Dakota
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I converted an old hot tub into a fish pond, odd, I know but last year, about this time, we got sick of the cleaning, repairs, the electric bill, blah blah blah and just like everything else, we used the crap out of it the first few years we got it but by the 10th year, we barely used it anymore. My husband was ready to haul it out but after showing him some drawings and pictures of some old hot tubs converted to a fish pond, he decided that he'd be willing to make it a fish pond. We actually love having this pond. I've noticed that my family will sit outside for long extended periods of time just watching the fish or just sit outside and listen to the waterfall.
The picture I'm going to post was taken soon after the transformation and since that time, I've reduced the number of planters and installed a large umbrella that goes over the pond. That isn't the intent of my thread actually but I do want others who might be able to offer me some advise a visual of what I am working with. The center of the tub is 3 foot deep and it is 7 foot by 7 foot.
Anyway, last year it took months of calling and calling various pet stores but I finally got 2 Chinese hi fin banded sharks along with the fish I already had, bringing the total number of fish to 14. I should have lost some fish but I haven't. I already know that I should let the fish I have grow so we won't be getting anymore. I even had feeder gold fish survive and they are now 2 or 3 inches in size and 1 of those feeder fish only has 1 eye. Back to my question..... does anyone have hi fins in their pond? If so, how big are yours and in none of my readings, can I find out at what year they are consider full-grown. All I have been able to find out is that at 6 years old, they reach sexual maturity and can live 25 years.
I'm just a little concerned because I swear these hi fins have grown an inch bigger in the past week making them 5 or 6 inches now. I am thinking they will grow to the environment they are in? If they get too big, I am hoping I'll know somebody willing to take one of them and put it in their pond. As you can obviously see, the option to make my pond bigger isn't possible. I did find a link on the internet which I'm posting here to show how big this person's fish got.
Also has anyone put Hornwort in their pond and what is your thoughts on that?
https://images.search.yahoo.com/ima...7A1k&fr2=piv-web&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla
The picture I'm going to post was taken soon after the transformation and since that time, I've reduced the number of planters and installed a large umbrella that goes over the pond. That isn't the intent of my thread actually but I do want others who might be able to offer me some advise a visual of what I am working with. The center of the tub is 3 foot deep and it is 7 foot by 7 foot.
Anyway, last year it took months of calling and calling various pet stores but I finally got 2 Chinese hi fin banded sharks along with the fish I already had, bringing the total number of fish to 14. I should have lost some fish but I haven't. I already know that I should let the fish I have grow so we won't be getting anymore. I even had feeder gold fish survive and they are now 2 or 3 inches in size and 1 of those feeder fish only has 1 eye. Back to my question..... does anyone have hi fins in their pond? If so, how big are yours and in none of my readings, can I find out at what year they are consider full-grown. All I have been able to find out is that at 6 years old, they reach sexual maturity and can live 25 years.
I'm just a little concerned because I swear these hi fins have grown an inch bigger in the past week making them 5 or 6 inches now. I am thinking they will grow to the environment they are in? If they get too big, I am hoping I'll know somebody willing to take one of them and put it in their pond. As you can obviously see, the option to make my pond bigger isn't possible. I did find a link on the internet which I'm posting here to show how big this person's fish got.

Also has anyone put Hornwort in their pond and what is your thoughts on that?
https://images.search.yahoo.com/ima...7A1k&fr2=piv-web&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla