Adding new fish to a water garden is not as simple as it sounds. You can’t just empty the contents of your fish tank into the pond. Well, you actually can, but the fish are sensible and it could harm them, especially if you’re moving them from warm water to cold water, or vice versa. Consider the following tips when adding new fish to your pond, and the fish will be grateful.
- Before moving the fish procure the following:
- Fish tank. Most pond fish sellers will give you the fish in a water bag. It’s recommended that as soon as you get home you move the fish in a tank with clean water, to minimize the risk of transferring fish diseases into your pond.
- Bacteria, enzymes, and any other water treatment the fish seller might recommend you. These will usually have to be released into the water before you add the fish.
- Pond skimmer for cleaning the debris from the surface of the pond.
- Choose the right fish for your water garden. Koi and goldfish are by far the most popular fish for water gardens and ponds. They are beautiful, resilient, and relatively unpretentious. Apart from these, your local pond fish seller will usually also offer other ornamental fish adapted to your clime. Remember this tip: buy fish that have approximately the same size, as they will get along better.
- Don’t fill your fish tank or pond with tap water without first adding a good dechlorinator. Chlorine kills the fish. A dechlorinator dissolves instantly and makes the water in the tank good for the little swimmers. Consult the product specifications to find out how much dechlorinator you must add to your tank/pond.
- Add a net to your tank, and also consider adding nets to your water garden. New fish are nervous and tend to jump, and if your water garden or pond is small, they might end up on the grass, at the mercy of your hungry tomcat.
- Don’t replace the pond water before adding the fish. Fresh water will lack the balanced chemical levels that old water has, and could do the fish more harm than good. Of course, you don’t want your new fish to be swimming in stagnant, dirty water. Remove organic debris such as leafs, twigs, rotten plants, and dead frogs.
- Find a shallow part in your water garden and place the fish tank in it, careful not to mix the water inside it with the water in the pond. By keeping the fish tank in the pond water for 15-20 minutes you will acclimatize the fish to the temperature of the pond.
- If you don’t have an Pond Aeration System, consider purchasing one. It will increase the amount of oxygen the fish have and keep the water circulating, preventing it from becoming stagnant. Living Water Aeration offers a big range of Aeration Accessories and water aerators for all pockets.
In the end remember that fish are delicate creatures. Treat them with care!
