Since you're talking about a fish pond and not a tank, my answer will be: never!!
A pond needs some time to get "balanced", meaning the whole eco-system has to adjust within your pond.. This will take a a couple of weeks so be patience ;o)
If you really are serious with your pond and have the patience, here are some tips that will help you from start to finish with a chrystal clear pond ->
Creating a new pond:
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1) create the pond in an area where you like it, but keep in mind to have some sun as well as shade constantly during the day over the pond.
2) fill the pond up with normal water
3) add about 1 gallon of water you take from another healthy(!!!) pond and add that to your nice size pond.. If you have a smaller one, a little less is already enough..
4) add a biological filter.. The best ones in my experience, are the filters that via a pump push the water to an outside the pond filter and then goes back into the pond. Make sure this filter has a little "bio-culture" in it, that you can buy in many stores for ponds.
5) add the water plants.. You can choose all kinds of plants you like, just beware of 2 things: Do not use bamboo -> the roots are very strong an will eventually penetrate the plastic of your pond, making it leak.. Another thing you have to keep in mind to create a healthy pond-> add oxygen plants.. My suggestion: more = better (but do not go overboard so it will croud up the pond!)
6) When all steps above are done, let this water with the plants sit for about 2 to 3 weeks, while the pump is running.. During this period, do not take out any leaves or sand that will fall into your pond.. This will help building up the balance as well..
7) add the fish to your pond.
Tip: if you like you can have your PH value checked for your pond and if it's to low/high, they have some nice natural products for it. Do not use any chemicals! Do this after the 3 weeks waiting...
Maintaining it:
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when you already have a pond and it's very dirty, take out 1/2 the water and try to clear the bottom from the leaves and dirt.. However, make sure you do not take it all out, just leave about a 1/4 in it..
Then add fresh water to your pond again slowly..
After this point (and it already was!), your pond's bio-balance is totally disturbed and needs to adjust again..
If you do not have (m)any oxygen plants, add these to the pond..
Again be patience and your pond healthy..
Tip: if you like you can have your PH value checked for your pond and if it's to low/high, they have some nice natural products for it. Do not use any chemicals!
Important notice:
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Do NOT use any chemicals in your pond to make the water clear!.. People love to sell this crap and disturbs your balance big-time.. Yes it will become clear but will not stay clear, so you have to spend a lot of money in it to do this every time.. Besides I do not think it will be healthy over a longer period of time for your fish as well..
The only exception for chemicals I ever used is medicine that fish might need (ick for example)..
Conclusion:
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- Location of the pond
- Use many oxygen plants
- Have a lot of patience and love for your pond
Good luck with it and keep your neighbors jealous with your clean pond with very low maintenance!... ;o)
Techie..
2006-06-07 10:03:00
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answer #1
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answered by techie 2
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In a fish pond or fish tank, you should never change the water completely. The filter, water, and substrate go through a cycle where they build up a colony of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria make the water livable for fish and help break down fish waste.
In a pond, I'm not sure if you do any water changes. You should have some water movement and a filter system, though.
2006-06-06 22:49:23
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answer #2
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answered by RabbitMage 5
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as with any aquatic enviroment, water quality is determined by a chemical test kit to show P.H. , ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, hardness/alkalinity, chlorine, salenity. Being that all water is differant, and water perameters can change is is always best to test the water to see if a water change is needed. When water changes are preformed it is best to do no more than 50% of a water change, to ensure that the enviroment itself is not being disturbed. Fish hold water internally and have the ability to change the water parameters inside to match the water they are living in. If to drastic a water change the parameters of the new water may differ so drastically that it will cause much stress to the fish as he struggles to switch over. For example: debri in the pond such as leaves, rotting plants, rotting fish foods will cause the P.H. to slowly start to become acidic/ soft water.6.0 . Your fish may adujst to this slow decress, but if a drastic water change is done causing the P.H. to jump up to a neutral like 7 your fish will have a hard time , internally they can only adjust 2 or so degrees at a time, a 10 degree jump could cause internal damage to the fish. Also i reccomend reading up on the "biological Cyle" of benefical bacteria. This will better go into detail what goes on in your ponds enviroment, and will make it easier to understand how things affect your pond.
2006-06-07 04:01:54
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answer #3
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answered by talisy77 4
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you're able to do 50% water ameliorations all you like, even a a number of an afternoon if areas out some hours aside. The tank is new and not cycled so the 1st month you will finally end up combating water high quality subject concerns, and probably needed daily water ameliorations. as quickly as the tank cycles, usually weekly partial water ameliorations will artwork. you're in certainty doing a "cycle with fish" Get your self a try kit to extra perfect understand water high quality and set the water exchange schedules. And in case you do a one hundred% water exchange and get rid of the fish, you may stay away from a number of the hazards of stunning the fish in case you acclimate them back to the tank and the hot water.
2016-10-30 08:36:03
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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like, once a month but #ONLY# change about 2/3 of the water so the fish won't end up in completely different water and die because they're not used to the new water!
2006-06-07 07:57:10
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answer #5
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answered by starsword666 2
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Change a little (1/3) water every week. Make sure you add anti chlorine / water conditioner.
2006-06-07 02:17:03
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answer #6
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answered by Raj 4
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probaly every 3 weeks if its more than 2foot by 2 foot but if less every 1 2 weeks!!!
2006-06-06 22:44:00
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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