Fish Pond Maintenance
Generally, Fish Pond Maintenance is a necessity. Some people choose an easier option such as a wildlife Ponds, as they are by far the easier and least expensive type of ponds to maintain, but all fish produce waste and this contributes to polluting your Fish Pond. Be that a Garden Pond, Back Garden Pond or even something as simple as a pot with fish in.
You will also find that the fish will eat your Fish Pond Plants, (Annoying if you bought new ones in the summer and they were spreading and flourishing), and will also feed on small frogs/tadpoles and most other water insects/creatures.
This said, having a Garden Pond is really something worth having. The sound of running water, knowing life exists within your pond and the simple beauty of looking at one during those lazy summer days and nights make it all worthwhile.
Fish Pond Maintenance – What to do before putting the fish into your Pond
Make sure you always acclimatize any fish to the water within your Fish pond before actually putting them in! This is easy to do, by simply putting the fish into a container and adding pond water a little at a time, making sure they don’t appear distressed. Keep this up until the container is full of pond water and leave the fish in there for as long a period as you can. When you are happy the fish are ok, add them to your Garden Pond.
Fish Pond Maintenance – Depth and Quality of Pond Water
It is worthwhile noting the depth and quantity of water in your Garden Pond, firstly the depth is important so that you can make sure it is not too shallow that water fluctuation will cause issues with the fish, also if you live in areas where the winter brings icy conditions. If it is too shallow, the water and fish will freeze up completely, you need it at a depth that will allow water further will not freeze. (You could also add a Pond Heater if you become worried about freezing ice).
It should be noted that your fish are cold blooded and simply do not like temperature change too much, so a deeper pond will benefit them no end. Also, by having a deeper pond you will encourage breeding, so make sure you have rocks and plants that they can hide in to lay eggs and for the young to hide.
Water quality is also important to your Fish Pond. Don’t forget tap water has chlorine and chloramines in it, so treat the water with proprietary cleaners to neutralize it and make safe. There are plenty of these on this website – Click Here.
Fish Pond Maintenance – Fish Pond Filters
Some people simply don’t put a pond filter within their Pond, this is usually those who choose a natural Pond over a Fish Pond or one that is very large. Generally though, as Goldfish, Koi fish or any other garden fish need oxygen, a Pond Pump and pond Filter is a necessity to increase water flow. Another option is to use oxygenating plants added to regular doses of products that produce this. If you don’t do any of these, you are likely to get algae in the Fish Pond.
There are some products that help to produce aerobic bacteria which basically multiply in number and produce oxygen in the Garden Pond. Another option or one to use in conjunction is a pond pump, which produces a water fountain if required and the water moves and prevents it from becoming stagnant. I personally have pump with a waterfall and a filter which recirculates the water through filters to keep it clean, oxygenated and helps prevent build ups of algae.
Koi Pond Maintenance
If you intend building a Koi Fish Pond or keeping Koi Fish you will need to know that they grow much bigger than Pond Goldfish which will necessitate you having a larger pond. The depth of a Fish Pond is important for numerous reasons and a Koi Fish Pond really should be about 4,500 litres in volume and approximately 1.2-1.5m in depth, although if you are able to have a deeper pond all the better.
One point to note is that Koi Fish love to eat your pond plants, so it might be an idea to limit the amount you have, or have a ready supply to keep replacing them. They also are a lot more expensive that goldfish or standard pond fish, so that is another aspect to look at.
You can keep both Koi and Goldfish together, just make sure that you account for the needs of both. Always check carefully the fish you buy too, you don’t want diseased fish and you also don’t want too many – When they breed check you have enough space for the new ones.
We do have a Koi beginners guide HERE if it is of interest to you. We also have Koi Fish Pond Supplies on this website, so please browse for your requirements.
Fish Pond Maintenance – Overstocking your Garden Pond
It should be quite obvious, that if you over-stock your Garden Pond it can be quite simply fatal to your fish. They each produce their own waste and your filters and other methods will only be able to help so much before they start to die from poisoning.
Nearly all fish will grow, multiply and take up more space in your Garden Pond. The best method when stocking your Pond is to start with a third of the maximum number you could put into it. Then keep an eye on it, the fish, filters etc. and decide if you could add any more.
A quick guide to follow would be one fish every one square metre, but everyone seems to give different advice, but from experience this method is best, in particular for the health of your fish. Once they start breeding, you will need to make some adjustments by giving fish away to friends and family perhaps.
Fish Pond Maintenance – Feeding you Pond Fish
It’s always good to have enough fish that be supported naturally by the food sources available within the pond. Something to remember is that each time you feed your fish, you are also feeding everything else in there…Including algae and the like.
That said, it’s a joy to feed your own fish, to see them come to you and some even take food from you. General rule of thumb is to only feed what can be eaten in around five minutes. Feeding during the summer should be about twice daily and one every couple of days in the winter. Wheat germ is good for winter feed. (Most food has instructions on when and how much to feed).
There are also automatic Fish Pond feeders you can use, and these come in handy when you are going to be away on holiday or for other reasons like illness.
Check out our range of Fish Food here.
Fish Pond Maintenance – General Care of your Pond
In the summer months, when it is warm be very careful when (And if) you turn off pumps and filters, as the oxygen levels in the water usually lower, as they do dramatically during thunderstorms and inclement weather.
A trick known by some, is to put a floating ball in your pond for the winter months. This gives an oxygen break and allow water gases to escape from the pond. You can also use one of the Pond Heaters we supply on this website.
Don’t forget plants that produce and increase water oxygen levels. Although the fish will eat them – They are necessary! Try Water lily, big leaves, great flowers and they cover the surface nicely. (I also pull a cover over half the pond if too sunny for shade).
Keep Herons, Cats etc. out by using a net or something similar – There is nothing worse than coming out to feed your fish and there are none left…all been eaten by a Heron! (And they prevent leaves and debris getting into your pond).
Here is a video showing a build up of Algae in a Koi Fish Pond
