Question
Hi!

I recently landscaped a small area for my Grandfather into a Japanese garden for him to enjoy. I decided to add a Shishi Odoshi (Deer Chaser) water fountain that empties into a tiny 14x20x5 inch pond liner, lined with gravel and a few small colored rocks.

Would it be possible to sustain any fish, tadpoles, or water plants in the pond, despite it's small size? The fountain is solar powered, so it shuts off at night. I also live in Sacramento, CA, so the weather can be hot in the summer, but it doesen't typically get too freezing in the winter. I'm inexperienced in small ponds so I'm unfamiliar with any species that could survive in such a small pond. Do I have any options here?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Justin,
Thanx for your question.  Is the pond 5 inches deep? If so, this isn't deep enough for fish like goldfish.  YOu might get away with putting some cheap guppies or mosquito fish in it but as hot as it gets in Sacramento in the summer the oxygen will quickly be depleted from the water unless you have a bubbler, aerator, and some oxygenator plants.  Sure, you can put some water plants in the small container.  Just look for smaller plants and preferable a few marginals (plants that grow in shallow water) which should be available at your local nursery.  Here is a link with more information on marginal plants.  Remember, because of the small size, you don't want plants that get too tall.  I hope this helps.
Tom