Question
I live in northern South Carolina (zone 7b)and put in a pond a couple days ago as part of a memorial garden.  My children are anxious to add a few goldfish.  The pond is approximately 130 gallons, 5 x 3 and depth 1.5-2' with a couple small plant shelves made of PVC liner and local rocks and stones.  I haven't gotten my test kit yet but the kids are asking every day when we can get goldfish for the pond.  I'm planning on common goldfish and wanted to get about 3 (one for each kit). I know that will be pleanty when the fish are full grown but when they are small will that just prolong the cycle process?  I do already have a pump and filter running.  

Answer
If the goldfish are small, then they won't contribute much waste to setting up the nitrogen cycle.  Adding three goldfish should be fine if they're small.  When full grown, goldfish can grow a foot long but will probably stay a bit smaller in a 130 gallon.  If they spawn in the future, you'll have to deal with surviving offspring crowding the pond.  But, for now, if the pond has been running for a few days to aerate it, it looks okay, you added dechlorinator (and I suggest some pond salt, half the amount they say to use; you don't need that much), etc., then you can add a few goldfish.  In a lightly stocked pond, you won't normally ever even read ammonia or nitrite if you monitor those things.  Adding some good bacteria will speed up the cycling too.  Good luck!

Robyn
fishpondinfo.com