How to Start a Pond Fish Culture

Outdoor water gardens are a beautiful addition to any landscape or flower garden. Starting a pond seems relatively easy, but if you plan to add some fish, the most important consideration is filtration. There are two types of filtration: mechanical and biological. Biological filtration is simply the conversion of fish waste into non-toxic components and is crucial to the health of your fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Pump
  • Mechanical Filter Box
  • Filter media
  • Beneficial bacterial cultures
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how you will be getting the pond water to circulate through the biological filter. Most biological filters work in conjunction with mechanical filters. Install the pond pump. This may be a submersible kind or an on-land one. Whichever type you choose, the pump should be on the end of the pond farthest from the water feature. This allows for proper water circulation.

    • 2

      Attach the mechanical filter to the pump per the directions that come with the filter. The mechanical filter will normally come with a filtration media, which usually resembles rough cotton-like material that may or may not be filled with activated charcoal. This material is what the bacteria will use to cling to and grow on.

    • 3

      Start the pump and begin to filter the pond water. After properly conditioning the water to remove chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals, add the starter dose of beneficial bacteria directly to the filter media and in the water as well. The bacteria will colonize the sides of the pond liner and go to work converting the toxic wastes into non-toxic compounds.

    • 4

      Wait approximately one week and add another dose of beneficial bacteria to the filter and water. Two weeks after that, add a third dose.