If you are looking for ways to improve your garden and add a great central feature, a pond is perfect. It’s even better if you add some fish to it. But looking after fish isn’t as easy as people think, and if you are not careful, they will end up dying. Before you dive in at the deep end and start buying fish for your new pond, you need to do a bit of research so you know what you are dealing with. These simple tips and tricks will help you get started so you can build a healthy fish pond in your garden.
Don’t Get Too Many Fish
The biggest mistake beginners make is overcrowding their fish pond. It’s easy to do because you’re picking out fish and there are lots of different ones that you like, so you just decide to get them all. The thing is, if you overcrowd your fish, there is not enough oxygen for them and they don’t have enough room to move around, so they will not be healthy. In some circumstances, they can even die if you put too many fish in the same pond. You should measure the fish and make sure that you have no more than 10 inches of fish per 100 gallons of water. When you are first starting out, it’s best to have a few fish that are easy to manage.
Aerate The Water
Just like us, fish need oxygen to survive, and you need to manage the oxygen levels in the water. This great article on how to aerate a pond will tell you how to increase oxygen levels using pumps and pond plants. Having a good balance of plants in the pond helps to manage the oxygen levels and it also makes it look much nicer too. If you do not aerate the water properly, your fish will not be healthy and happy.
Keep Your Pond Cool In Summer
When your pond water gets too warm, it is unable to retain oxygen as effectively, which means that the health of your fish suffers. They can also be damaged by the heat itself, so it’s crucial that you keep the water cool. When you are preparing your garden for the summer, make sure that your aerators are working properly and consider adding some aquatic plants that float on the surface of the water to provide shade and manage the temperature of the water.
Clean The Pond Regularly
If you leave dirt and debris in your pond, it will start to decay, causing the water to become polluted. Over time, this can harm your fish and upset the balance of the water. Your fish may die and the pond will start to smell bad, ruining the nice centerpiece in your garden. So, make sure that you use a pond skimmer to remove the debris on the surface and use a net to pick up sticks and leaves that have sunk to the bottom. It is also important to drain and replace the water in your pond every now and again too.
A fish pond is a great addition to your garden but it’s important that you follow these steps to keep your fish happy and healthy.