I didn't know whether to post it in the section on water quality, or in the pond area. Anyway, it's a question about my aquarium, but it relates to the fact that the fish will be going into a pond.

I have had a heater in my aquarium, especially when I was treating with meds, and I brought the temp up to over 70 (don't want to wake the fish up now to check exactly.) My husband thinks I should take the heater out now that they are healthy and doing well. They are going to be pond fish in the spring, and we don't want them to be too accustomed to being so warm that we can't get them into the pond until August. These are common/comet goldfish, not fancy ones.

What do you all think?

Also -- would one of those winter pond heaters be good to get the water temperature up in the Spring a little faster, again, so I can get the fish into the pond?

(Please be flattered everyone, husband said I should ask for advice here - he's starting to appreciate you all, sort of second-hand. )

Your goldfish don't need a heater. Some of my goldfish tanks were at 62F this winter and they were as hungary as ever. If your done with the meds you can take out the heater, but you don't have to worry about them getting accustomed to the warm water.

When you get ready to put them in your pond just make sure that there isn't a big temp differents between the aquarium water and pond water. You don't want the temp differents to shock them. As long as the temp drops slowly they'll be fine. If there is a big temp differents you could fill a rubbermade with tank water. Put the fish in it and float the rubbermade in the pond and add some pond water. Then when the temp is about the same take the fish out of the rubbermade and put them in the pond.

yup take out the heater. I have my goldie tank heated because it's out in the barn and it's 45-50 out there in winter! I would not heat if they were inside. Getting their temp down closer to what the pond will be is a good idea. They don't need the heat