Pondless Waterfalls Argyle |
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Fish Ponds: Because Aquariums Are Just Not Challenging Enough
If youve kept freshwater fish for a few years, you might seem stuck in a rut. And some of your fish might be growing and growing. Perhaps you yearn to set your goldfish free and raise the value of your property simultaneously. If you can deal with fish diseases, water temperature, water changes, water tests and water changes in your sleep, then perhaps you are ready for the next level fish ponds.
Do Your Research
You need to know how big of a pond you can afford. You need flat land near a moving source of water, even if that source is just your garden hose. And your goldfish is still going to need his space. Overcrowding in fish ponds is just as deadly for fish as in aquariums, even if they are more natural. Your freshwater fish will need at least one gallon of water for himself in order to be healthy.
Make sure the fish you want to keep outside are breeds that can be safely kept in fish ponds. Bubble-eyed goldfish are right out they need constant observation of every centimeter of their bodies. Also, dont put more than one male Beta fish (Siamese fighting fish) in your fish ponds. True, they originally lived jumping from puddle to puddle in the orient, but the urge to fight is so inbred that male Betas have been recorded being released in lakes and they STILL sought each other out for mortal combat.
Read about how to make fish ponds before you start shoveling. Decide in advance weather you want to get pond liner or a cement bottom. Pond liner is the more popular and less expensive choice. Dont fill your new pond all the way up with water leave a foot or two gap. Surround fish ponds with rocks or bricks in order to make sturdy footing. You might want to even make a platform to help you get to the pond without having to swim.
Its A Really Big Tank
Keeping your fish in fish ponds is just the same as in keeping them in tanks. You need to keep monitoring the water chemistry levels, make a sure algae doesnt choke all the oxygen out of the water, and that the fish are healthy. You might have trouble seeing them as opposed to a tank, but fish will often surface in anticipation of food or gasping for oxygen if they are sick. Make sure all of your fish food and fish treatments are good for fish ponds. |