Pond fishis a great idea to diversify your life in a garden pond. In order for them to live there, however, appropriate conditions must be created for them. These are the most important elements to consider when creating a pond suitable for fish farming. See what kind of pond will be suitable for fish and how to take care offish in the pondWe also advise which species of fish to choose for the pond.
Pond fish
Before we pay attention to the fish - I would like to add thatthe fish in the pondare not a must.There are many other creatures, such as dragonflies, frogs, snails, and butterflies, which can be very interesting to observe. Therefore, if it is not possible to create conditions suitable for breeding fish in your pond, do not worry - you can admire numerous aquatic creatures.
What kind of pond for fish?
In order to keep fish in a garden pond, it must first of all be large enough, becausethe fish in the pondneed a lot of space to swim. The depth of the water reservoir is of particular importance here. The minimum permissiblepond depth for fishis 80 cm, although some species require even greater depth - at least 100 cm. Since our garden ponds tend to be rather small, a general rule of thumb is: the deeper the better. Even with a large pond in the garden, it will be difficult to maintain stable conditions when the water is too shallow. In summer, water in shallow lakes heats up quickly from the sun's rays, and in winter it freezes even to the bottom.Fish in such a pond may run out of oxygen, and the water quickly becomes dirty during rainfall. Generally speaking, the conditions in the shallow lake are very unstable. If you want your fish to winter in a garden pond, the depth must be over a meter.
Fish in the pond and clear water
When choosing fish for your pond, pay attention to whether they are not burrowing in the ground. Such fish burrow in the sludge at the bottom of the pond, while washing the water. To avoid turbidity of the water, the bottom in the deep zone must be without any substrate, and in the shallower zones - thickly covered with gravel.
Another thing is to ensure the appropriate qualitywater for fish in the pondFreshly poured tap water may contain many harmful substances, including chlorine and heavy metals. Therefore, it will be a mistake to let the fish in immediately after setting up a pond and pouring water. You have to wait some time for the conditions in the pond to stabilize (sometimes up to several weeks).Beforeputting the fish into the pond , check the water quality (pH, hardness, nitrite and nitrate content). Checking the water quality is possible with a variety of testers, available in stores with pond accessories. The water quality can be improved by using special preparations. In order to maintain adequate purity and oxygenation of the water inponds with fish , it is recommended to use filters with UV-C lamps and aeration devices.
Maintaining proper living conditionsfor pond fishwill be easier if there are not too many fish. When estimating the right amount of fish that you can grow in your garden pond, don't forget that the fish you buy will grow. Ultimately, you can use the following rule: 1000 liters of water in the pond should not exceed 80 cm of fish length (e.g. 8 fish, 10 cm each).
Feeding fish in the pond
Feeding fish in the pond
When feeding your fish, choose only special fish foods and don't overdo it. Overfeeding fish in the pondit affects the poor he alth of the fish, but most of all it causes massive water pollution in the pond. The excess food sinks to the bottom, pollutes the pond and contributes to the growth of algae.Feeding fish in the pondcan be reduced in the summer, when the fish will have a lot of natural food sources (insects, small aquatic creatures), and also in the winter (when the temperature drops below 12 ° C, discontinue feeding, because the fish stop digesting and the un-eaten food sinks to the bottom and pollutes the water reservoir).
If you have already overfed the fish and made the water cloudy and polluted with algae, use the Trigger-3 biopreparation, thanks to which the biological balance in your pond is quickly established, which is necessary for its good appearance. Trigger-3 is a preparation with a biological effect of purity.It contains selected bacteria and enzymes. Thanks to this, the preparation is safe for fish and other creatures living in the pond!
How to buy pond fish
First of all, before you go to the store, decide how many and what species of fish you want to have in your pond. Descriptions of each species can be found below. The decisionwhich fish for the pondto buy should be made in advance, so as not to be persuaded by the seller and not to spend money on something that we will regret later. When choosing fish species for a pond, it is worth considering not only their appearance but also the requirements for care. First of all, choose such fish for the pond that you will be able to provide good conditions for.
Make sure your pond fish are he althy before you buypond fish . The seller should allow you to see the fish from the side (e.g. in a glass aquarium). When viewed from above, you will not detect the presence of parasites, signs of fin necrosis or fungal diseases.Check if the fish mucosa is injured and the fins are not frayed. The eyes of he althy fish are shiny. He althy fish breathe slowly and rhythmically, in the aquarium they face the water current.
Note!When you bring newly bought fish to your garden, do not put them immediately in the pond! First, the closed bag, in which the fish were transported, is placed on the surface of the water for about 15 to 20 minutes so that the temperature of the water in the bag is equal to the temperature of the water in the pond. Otherwise, fish released into water at a different temperature may experience thermal shock.
Which fish to choose for the pond
Below I present species that are worth paying attention to when selectingpond fish . I start with native fish, which are considered to be the least demanding and adapted to our climate. I end up with those who require more care, but are the most beautiful.
Pond fish - Rose (Rhodeus sericeus amarus)
Różanka(Rhodeus sericeus amarus) - a native species belonging to the carp family. They are excellentpond fishthat feel quite well even in quite small garden ponds. These fish are no more than 8 cm long. They are quite nicely colored (especially males during the mating season). They mainly eat algae that they look for at the bottom of a pond. They are also happy to eat food for ornamental fish. In order for these fish to reproduce in the pond, the presence of the clams - buckthorn (needed to lay the eggs) is essential.
Pond fish - Sunflower (Leucaspius delineatus)
Słonecznica(Leucaspius delineatus) - another native species that works well aspond fish They are silver-gray fish ranging in length from 8 to 10 cm. They are very lively, they like to stay in the coastal zone, in the upper layers of the water, which makes them quite easy to observe in a garden pond. They prefer water richly planted and rocky zones. It is necessary to keep more of these fish as they feel best in a shoal. They feed on small water animals, insect larvae, plant particles and algae.
Pond fish - Common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
Stream mines(Phoxinus phoxinus) - a fish that lives in a shoal just below the water surface. It occurs naturally in our country. Especially males during the spawning season are beautifully colored. It reaches a length of about 8 cm. It requires constantly cool water (up to 23 ° C) rich in oxygen. It reacts very badly to sudden changes in the conditions in a garden pond and water pollution. However, it can stay in ponds where water is in motion, as it occurs naturally in fast-flowing waters.It feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae, and sometimes also plant debris. Can be fed with food for ornamental fish.
Pond fish - goldfish
Golden Fish- one of the most common fish, not only in garden ponds but also in home aquariums. Goldfish is the general name of numerous breeding varieties of one of the subspecies of the Chinese crucian (Carassius auratus auratus), popularly known as ornamental crucian or veil (the latter name, however, refers only to varieties with long fins).
Te pond fishcolor from golden yellow to dark red, and their scales shine nicely in the rays of the sun. There are also various red and white spotted forms with fins of different sizes. They can be 20 to 30 cm long, so this must be taken into account when arranging the pond. Although they are usually resistant to cold, not all species of goldfish can winter in the garden pond.Therefore, before buying, ask the seller if the fish you have chosen for the winter do not need to be moved to the aquarium (taking the inhabitants of the water garden home for the winter and arranging the aquarium can also be a nice idea - I used to be an avid aquarist myself!). They are omnivores and they constantly rummage along the bottom of the tank in search of food, so they can cause the water to become cloudy.
Pond fish - Koi carps (Cyprinus carpio)
Koi carps(Cyprinus carpio) - come from Japan, where they are considered a symbol of happiness and good luck, bravery and longevity. For this reason, they are often presented as gifts on various occasions. These fish can live for a very long time, even up to 70 years ( although they usually live 20 to 30 years), reaching even 100 cm in length. Therefore, they are only suitable for sufficiently large reservoirs, especially as they like to dive. The pond for Koi must therefore be sufficiently deep (a minimum depth of 1.5 meters is recommended).
These extremely colorfulpond fishcome in various colors, the most appreciated are the ones in white, black and red and white with a red patch on the head. They are omnivores, but need a special food for Koi fish to stay in good condition (shiny color and slim figure). They eat quite a lot and an appropriate water filtering system is essential to keep your garden pond clean. These fish are quite expensive, but also unusual! Their trust in people contributed to their special popularity - they get used to their owners, take food from their hand, can suck a finger and even let themselves be stroked.
