A garden pond creates a whole new habitat

If you decide on the creation of a pond during the summer months and have it ready by the end of summer, it is wise to wait until the following spring before filling it with fish. Besides warmth, time is what is needed the most to create a lasting ecological balance in your garden pond. You should wait up to twelve weeks after completion of the pond at the earliest before adding the fish by and by. It is only after this time that the plants are acclimatised and the ecosystem strong enough to transform fish excrement into important nutrients.

To be completely sure that the pond is ready to receive its new inhabitants, you should first test its water parameters. The ph-value should be between 6.5 and 8.5 °dKH and the chalk lime content of the water should not sink under 5 °dKH, better is 6 to 8 °dKH. You should also check the ammonia and nitrate levels at the start and repeat this at regular intervals. The use of water conditioners can be of help in attaining these values, which are easily determined via special rapid tests.

It is important to ensure that the water temperature is at least 10 °C and there is enough room for the pond inhabitants to swim as well as hide. When your pond contains enough oxygen and the water quality is good, the fish will surely feel at home.

To help prevent a lack of oxygen in the long-term, small waterfalls, fountains or stream elements are also useful. The use of freshwater pond mussels is a natural way to keep algae at bay.

Many species of fish feel completely at home in an average garden pond, some need a special habitat and others are not at all suitable for life in a pond. Goldfish are a particular garden pond favourite. Bitterling, gold orfe, moderlieschen, minnow and sticklebacks are further species that can be kept easily in a garden pond. The koi is just as popular as the goldfish. Because of its size however, it is only suited to life in larger ponds.