Originally Posted By: basslover
Potential issues
- Algae / weeds in the small, shallow above ground ponds - if you run a pipe and dump water from them into the big in ground pond.

- Birds and four legged predators picking off forage fish from the small shallow ponds.

- Water / air temperature - too hot in Summer and too cold in Winter



Don't know how small you're looking at, but have you considered livestock tanks for minnow raising?

http://www.bettymills.com/shop/super_cat...Commercial.html


http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/freeland-374-gal-corrugated-stock-tank/0000000033256



Good points BL - I had these same fears on my mini ponds - here's what I did and my thoughts on the other details:

Vegetation non issue if using valve to drain ponds - one of the reasons I installed the gate valves. Also, if one builds with steep sides it help abate vegetation growth getting deep quickly. If things start getting messy, hit with dye or fertilize the pond and get algae blooms going and restrict sunlight penetration.

Steep sides limit area wading birds can hunt. Also, one can run wire along rebar for a good single strand fence to discourage wading birds. Will likely be raising thousands of fish in these, I don't think a few here or there to mink or kingfishers or GBH will have much effect.

Temp extremes could be issue, but not if Bill is raising common minnows and shiners. Dig to 5-6' and I think he'd be fine in Summer and Winter. I raised and overwintered hundreds of 6-8" SMB in .25 acre pond only 5' depth with no visible morts. NE water temps can approach mid 80s and pond would freeze up to 12" in Winter.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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