, having ponds, mean you have frogs and frogs are organic slug controllers, so definatly "grow your own".

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Caroline



http://goodlifeallotment.blogspot.com

All our water butts have covers on to prevent leaves etc, do that goldfish need light or would they be OK in their isolation tank? Actually couldn't take the lid off as it would only give the cats a fishing opportunity. Seriously though if this keeps your water good then I'm all for it, just need a bit of advice.

You can't have goldfish living in the dark Alison.

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Didn't think so (seemed a bit cruel) but am often proved wrong!

Lesley
Thanks for the advice, I'll bring them home with some of their water, which will be fun on the bus, will have to invest in a covered tank or I will have two very happy cats and no Bobs.
I would be interested in more about water gardening. I've been fascinated by how much my mini pond (a dustbin lid) has been used by frogs, toads and birds and I was really pleased to find some baby toads round the allotment. I'd love to have a bigger pond some day but veg is taking priority at the moment.
Perhaps a Wildlife thread rather than just water gardening?

Sue

A wildlife thread sounds good to me! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Sue - really interested in this! Would never have thought of putting goldfish into an open water butt.

How deep is the waterbutt? Will you keep them in the house over winter, or somewhere cool?

Wildlife is really important to how we garden (allotment). The more you can do to encourage the good guys the better.

I'd love to have a pond, but I live in rented accom so have to keep the landlord happy. He's pleased so far because I have actually made it look like a garden (instead of a wilderness), but I'm wary of making too many changes.

As long as it is functional as opposed to purely decorative, I think water gardening is a valid forum subject

I mix feed in my water but in bulk so they'd die!!

I wouldn't leave them in there if I were you as it could freeze solid. I always empty my water butt in the winter & point the spouting away from it.

As you don't use so much you can get pathogens in the butt (very painfull ) & it can cause damping off etc.

What I do is take a bucket of water down the greenhouse that is fresh from the tap & leave it over night to equalise the temperature & use this to water seedlings etc, then I give the butts a good scrub out with armillatox & make sure they are clean ready for a new year.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Water butts in my opinion are only to collect rain water which is the best for watering. Also they can be used to make your own liquid fertilizer I.E. confrey, nettles leaves, manure, urine etc.. But to me it would be cruel to keep goldfishes in a water butt, nevertheless it would be nice to have a mini pond in the garden or allotment and keep some goldfishes in it providind they would have shelter from predators. When it was suggested to keep goldfishes in the water butts to keep the water clean.......what for? the water is for irrigation and not for drinking and the more lively it is the better for the soils. This is my opinion, open to any windosm.
Regards
Don Vincenzo

I could always stick one in a demijohn to keep me company in my hut?

I think goldfish are animals too, and they deserve a right and proper life. I'm not sure appropriate conditions for that can be provided in a water but.

I wasn't thinking of putting goldfish into a plastic water butt, but I have been looking at some large wooden open water butts, which in fact look like water features in their own right. They seem very large and open and are reasonably deep - about 3 feet. I thought it might look more pleasing on the eye than a plastic one. But I had heard that there were problems with algae growing on the large open top area. Which possibly could be solved by goldfish ...... ?

No Jennie, Goldfish will not solve an algae problem.

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In fact they will probably make it worse.

The fish produce waste in the form of ammonia which will provide nutrients to feed the algae. In a pond that has few plants this and the combination of feeding often leads to green water. The best solution is to plant enough plants to take up the nutrients thus outcompeteing the algae. Which isn't really an option in a water butt.

Really anyone who is thinking about using fish in a water butt should be careful anyway as the relatively limited surface area of the water in warm weather could lead to dangerously low dissolved oxygen and cause the fish to asphxiate. Keep an eye on the little fellas if they are hanging around the surface looking like they are gulping air then you need to aerate the water immediately.

It's taken me long enough to think of something, but how about watercress!!

Seriously though, I think the wildlife board would be a great idea which incorporates more than just water features.

Okay Waffler this further suggestion has been passed on to the powers that be.

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We need to know from the members do you want a dedicated section for water gardening/wildlife?

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yep....it's all about getting in touch with nature isn't it??
(so long as I don't have to garden in the nuddy!! )