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Message
Cast Iron Sugar Kettle with Fish
Posted on 3/17/22 at 5:38 pm
Posted on 3/17/22 at 5:38 pm
Has anyone had luck using a cast iron kettle as a small pond with fish if the inside is coated with epoxy? I wouldn’t plan on using one with a coating because of how the rust would affect the water quality.
This company sells them with the option to have an epoxy coating painted on the inside: LINK
How long do you think the coating would last?
This company sells them with the option to have an epoxy coating painted on the inside: LINK
How long do you think the coating would last?
Posted on 3/17/22 at 5:58 pm to Seven Costanza
I remember when I was a kid, a family member had one of those old kettles in their back yard that had goldfish in it.
This was way before epoxy was a thing, so I know it was nothing but bare metal filled with water and I remember those fish being there every time we visited their house.
This was way before epoxy was a thing, so I know it was nothing but bare metal filled with water and I remember those fish being there every time we visited their house.
Posted on 3/17/22 at 6:02 pm to Seven Costanza
Don't they make fibreglass replicas for doing this?
Posted on 3/17/22 at 6:19 pm to Seven Costanza
I would think heat might be an issue if you’re planning on keeping fish. That cast iron is going to get brutally hot in the summertime, and I’m not sure goldfish are into the hot tub scene…
Posted on 3/17/22 at 6:20 pm to btrcj
quote:
Don't they make fibreglass replicas for doing this?
Yes they do. A quick on-line search found them from 2 ft. across to 6 ft. across and ranging from $200 to $1000.
Gallons ranged from 25 to 460.
Posted on 3/17/22 at 9:42 pm to gumbo2176
you need to fill it up with water, let sit few days and drain. Refill and put fish in on 2nd fill.
Posted on 3/17/22 at 10:09 pm to Seven Costanza
I have a fiberglass replica sugar kettle with a small pond fountain, a water lily, some pickerel weed, and about 5 goldfish. We keep it in a part sun location that is shaded from the afternoon sun and the fish have been thriving for years.
Posted on 3/18/22 at 12:24 am to Seven Costanza
Rust isn't going to hurt the fish. Don't put full size gold fish or koi, I personally would put sunfish in it if I was doing something that size. If it is in the shade you could get away with fancy goldfish (the fat body ones) but I would 100% recommend putting netting as they are too slow to swim away from predators. No matter what, netted or not you will get snakes in a sugar kettle, just expect it.
Posted on 3/18/22 at 6:36 am to armsdealer
I have a 42" ID sugar kettle and when I lived in la we trired goldfish and kept in shade. It was too hot for them. Now just have it as a fountain and it works great. Still have the set up after 20 yrs. I used a wire wheel on thekettle than painted flat black yrs ago and haven't done anything since. It weighs approximately 500lb
Posted on 3/18/22 at 12:59 pm to Seven Costanza
I've had a 4' iron kettle in BTR for about 20 years. For awhile I put 4 gold fish in every year. Heat and egrets got them. That was with bare iron. Then rust scale began building inside. I cleaned with grinder & wire brush. Then sprayed with autobody primer and finally brushed with pool liner epoxy. Buying one precoated will be far less work.
Stopped trying fish when a new dog jumped in the kettle every time he saw a fish... just a fountain now. Prices look good based on my one experience.
Stopped trying fish when a new dog jumped in the kettle every time he saw a fish... just a fountain now. Prices look good based on my one experience.
Posted on 3/18/22 at 9:09 pm to btrcj
quote:
Don't they make fibreglass replicas for doing this?
There is a guy on Hwy 307 that makes these.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 7:58 am to Seven Costanza
Rust isn't an issue at all. If it's in direct sunlight heat in the mid summer is. Goldfish are tough as hell, pond will freeze over in the winter no issues and of course cheap as hell to buy. I've had a sugar kettle pond for 15 years now with a great lotus plant that spreads out and gives them shade but the heat of summer almost always does them in.
This post was edited on 3/19/22 at 7:59 am
Posted on 3/19/22 at 12:41 pm to TigerGman
Thank you all for the feedback. I learned a lot.
I am considering the fiberglass version now. However, I do really like the antique rusted look. I’ll browse the internet looking at multiple different examples to decide.
I have decided to place it in a better location where it won’t get direct sun and will be shaded by crepe myrtles.
Thanks again. If anyone has pictures of there’s, I’d love the see them.
I am considering the fiberglass version now. However, I do really like the antique rusted look. I’ll browse the internet looking at multiple different examples to decide.
I have decided to place it in a better location where it won’t get direct sun and will be shaded by crepe myrtles.
Thanks again. If anyone has pictures of there’s, I’d love the see them.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 1:26 pm to Seven Costanza
I think Brian's Furniture in Pt Allen stocks the Grove cast iron models or something very similar.
The fiberglass ones are cheaper, much lower weight and look fine painted black. The rusty cast iron monsters have their own appeal.
The fiberglass ones are cheaper, much lower weight and look fine painted black. The rusty cast iron monsters have their own appeal.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 1:47 pm to Seven Costanza
quote:
shaded by crepe myrtles.
Prepare for the crap ton of leaves to fill it up!
Posted on 3/26/24 at 5:11 pm to TigerGman
Just added one of these fiberglass kettles with water feature and want to add the goldfish. Where are yall getting the lillys or water plants from and which work best on north side of house with alot of shade?
Posted on 3/26/24 at 7:59 pm to Seven Costanza
I have a 4’ kettle that I keep 4 goldfish. Heat is not a problem but I’m not in direct sunlight. I have gravel at the bottom and a pump with a filter. I take them out and clean the gravel, scrape the sides and change water at least twice a year. Snails are also a lifesaver. Once I discovered snails I think I had better success keeping the fish alive.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 8:24 am to 2 Jugs
quote:
There is a guy on Hwy 307 that makes these.
Yeah, he's my customer. I have four customers who make kettles out of fiberglass. The guy on 307, another one in Reserve, one in Prairieville and one in Lafayette.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 9:05 am to gumbo2176
quote:
remember when I was a kid, a family member had one of those old kettles in their back yard that had goldfish in it.
This was way before epoxy was a thing,
Same here. A friend of the family had one at his house on Paris Rd. back in the 60's and it was one of the real big ones. He had some pretty huge goldfish in that thing and they seemed fine.
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