Keeping fish in the pond during the rainy season?

I have a wooden box approximately 4'x18"x18" (photo below) that I'm using for a little goldfish/frog pond for my kids. I set this up in the late spring after the winter rains had passed and all summer it's worked great. But now the winter rainy season is approaching and I'm starting to wonder how the heck I'm supposed to keep the fish and floating plants from getting washed out of the little pond if/when it rains for days on end. If anyone has any workable ideas I'd really appreciate the feedback.

I thought about putting a mesh guard around the edges so the excess water could flow out without releasing the fish onto the patio.....but I'm not sure how to secure it without nailing holes into the liner inside the pond (which of course I don't want to do). I also don't want to trap the frogs inside or make it too difficult for them to get in and out of the pond when they want to.

Like I said, any feedback would be really appreciated.

-Julie

Julie,
I never thought of how a rainy season could affect a pond. I live in Florida, which also has a rainy season, along with some drenching storms. I will be watching this thread to see how people address this issue. My pond is just-installed, and we are slowly moving into our dry season. I like your wooden pond.
Nancy

make a small roof over it. Two shorter poles at the front and two taller at the back. put a sloping plywood or like that on top. If its not a rainy day the kids can still enjoy the pond and the pond wouldnt get overfilled.
Janett

Ours sits in the open. We just had to large rains. Sept 24 was 7", Oct.1 was 2 3/4". I never thought about it, but the plants & fish are still there. Took this picture this morning. The fish in the pond were little 1" ones from Wal-Mart at 18¢ each. They grew nicely, & we never fed them. They lived off of the pond! We also have a nice big frog that hangs around & spends time on the lilly pads.
Soon I will have to pull the fish out as it will freeze solid by early Nov.
Bernie

Yeah, we're getting 6 inches today and tonight ... this'll be the first true test of my drainage and landscaping proweress.

In June of 2004 we had a 4" rain in the time span of 45 minutes. Our house wasn't effected, but our Koi pond was covered to the top of a 3 foot waterfall. The water rose slowly when it was too much for the drains at the bottom of the slopes to hold. We were lucky only loosing 4 fish, when the water drained off. That was an extremely rare situation though. However, in anticipation of future heavy downpours, we talked about placing a net over the pond, etc. But I would hate to come home and find fish tangled in the net and know we caused their death, when they may have stayed in the pond.

So we have come to the decision that for normal rain fall 2-3" heavy rains, we would lower the pond level as much as we could safely, or just not top it off during rainy periods. So far, this year, we haven't had any rain to worry about in N Central Texas!! Hope you find a workable solution you are comfortable with.
Sheila

Howdy Juls ..

Yep, I'd bet .. that the rainy season has already come & gone(?) ...

Seems that Janett's (tayson80) suggestion is a grand (& seemingly simplest) idea to consider.

Other than a 'top' that would actually fasten to, or, sit on the pool 'box' - perhaps consider constructing a leg'd roof that can simply slide over the entire box .. and shield from excess water entry. And still maintain ventillation and light, for the aquatic plants and yer vermin.

Perhaps even a patio table or such, that you may already have .. would seemingly serve the ideal purpose.

Good to 'see' ya ...

((huggerooners to you and yours Juls))

- Magpye

Before Wilma came through, I bailed water out of the pond. Wilma was not bad in my area as it was in South Florida, so I was able to go out and bail water near the end of the storm after the pond started to overflow. I think having a covering may be more helpful, but if rain is accompanied by strong winds, a covering won't help much because it will be blown away. But if the rains in your area are just steady downpours, a covering will probably work.

Thanks for all the additional feedback everyone.

Magpye, unfortunately, we are just now approaching our rainy season. We actually got our first rains early last week. Then lots of dry weather since. But in a few more weeks, the steady rains will be upon us and won't let up much at all for several months. Our rainy season lasts from early-mid October until the end of April (although the beginning and end of that period don't have nearly as much rain as the middle 3 months).

I would never be able to keep up with bailing water out of the little pond all winter. And the idea of covering it with a table would be great if not for the need for the plants to get whatever piddly bit of sunshine might come their way throughout the winter. So I devised a simple "dam" all around the edges of the pond. It sure aint the prettiest thing in the world, but it should work.....and who cares if their garden if pretty or not during a torential downpour? ;-) I took a rectangle of window screening and stapled it to the top of the pond. then took an exacto knife and cut out the center. The screening should allow the excess water to flow out unimpeded yet keep the pond plants and pondlife inside the box. Time will tell soon enough if I'm right LOL.

-Julie

(ignore the less than ideal condition of the tall plant in the pond LOL)

Hey Juls .. looks like ya managed to come up with an ideal 'fix it' .. all your own!!

Will make if far more 'gratifyin' for ya ..

My best for you, the family, and the lil pond box ...

- Magpye

Hiya Magpye! :-) Sorry I've been so MIA around here for such a long time. Life and the day to day just seems to keep me away from the computer for vast periods of time of late. I'd sure like to have the time (and energy!) to post here more often, but life is good and my kids are (as always) amazing :-). We all went on a family vacation to the south of Israel last week for 5 days. It was soooo much fun, but exhausting (hardly slept at all the whole time). And I've promised a few times to post pics of the trip, but have yet to find an evening when I don't just want to go straight to bed myself after the kids get into their own beds LOL. I'll try to get to it tomorrow if DH takes the big kids on a little trip for a few hours (he usually does on the weekends if we dont' all go somewhere together).

-Julie

Ahh Juls ..

I'd spotted where you'd mentioned you guys' lil vacation .. Bleeve it was on a thread of Linthicums. I, too've been waitin' for you to upload those pics also .. (hee) .. From your posts, no doubt that the lil excursion was well needed, and most enjoyed, by all of you. Only when ya get a 'chance' .. then, try to share'em with the rest of us too .. hee

Hey kiddo .. 'Life' happens! .. Jes so glad that yours is wonderfully exceptional .. these days! Don't trade it for anythin' Juls!!! For despite DG and its vast variety of offerings: 'real' life with our tangible family, friends, and loved ones .. takes a back seat in the priority vehicle.

B4 I forget yet again!!! > Mite I inquire/request (here) .. for you to send a DG-mail link .. to the website you're administering, about the 'genetic disorder' (?) I'd spotted that also .. but somehow manage to forget to send you an inquiry about it. Thought I'd do so now, while the opportunity is ripe .. (But, only, if you don't mind tho') ...

((huggerooners to ya Juls))

- Magpye