How to Add Fish After a Water Change in a Pond

Before adding fish to a new pond or even just adding new fish to an old pond, there are steps you should take to help the fish survive. Avoid large water changes with fish already in the pond because this can put them into shock. Chlorine and chloramine, used to keep water safe for drinking, can burn fish gills. Changing the water can also alter the pH and temperature, both critical parameters for fish survival.

Things You'll Need

  • pH test strips
  • Thermometer
  • Dechlorinator
  • Fish net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dechlorinate the water before adding fish to a tank or pond. Adding aeration will speed the dechlorination process. Chloramine is being used more often by municipalities to treat water and it doesn't evaporate readily. If your city uses chloramine you will need to add a chemical that dechlorinates and eliminates, not breaks down, chloramine. Increase in the aeration of the water, the use of water falls or bubblers, will help eliminate chlorides quicker. You can make partial water changes (10 to 20 percent) with aged tap water and it shouldn't be a problem for your fish. You should do all this before bringing new fish home.

    • 2

      Test the pond's pH with paper pH test strips or a chemical kit. The pond's pH should be between 6.5 and 8.4. Adjust the pH of the pond using chemicals designed for aquarium use. Adding plants with peat-based soil will help lower the pH of the pond, but if the pond is concrete, chemical pH adjustment will be necessary.

    • 3

      Float the bag of fish in the pond, allowing the fish to acclimate to the pond temperature. If your fish were housed indoors or in a heated outdoor pond, you should wait until the outdoor pond has reached a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 4

      Secure the bag to the side of the pond so that you can add water every few minutes from the pond to the bag. You want to acclimate the fish to the new water slowly and not shock them. Put a rock or brick on one side of the open bag to hold it in place. Leave the bag open allowing oxygen to enter the bag.

    • 5

      Release the fish into the pond after a half hour. Scoop the fish out of the bag with a net or your hands and release the fish into the pond. Do not pour the water in the bag into the pond to prevent the transfer of contaminants.