Has anyone heard of converting a swimming pool to a freshwater pond? I just moved into a house with an old swimming pool, and figure the cost of getting it swim ready would be more than turning it into a freshwater pond. I still want to be able to swim with my fish. I prefer to hand feed them and with this I would be able to attach food to my body and let them eat off of me.

there might be a few problems with this.... first what fish do you plan on keeping in the pond? and where you live, how is the climate year round? You wan't your fish to be comfertable, but if you plan on keeping koi or someother coldwater fish that you would normally keep in a pond, the water would be too cold to swim in

I helped a neighbor of mine convert an in-ground hot-tub to a freshwater pond last summer. It actually wasn't difficult at all. With the hot-tub, we had to seal off the filters and returns because all of that was disconnected before the hot-tub went in the ground. However, in your case, as long as the filters are still good, you should be able to continue using them actually (provided they are screened off, and you'll need to replace the actual filter itself, but you can get filter media very cheap). You will need to worry about the pond freezing though, if you are in a cold climate. As long as you are keeping fish that can handle a little salt, raising the Sg will help reduce the risk of freezing in the winter. If you are in a very cold climate, you may even consider making it saltwater instead of freshwater to inhibit freezing. Unless of course it's a heated pool... if so, then that's even better.

What type of fish are you planning on keeping in it?

I live in a warm climate so I won't have to worry about the water freezing. I am used to living and swimming in cold water anyway, so that won't bother me. If I go with fresh water, I'll stick with the varieties that are indigenous to my region. Those are the ones I know well. The fish tell me how to take care of them. Thank you for your suggestions.

Heard of, yes. Wish I could, yes. Can't right now, yes. :(

I have been eyeballing those new big blue pools I've been seeing around (last summer). Can't think of the name of 'em just now, but man, what a great way for keeping fish outside. You could go swimming with 'em!

Yes, that's what I'm hoping. To let them nibble food off my body and swim with them. I've always wanted to be eaten off of. ;)

Hm. Might not be such a good idea after all. :huh: :unsure: :blink: The fish might get more than you bargain for! :lol:

and vise-versa... pond fish are often in the carp family, and fish in the carp family are particularly susceptable to TB, which can infect you as the very nasty skin TB.

Come on boys, eroticism takes risk! I like to be adventerous. I like to be nibbled on. ;)

Wow..... What?

Careful now, kids come around from time to time. Though we're "aqua", I don't think we're quite THAT "topia" around here. :P chuckle. We're a wholesome lot.

Back to the pool pond, have you thought about plants?

It's a well known fact that Mermaids have no sense of decorum. As far as plants go.... lots and lots of waterlilies and lemna and azolla as a natural food source for the fish.