The liners have to be heat welded together with special equipment so that there are no leaks. Even then it will always be a weak area. Use 1 liner like jrb advises.

Even in warmer areas it is best to have a deep area where the fish can hide from the birds that eat them. If you want a hardy water lily it needs to be in the deeper area also. It sounds like you want a rather large pond. What size are you planning?

Our dimensions are about 10' wide by 14' and roughly 2' deep atm but for fish I guess it will need to be deeper unless I bring them in for the winter. Have debated using a pool liner instead of a pond liner as they are more reasonably priced.

Dont know how much info you have about ponds...but....Goldfish are poop machines....what a stinky mess....same with waterlilies and other plants not in pots....we built a pond about 20 years ago very much like the one you are proposing...pond liner has lasted with no problems and only one caveat ...you dont want to leave it empty too long (while cleaning or otherwise)as the liner deteriorates from exposure to air and sun ...plus you need a couple fountains to keep the water moving to avoid moss and algae...still you do need to add algaecide to avoid floating algae....lastly the pond water is not very pretty...if you want pretty clear water there is a blue product that will change the brownish water to clear bluish green...as well as curb other undesired growths.....these things will need to be applied every few weeks in the summer ...we are gone for the winter so after we return we empty ,clean , refill every year...

The fountains we use are simply little fountain pumps that are set in just at water level...sell for about $25 at walmart...easy to clean if you encase them in a screen material to stop all the little debris that will clog them up...you can barely see one in this picture by the plant

Our pond is about 10-12x25...18” deep. We used one piece pond liner...folded it at the curve

Austin, we've got a smaller goldfish pond : ) About 9 ft. x 8 ft., and 2-1/2 ft. deep. We get freezing temps in the winter, but not often below 5 F and typically around 32 F most of the time.

I agree with the others, a single liner is best if you're doing it yourself as if your seal fails, it's hard to repair.

Yes, goldfish, like any fish, can be 'poop machines', but that is part of having a pond. We have shubunkins (9 of them), which are quite hardy but exotic looking, and will take your temps if given 3 ft. at some area in your pond. The goldfish do not eat the pond plants like koi will, and in the winter you just let them hibernate.

An easy to care for pond should have a bottom drain, if possible, 1-2 skimmers, a couple water inlets, and of course movement to create air. Falls, and air bubblers/stones help tremendously. We've a small fall, plus a couple air stones going in the summer. A strong pump, and a biofilter help keep it pretty clean. We also use a small UV light, under-rated for our pond so it won't remove all the "good stuff" but keeps the pond clear. 1/3 of our pond water goes through the UV light. Plants are very necessary, and water lilies help keep your pond healthy. If you can add some underwater plants, that's also a good option. Don't overfeed the fish, give them only as much as they will eat, and skim leftovers. I feed ours every other day. Some feed daily, others once a week - goldfish are hardy! The best way to get started is to Google DIY ponds, and take into consideration where your piping, pump, filters, skimmers need to go.

I did have a smaller koi pond, with a basic pump, basic filter. It was a pain to keep clean and took time. It was always a mess, and never clear. Ours now is easy. I clean the skimmer net and brushes once a week (water hose on them) and run the rinse cycle on the biofiter a couple minutes, and that's it. We occasionally get string algae, but that is taken care of with lots of water lilies shading the pond and fish. Our pond is clear, except after a rain or when I clean it, and it clears quickly after. Yes, we have some debris on the bottom. It's a fish pond.

Your pond will have a nice coating of green algae on your liner - and the fish enjoy munching on that. Moss will grow on any shaded rocks and is quite pretty, unless you prefer a more formal look. You can have a pristine, clear pond with no goldfish (in which case, that would be a water feature), or you can go with a more natural pond and fish. Either way, debris will get into you pond and need to be netted out. And both are beautiful, as btydrvn demonstrates with photos of their pond : )

Birds, frogs, dragonflies, and other wildlife will be drawn to your fish pond. And so will you : )

I'm sure I've left things out.

Flowers in our Gardens · More Info

Flowers in our Gardens · More Info

Flowers in our Gardens · More Info

We manage to keep our beautiful pond pristine ...without bottom drain...skimmers.....pump...biofilter...UV lights...piping...slimy algae...we skim big floating things like leaves...with a net with a long handle...and add our little bubblers that last 15-20 years ...just drop in and stack some stones so it is water height...pulling them up by the cord occasionally if needed for cleaning...and a hose....which we use to drain once a year as we are gone all winter...spray it out to clean...and refill...with a little out in the sun time for minimal maintenance ....skimming etc....just a different philosophy......we dont want to be a slave to machines or systems ...which are quite expensive and require qualified “installations”.....and and after several attempts we decided having fish was a stinky messy affair...i might also add the kind of fish you want would survive and thrive better in much deeper ponds....

2 Many....you have a beautiful pond...and obviously a big investment and probably a different lifestyle...we built ours when we retired and were very cost conscious...and it evolved rather than started with a major plan ...so no disparagement to you at any level...

Just remember the blue stuff is Aquashade....with UV to deter weed a d algae growth and also make the water a blue to green shade ..not detrimental to fish

...2 Many ...another aside in reference to the wildlife...we live in the countryside and have had a plethora of wildlife visitors........4-5 bird varietieS ...That live in our garden ...with yearly visits from turkeys...quail...rabbits ....turtles....deer...all the neighbors cats ...raccoons ...foxes......UNTIL...we had a visit from a mountain lion casually drinking from our pond...a few years ago...sadly we decided we needed to fence about 2.5 acres around the house ....still havent completely gotten over the guilt of some of them losing their drinking spot....🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you so much so far for the comments,

I have ended up going for a single liner for safety's sake. We have 2 submersible pumps for the pond so a bottom drain seems out of the question at this point (they should be able to move about 1850 gallons which is more than our volume). I'll probably aim to get at least 3ft possibly 4ft to be safe in order to keep the fish safe. Our current design has a 16 inch waterfall with a built in 5 stage filter (2 mechanical stages + 3 biological). The other pump was to be connected to a simple set of fountain heads. Our current debate is now whether to go for a skimmer or a pre-filter on one of the pumps? Also any tips on overwintering goldfish would be appreciated. Any extras I need and am forgetting? What are air stones and deicers?

Sounds like you have a good plan. At those depths, you should be able to over winter your Goldfish in the pond, provided it doesn't freeze over. I would disconnect the fountain heads though. Maybe the waterfall as well if it's extra cold and just go with a deicer.

I have neither a skimmer or pre-filter on my pump leading to my BioFalls. I do have a pre-filter on a Foamer/Aerator that I run from a separate pump in the Spring and on really hot days in the summer. I have to clean it out frequently though, like every couple of days or so.

It seems like the water movement may assist in avoiding freezing over...

Deeper water also gives them a place to hide from predators like cats and birds as well...another point in our experiment of having fish they multiplied pretty regularly...dont know if this will become an issue for you

btydrvn, thank you : ) I think everyone has different needs, and want different 'styles'. I think yours is manicured, clean looking, whereas ours is 'quaint', and more on the casual side. And I agree, if you want less care, don't get fish! I hear you about fencing and the wildlife. Ours is in the city but close to the mountains, so not a true city atmosphere or neighborhood. Still, our neighbors are close, so we put in a privacy fence. It's not prevented most the wildlife, but the wild turkey and deer no longer visit, and yes, that makes me sad, too. We live in bear country, but have had no visiters to this house, thankfully.

Austin, a 16" waterfall should be absolutely fine for bringing oxygen into your pond. Our single pump moved twice the amount as our pond holds, and therefore runs the pond through the filter skimmer and biofilter more than once a day.

For your pond, 3 ft to 3-1/2 feet should be sufficient for goldfish (and good choice, there, as Koi are gorgeous, but very destructive to plants). Remember, you will most likely have to get into that pond at some point. You might consider digging out a shelf before your liner goes in) for some container bog plants (dragonflies love those). You just cut a shelf out with a shovel, you cannot add one really as the soil will be too loose and it might 'tilt' over time. Consider some type of cave for your fish, either a purchased one or one of your own making. They need protection from the sun in the winter when your plants are died back, and protection from the sun in the early spring when your plants are growing, and protection from wildlife.

You need plants. They provide shade and much needed oxygen. Hardy water lilies, which you'll trim back in the fall and lower to the pond floor. They should survive and come back in the spring. The pond plants will keep your pond healthy, balance, and your fish healthy and alive.

I strongly recommend adding plants first (lilies, underwater, bog) and giving your water and pond a full 2 weeks minimum to age. We waited 4 weeks. Then add your fish. Google how to introduce fish to a pond. Get them from a reputable breeder. Comets, shubunkins - any non-fancy goldfish (though I think those look fancy!) will be fine. If even one fish looks sickly, or swims sideways, do not buy any! Go elsewhere. That is nothing but heartbreak. Pond stones provide aeration. We have a couple we use all summer and winter.

Water... your water needs balancing, which is why the wait. You can and should get a water testing kit... however, there are 2 schools of thought there. First, overfeeding can cause an increase in ammonia, so don't overfeed (get the food that koi eat, pellets that float on the water), and net up any left after a minute or two) and do test ammonia levels. PH levels - some people panic over those. Without going into massive detail, goldfish are hardy boogers, and I've have 2 ponds with extremely high PH levels... eventually we just put the fish in and they thrived. High PH levels are common discussion on another forum, and I wouldn't stress over that at all. It's only when PH levels go up and down within the same day that it becomes dangerous for fish. Most don't. Mostly, don't stress : )

Overwinter... Easy. Around the end of summer, you can add Pond Salt (google it) if you wish to increase the fish's slime, which is a protective coating. Not necessary, but nice. Lower your lily plants to the bottom of your pond if they aren't already there, and cut off all dead and dying pads, flowers, stalks. Add a couple pond aeration stones if you don't already have them. Start decreasing feedings as the temperatures turn cooler. When you pond water temperature reaches 45 - 50 F (7-10 C) and pretty much stays there or lower, stop feeding your fish. Nothing. No matter how much they beg, and they will. They will go into a sort of hibernation. They can get any needed nutrition from the algae in the pond. If is warms up to summer like temps for a brief period, don't feed them during your winter months. Even if they are swimming around more. Stay calm, if you can't find a fish or 5. They hide. They sit at the bottom part of the pond and barely move. You can get a pond warmer if the aeration stones aren't strong enough to keep an ice 'hole' in your pond. Again, even in hibernation, fish need oxygen. As the pond warms up in the spring, when it becomes warmer than 45-50 F (not the outside, temp, the pond temp) you can resume feeding... slowly at first, then your normal schedule.

One last thing... never, ever slap your open hand on top of the water, never slap a board on ice to break it up, this creates minor shock waves, and yes, that can kill a goldfish : ) Do teach them to come to you when you feed them by gently tapping the water with a finger each time you drop in food at your pond's edge. Soon they'll follow you everywhere in the pond, mouths open, telling you they are starving!

Lastly, gold fish won't starve : ) Enjoy your pond!

Oh, heck, I forgot to say, in the winter, do turn off you pumps and falls. They'll freeze. The aerations stones will provide enough oxygen in the winter. And again, with icy winters, look into a pond warmer. Just a small round thing that floats in the pond, comes on when the water goes below freezing and keeps a hole in the ice.