Introducing Fish Into Your Pond

Fish are a great addition to any pond because in addition to adding an element of décor, they are an important part of the pond eco-system.  Both plant and animal life live in harmony when a pond reaches a natural balance, which contributes towards algae control and water quality.  Plants provide shade, shelter, and food for the fish, in exchange for fish waste, which can be converted into fertilizer for the plants.  Furthermore, fish generally eat mosquito larvae, which reduces mosquito problems.
In order to raise fish, their waste must be detoxified by beneficial bacteria (i.e. biological filtration).  Additional oxygenation must be added, in the form of a waterfall or fountain, in order to support the fish.  There are also several crucial things that have to be monitored after introducing fish into your pond:

• High Chlorine levels will kill fish. Local tap water has chlorine in the water, so it is recommended that you invest in a de-chlorinator to remove the chlorine.
• Water Temperature. A pond should be at least 2’ deep in order to sustain appropriate water temperatures for fish during the hot summer months.  When introducing fish into the pond, the temperature of the water in the bag holding the fish may be different than that of the pond. In order to sensitize your new fish to its new environment, float the bag in the pond water for 10-15 minutes before opening it to release the fish. If you're adding multiple fish into the pond, dump all them all at the same time. Try to space your new fish apart by several days, so that proper pond ecology can be established.
• Jumping Fish. New pond fish also tend to jump. You can prevent your fish from getting away by investing in pond netting, which you can obtain from most garden centers.
• Predators. If you do not have pond netting, then provide rocks and places to hide for your fish. Fish are intelligent creatures and usually are able to evade fishing predators by hiding in the nooks and crannies of your pond.

Oxygenating the Pond

Fish breathe by extracting oxygen from the water through their gills. Therefore, the pond water must have adequate oxygen levels. Oxygen can be supplied by:

• submerged oxygenating plants (such as elodea, hornwort),
• waterfalls and fountains, which help to aerate the water.

It is recommended that 60% to 70% of the pond be covered with floating plants. In hot weather, if there are not enough floating plants to keep the water shaded and cool, the water temperature will rise and oxygen will evaporate more quickly. Not only does more water need to be supplied to top up the pond, but an aeration pump, such as the UltraFlo fish pond pump, may be required.

Maintaining Fish in Your Pond- Monitor Ammonia Levels

Fish excrete ammonia, which is toxic to the fish. Ammonia is also food for algae and will encourage algae growth. To safeguard fish, and to preserve the natural eco-system of the pond, it's vital that nitrifying bacteria, or beneficial bacteria, be present in the pond in order to reduce ammonia.

A certain level of nitrifying bacteria occurs in pond water naturally, but it may be necessary to use a pond treatment to increase the level of nitrifying bacteria. Large fish ponds require biological filtration in order to provide adequate amounts of beneficial nitrifying bateria.
You should test your pond at regular intervals for Ammonia. These tests should be more frequent for new ponds because their eco-systems have not stabilized yet. An ammonia test kit can be purchased from commercial stores.
A zero level of Ammonia can be accomplished by:

• The direct removal of Ammonia through the use of pond treatments.
• The conversion of Ammonia to harmless nitrates. This can be accomplished through the use of biological filtration. Biological filters provide housing for beneficial bacterial (i.e. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter).