New pond, the start-up phase
Starting up a new pond is sometimes a tricky process. In this new blog, we try to help you get started. Don’t have any water in the garden yet and are you planning to build a pond? Then first read our blog: “pond construction, handy step-by-step plan“. Here you will find a handy step-by-step plan for building a new pond.
Now that you have prepared the basis for the pond actually comes the most important phase and that is the start-up phase of the pond. In the start-up phase we are going to try to create a biological balance in the pond. The biological balance ensures that the pond remains beautifully clear and healthy. The most important thing for biological balance is plenty of oxygen in the pond. This means that in addition to a good aeration pump, you should also start placing oxygen plants in the pond. Oxygen plants provide clear water so that algae do not have a chance. Oxygen plants come in different shapes and sizes. We will write another blog about different pond plants, but here you can already find more information about pond plants (link)
Add minerals to the pond
Tap water is the most suitable to fill the pond with. However, tap water still lacks some nutrients such as minerals and carbon dioxide. These nutrients can easily be added to the water. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium determine the hardness of the water. These minerals can be seen as the building blocks for pond water. You can easily add these different minerals by using GH plus. Measuring is knowing, so always measure the values beforehand and after adding the minerals as well. Too many minerals is not good for the pond water.
Bacteria are important for the start-up phase
Carbon dioxide is to pond water similar to what oxygen is to humans. If there is not enough carbon dioxide in the water, pond plants and fish will not survive. In addition, with too little carbon dioxide, you are giving green algae free rein. If there are enough bacteria in the pond, then
those take care of carbon dioxide production. Of course, these are not there yet in a new pond. Because a new pond contains hardly any useful bacteria, you have to add them. Bacterial accelerates the creation of a biological balance in the pond. In addition, it is good to get the KH value of the pond to a proper level. For this purpose, Velda has also developed a good product: KH plus. KH plus increases the KH value of the pond water. The KH value indicates how much carbonate (compound of minerals and CO2) is in the pond water. Also for the KH value applies: Measuring is knowing! So always measure the values before and after treatment.
Add pond plants
When the levels are right, plant the oxygen plants and any other pond plants you like. Pond plants are best planted in the spring. Place the oxygen plants under water at the correct depth. You can usually find this depth on the card that comes with the plant. It is best to repot the pond plant in a new somewhat larger pond basket. Then put the plants in pond soil or special growing substrate. Opinions differ about the amount of oxygen plants for clear water, but a rule of thumb is 5 bunches per 1000 liters of water and this is also our advice.
The pond is now almost ready for the fish. Now let the pond rest for another 1 or 2 weeks before placing fish in it. If you have any questions about starting up a pond, please let us know. Did you find this article interesting? Please share it on Social Media. Do you have questions about this article or pond questions in general? Please ask them via our Facebook page or via Whatsapp.
