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Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . A guideline for the maximum stocking level of a pond is:
• 55cm of fish per square meter of pond water surface area.
When setting up a new pond, it is advisable to reduce the stocking level to 25cm of fish per square meter of surface area to allow for growth. When releasing new fish into a pond, ensure that the fish are slowly acclimatised to the pond temperature by floating the plastic bag on the pond surface (out of direct sunlight) for 20 minutes before releasing them.
Add pond tonic salt to the pond. This tonic salt reduces stress on fish and reduces the toxicity of waste material which may build up whilst the new pond is maturing. Whenever new fish are introduced into a pond, it is a good idea to carry out a precautionary course of treatment with Anti-Fungus, Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Parasite to prevent stressed fish succumbing to disease.
Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Plants not only add the appearance of a pond, they also contribute to creating a healthy pond environment. A general guide to achieving a balanced plant population is:
For every 1mē of pond water surface area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •• One lily plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •• One marginal plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •• Five bunches of oxygenators eg: curly pond weed (Lagarosiphon major) . . . .. .. •• One clump of floating plants, eg: water soldier (Stratiotes aloides)
Before introducing plants, it is advisable to soak them in a strong solution of Anti-pests and diseases for plants. This prevents the introduction of any unwanted pests and diseases that may be harboured by the plants.
The regular use of a plant fertilizer (for pond plants) will ensure that the plants receive optimum nutrition to give healthy plant growth.
