Fish Keeping Tips - Pond Information

Shubunkins and Comets are good choices for a garden pond.? They do not require special feed and can handle winter temperatures.?

Fancy fish, such as Orandas and Ryukins also can live in an outdoor pond, however they cannot swim fast enough to get away from predators.? Also they may have more health problems and are less able to tolerate extreme winter temperatures.

Koi are very popular for water gardens.? They require deeper water (3 ft.) and excellent water quality.? They tend to uproot water lilies or eat their new growth.? For that reason Koi are often kept in ponds without aquatic plants - where the fish are the main attraction.

Water gardening requires the least amount of maintenance of all types of garden projects if properly planned, installed, planted, and stocked.  Fertilize water lilies monthly during the growing season, and trim browning leaves and spent blossoms of the water lilies.  Plants may need to be divided and replanted.  Clean the filter media at the same time that you fertilize the plants.

Spring is the best time to clean a pond, but doing this too often will upset the pond's natural balance.  If debris has built up on the pond bottom, smells of foul water, has black or milky water, do a thorough cleaning.  Remove fish and place them in a  holding tank in some pond water.  Keep the fish in a cool, shady area.  Remove plants, keeping wet and cool- divide and replant, if necessary.  Replace filter media, if necessary, keeping old media wet and place in pond loosely around "new" filter for beneficial bacteria to transfer.  The old media can be removed after 2-3 weeks.  Do no scrub pond walls, but hose off loose debris and remove.  Refill pond water, remembering to dechlorinate.

• A sign of oxygen deficiency is when the fish gulp at the surface or hang out at the water outlet.
• Watch your fish population!  If you have too many fish you may need to increase your oxygen.
• Well water has little or no oxygen so add aeration with a fountain head or airstone.
• Using algaecides causes dying algae to decompose on the pond bottom, depleting the oxygen supply.
• Remove bottom debris by vacuuming or filtering.  

1. Provide good mechanical and biological filtration - the more the better.
2. Provide adequate shade - 60 - 70 % of the surface area should be covered with floating plants or alternate shade.
3. While awaiting  "balance," you can use water clarifiers and / or bottled bacteria if desired.
4. Size your pump to turn the pond over at least once every 2 hours through the filter.
5. Operate the pump 24 hours a day.
6. Provide a high oxygen concentration especially in the heat of summer as heat depletes oxygen in your pond, which will stress your fish or worse.